Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Lesley Burt
Nine-Ten
I experience no premonition as we fly into JFK
from Boston for a first visit to New York.
We dump cases on the counterpane and check
the en suite bathroom, where we are greeted by
a huge cockroach. The maid soothes us and disposes
of it. We already hate the hotel room, so hurry out.
The open top of a Gray Line bus will orientate
us before trips to Liberty Island, galleries and Macy’s.
After commentaries at Harlem and Central Park,
passengers enjoy a view of the ‘largest cathedral in
the world’, then - to escape lightning and rain –
hasten en masse to the lower deck. Roof seams leak.
Water cascades downstairs. One of the crowd yells
‘Titanic!’ The crushed throng laughs. We transfer
to the downtown tour and look out for streets Ella
sings about in ‘Manhattan’. We stop. Our guide tells
us a few World Trade Center statistics. We crane
our necks to try and see the Twin Towers. ‘They
tried to blow it up in 1993,’ he continues, ‘but hey,
it was just too well designed and built.’ Then -
with no thoughts of his tempting Providence, or
omens borne by thunderstorms - we dine, while
flies circle the dingy trattoria, anticipating a full
and exciting day touring the Big Apple tomorrow.
.
I experience no premonition as we fly into JFK
from Boston for a first visit to New York.
We dump cases on the counterpane and check
the en suite bathroom, where we are greeted by
a huge cockroach. The maid soothes us and disposes
of it. We already hate the hotel room, so hurry out.
The open top of a Gray Line bus will orientate
us before trips to Liberty Island, galleries and Macy’s.
After commentaries at Harlem and Central Park,
passengers enjoy a view of the ‘largest cathedral in
the world’, then - to escape lightning and rain –
hasten en masse to the lower deck. Roof seams leak.
Water cascades downstairs. One of the crowd yells
‘Titanic!’ The crushed throng laughs. We transfer
to the downtown tour and look out for streets Ella
sings about in ‘Manhattan’. We stop. Our guide tells
us a few World Trade Center statistics. We crane
our necks to try and see the Twin Towers. ‘They
tried to blow it up in 1993,’ he continues, ‘but hey,
it was just too well designed and built.’ Then -
with no thoughts of his tempting Providence, or
omens borne by thunderstorms - we dine, while
flies circle the dingy trattoria, anticipating a full
and exciting day touring the Big Apple tomorrow.
.
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Geoff Stevens
ONE GREAT STEP INTO THE LIBRARY
The Public Library today
is an attempt to prevent you travelling through inner space
and landing on the truth
is a Van Halen Belt
an asteroid obstacle course
intent on the discouragement of lone exploration.
It hurls propaganda at you
from notice boards and on leaflets
deposited by the little grey men of Planet Government
and pinned up by the android library staff
that monitor and record your intake
from the shelves of approved information
from the censored internet provision.
It is an insurmountable obstacle
and thus all claims of landing on the truth
are false
no manned journey has been made
no touchdown even on the surface is possible
and all the evidence you see to the contrary
was made in the studio
with actors in the leading roles.
The library is dangerous to your sanity.
Stay away!
Geoff Stevens is the recipient of the 2009 Ted Slade Award
The Public Library today
is an attempt to prevent you travelling through inner space
and landing on the truth
is a Van Halen Belt
an asteroid obstacle course
intent on the discouragement of lone exploration.
It hurls propaganda at you
from notice boards and on leaflets
deposited by the little grey men of Planet Government
and pinned up by the android library staff
that monitor and record your intake
from the shelves of approved information
from the censored internet provision.
It is an insurmountable obstacle
and thus all claims of landing on the truth
are false
no manned journey has been made
no touchdown even on the surface is possible
and all the evidence you see to the contrary
was made in the studio
with actors in the leading roles.
The library is dangerous to your sanity.
Stay away!
Geoff Stevens is the recipient of the 2009 Ted Slade Award
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