Don’t Come and Stare at Me
Featured Poem: Don’t Come and Stare at Me
Last month I began this section commenting on the number of major events impacting on our lives; it seems to me they were nothing compared with this month’s events.
I’m going to pick up on the death of Elizabeth II. I do not believe we should have a monarchy. But I was not jumping up and down with glee at the Queen’s death; she was a great old lady who lived to a great age. But one who never had to worry about energy bills, food prices, cost of transport, bringing up children (well, perhaps she did have to worry about that. ‘She worked so hard all her life’ people say; but so do individuals who have to take on three jobs in order to feed their family.
However I can live with all this, mostly without complaint. But what made me angry were the phrases rolled out by lazy (and often inaccurate) reporters with their preposterous solemn voices . . . ‘The whole country is united in grief’ . . . ‘Our lives are changed for every’ . . . ‘She was always in our lives’ . . . These are hyperbolic and ludicrous statements.
This month’s featured poem was written at the time of Elizabeth’s Mother’s death; it is about her lying in state. Another tradition we could well do without. It is a humorous poem, but is a truth I believe and a personal wish.
Reading
Last month I see I was having trouble settling to a new read – early Le Carre, Lovecraft, dumped them both. So went to easy reading – great stuff. Two books from a detective writer, Peter James, set in Brighton and the second of the Thursday murder Clubs by Richard Osmund also set around Brighton. I wonder if Brighton breeds writers or if writers gravitate towards Brighton. They are all great fun reads.
Could not write this entry without saluting the great work of Hiliary Mantell; just about to read her short story, The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher.
Writing
I have spent much of the month fine editing book and lyrics of my music play. But have found time to write a few new poems. Pleased with a poem called City River and a light-hearted poem special Treat. I am fast coming to the conclusion that a lot of people think poetry that makes you smile is not serious poetry. Wendy Cope has a poem about this, but at the time of writing I cannot remember its title – no doubt it will come back to me.
with best wishes
Rod