Naming is Hard

It started out as a parody but I think it ended up more like a pastiche. Feel free to correct me on that though.

To-May, our daughter, 'naming is hard'. Yes-dear-May,
He says but these words. So your-moron farther,
We must teach the importance of naming. But to-May,
To-day, dad says, 'naming is hard'. Elisabeth
'Listen, what a beautiful name,' I thought, the day we met.
But to-day I say: naming is hard.

This is building our stronghold. And this
Is where her defenses will hold together or fall.
When you're a girl, name matters! And naming her is a big deal,
Which in your mind it clearly is not. The branches,
Old, swayed as I saw you across the yard, destiny
Which in your mind it clearly was not

This is our daughter's future of which you speak
With such a light tone in your voice. And please do not let me
See you make that expression again. You must defend her future
If you want her to survive in school. The blossoms
Are not alive as they were when we met, no more do they let
you make that expression again.

And do not think school is not war. The school yard, for kids,
Is a battlefield devoid of rules. We fail this and
Rapidly her name will become her downfall
Easing defeat. And rapidly her name would become
The only thing I could think. I fought it but lost, her name
My downfall, easing defeat.

Her downfall, easing defeat. We must fight for her future
If we want her to survive in school: It's a war
With no rules, give her no weak points, she is meant to survive
Which in our case we clearly were not; but Elisabeth the
Blossoms were alive in the schoolyard with the sound of your beautiful name
But to-May, my daughter: naming is hard.

NAMING OF DANCES

To-day we have naming of dances. Yesterday,

we had different songs. And to-morrow morning,

we shall have what to do after writing. But to-day

to-day we have naming of dances. I can hear the music

in my mind, I have almost forgotten pleasant sounds.

To-day we have naming of dances.

This is swing. And this

is waltz, the romantic dance that

you love. And this is foxtrot,

accompanied by your favourite jazz music.

The feeling of freedom is completely forgotten

in this no sense war. Accompanied by your

favourite jazz music.

This is salsa, which is the perfect mixture

between music and dance.

You have to try and when you do,

you will love it. Songs and beautiful memories

crossed my mind like a shooting star.

If you try, you will love it.

And this is flamenco. This dance

communicates passion and energy. This is the most

powerful expression of feelings in dancing: the power

of body. As if you had to fight against something so hard

that you should use your own strength.

The power of body.

This is called the power of body: it is perfectly easy

if you use your strength to express feelings, by means of

dancing, music, writing...But in this case strength

is necessary to fight. Birds dance and fly away while

my mind is imaging to be one of them.

Today we have naming of dances.

Release of Prisoners

Release of prisoners 

Today we have release of prisoners.  Yesterday,

We had negotiation. And tomorrow morning

We shall resume hostilities.  But today

Today, we have release of prisoners.  Amidst waving flags

And cheers among the crowds of waiting onlookers

Today we have the release of prisoners.

This one is a soldier.  And this

Is one too, as you will see,

when you are given back your son,

whom in your case you have not seen.  For five years. 

His bed at home unslept in and yet made ready for his return. 

His mother keeps a photo of his youthful face.

Which in his case he has not got.

This is the camera button, which when released is always accompanied

 by the click of the shutter. Please do not let me

see anyone using a flash.  Not even by accident.  Our guests

are fragile and motionless,  never letting anyone see

the whites of their eyes.

And these you can see is the bolt.  The purpose of this

is to inhibit motion, as you see.  We can slide it

open and shut.  We call this

lockdown.  Latest edition, British made. 

Sold to us by your government a time we thought they were our friends. 

Before the lock-down.

Before the lock-down, we were friends

and our cameras snapped our happy faces

and we talked at the dinner table.  We talked about

oil and the balance of power.

We in our case we have not got,

and the chatter and shutters are silent,

For today we have release of prisoners.   

Helen Springall after Henry Reed.

18^th October 2011