Rue Du Coq d'Or, Paris
Seven in the morning.
In her confinement
This feather bed cows.
Lurking mildew and soot
Hassles her bronchus.
Damp, tinker's pot black
Streams down the window wall.
She's sensate,
Radioluminescence at the glass
From sore red sun,
And gaunt, frail to the bones.
Rue Du Coq d'Or, Paris, seven in the morning.
He spick-and-span elf-boy sleeps
On the twists of the mattress.
Tomorrow she'll grapple laundry
Foisting on a study bloom.
REWRITING LETTERS, CHANGING FORMS (BANK)
We wanted to let you know that we have not been able to make the payments that you arranged to come out of your account. This is because there wasn?t enough money in your account to cover them.
(or)
Ahoy! We're drained of the doling out
That your ironclad table of organisation
Rescripted us to do.
Tallying lost the register.
Better days have danced
Upon your leaky purse.
*
Let me reassure you that we are keen to help you sort this out. If you call us there may be a way we can help you. Until then we will not pay any other payments unless your balance can cover them.
(or)
We'd like to pluck your spirits
Grease wheels under turning hands
(for a tip).
Share with our administering angels.
There'll be a salty backwash
You're going to have to cough.
REWRITING LETTERS, CHANGING FORMS (BAILIFFS)
The fact that we have left this form means that we are prepared to consider letting you pay by instalments. But instalments are not always acceptable, or may only be acceptable at a higher rate than you have offered. We will write to you and let you know whether we accept your offer, or whether it will have to be increased. We will only allow up to eight weeks for magistrates court fines.
(or)
This ink-poisoned post
Can be your kite.
We?ll connive
With blood money
In rashers of your hide
Rationed out slash by slash.
But over-lean slices
Won't salt our asset-sponged tongues.
Kiss goodbye to chunks.
We'll butter you up
Or tenderise you.
It's a hoof-sprung pounce
To the butcher's block.
REWRITING LETTERS, CHANGING FORMS (FINANCIAL SERVICES)
I am writing to offer you an opportunity to clear your debt with the above named client by paying a reduced sum. This is a one-off opportunity to enable you to clear your debt and begin the process of repairing your credit rating.
(or)
I'll de-emphasise your befuddlement
If you let in our leg-up.
Solo is the disentangled path;
A green light to disembarrass your red squeeze.
We beg indulgence, or trust.
*
Take advantage of this offer. Please note that if you choose not to take up this offer, or your offer is not accepted, the full debt will remain outstanding and further action will be taken.
(or)
Heads, tails, your wrist.
Be our Johnny-on-the-spot
Falsetto a 'yes' be a yes man
Or we'll go tit-tat.
Hello!
REWRITING LETTERS, CHANGING FORMS (POLITICS)
We co-ordinated days of direct action against war across the country, as well as holding huge rallies and demonstrations in every city and region.
(or)
We tuned-up fits-and-starts
Into gapless goings-on
In a body of bad blood
Flow-clot-flow rallies
In all four winds.
*
We are supported by a broad range of cultural figures from Harold Pinter to Brian Eno.
(or)
The human race sneaked in.
*
the use of chemical munitions against civilians by US troops, the torture of political opponents being conducted by the Iraqi government, the random murders being carried out by private 'security contractors'
(or)
Oil's refined
With depleted uranium
The whimpers and guggles of occupation ?
Marketing is a final solution.
*
Please join the coalition
Join us today
(or)
Bust a gut, squeeze the world
Into an about-face place.
© Christopher Barnes, UK
Some bio details...
in 1998 I won a Northern Arts writers award. In July 200 I read at Waterstones bookshop to promote the anthology 'Titles Are Bitches'. Christmas 2001 I debuted at Newcastle's famous Morden Tower doing a reading of my poems. Each year I read for Proudwords lesbian and gay writing festival and I partake in workshops. 2005 saw the publication of my collection LOVEBITES published by Chanticleer Press, 6/1 Jamaica Mews, Edinburgh.
On Saturday 16th August 2003 I read at the Edinburgh Festival as a Per Verse poet at LGBT Centre, Broughton St.
I also have a BBC webpage
www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/gay.2004/05/section_28.shtml and
http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/videonation/stories/gay_history.shtml (if first site does not work click on SECTION 28 on second site.
Christmas 2001 The Northern Cultural Skills Partnership sponsored me to be mentored by Andy Croft in conjunction with New Writing North. I made a radio programme for Web FM community radio about my writing group. October-November 2005, I entered a poem/visual image into the art exhibition The Art Cafe Project, his piece Post-Mark was shown in Betty's Newcastle. This event was sponsored by Pride On The Tyne. I made a digital film with artists Kate Sweeney and Julie Ballands at a film making workshop called Out Of The Picture which was shown at the festival party for Proudwords, it contains my poem The Old Heave-Ho. I worked on a collaborative art and literature project called How Gay Are Your Genes, facilitated by Lisa Mathews (poet) which exhibited at The Hatton Gallery, Newcastle University funded by The Policy, Ethics and Life Sciences Research Institute, Bioscience Centre at Newcastle's Centre for Life. I was involved in the Five Arts Cities poetry postcard event which exhibited at The Seven Stories children's literature building. In May I had 2006 a solo art/poetry exhibition at The People's Theatre why not take a look at their website
http://ptag.org.uk/whats_on/gulbenkian/gulbenkian.htm
The South Bank Centre in London recorded my poem "The Holiday I Never Had", I can be heard reading it on
www.poetrymagazines.org.uk/magazine/record.asp?id=18456
REVIEWS: I have written poetry reviews for Poetry Scotland and Jacket Magazine and in August 2007 I made a film called 'A Blank Screen, 60 seconds, 1 shot' for Queerbeats Festival at The Star & Shadow Cinema Newcastle, reviewing a poem...