Category General
Cage Alight
We in Britain are groping about in a strange country, which just happens to be our own. What next ? Where next ? And what has just occured ? Two days ago, May’s deal was voted down by an enormous margin. Yesterday, she survived (not by that much) a vote… Continue reading Cage Alight
Maybot’s Standing
This stanza was written on a Monday morning, after “The Guardian” quoted a speech Theresa May is due to make today. It includes this sentence : “I ask MPs to consider the consequences of their actions on the faith of the British people in our democracy.” Tomorrow her “deal” is expected… Continue reading Maybot's Standing
Parrot at the Breach
The first line is a direct quote from Skelton’s poem “Speak, Parrot”… Continue reading Parrot at the Breach
Westminster is empty
It is thought that the poet John Skelton wrote his satirical poem “Speak, Parrot” while living in the sanctuary of Westminster. For the medieval laws of sanctuary still operated in England at that time, leaving certain delegated areas under church jurisdiction. It meant that a significant number of people were… Continue reading Westminster is empty
Jez and the Worship of Self
Jez is a fundamentalist. He abides by the iron rules that keep his head together, and have done all his life. He dare not break free. The nation pays for his incapacity, amongst so much we are paying for just now – including humankind’s inability to bear very much… Continue reading Jez and the Worship of Self
The Parrot, the Maybot and No Deal
Will our troops be allowed to fraternise with the “enemy” over Christmas ?
The content management of my blog has been “updated” by remote. I still haven’t got the hang of most of the changes. One of them is that every time I make a small editorial alteration, those people who… Continue reading The Parrot, the Maybot and No Deal
Self-Maiming
References
“Que pensez-voz, Parrot ? What meneth this besynes ?”
from Speak, Parrot by John Skelton (c1460-1529).
“Human kind/Cannot bear very much reality” from Burnt
Norton by TS Eliot (1888-1965)… Continue reading Self-Maiming