MIKE'S OCCASIONAL WEBLOG - 2006, 2007
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AT THE CLOSE OF 2007
This is probably the last entry, given not only the demands upon time made by HOWDEN MATTERS (very pleasurable demands!) but also because The Adam Press has begun to publish other people's work (see 'Aspects Of Howden' by Ken Powls) and to develop small-scale printing. Add to this the need to do a bit of my own performance writing from time to time, and time becomes limited.....
HOWDEN MATTERS goes monthly from January, 2008, and I'm probably unaware of the dramatic consequences attached to such a decision!
It's not just the pleasure of collecting, reading and sharing other people's stories, pictures and various contributions, it's the necessity of getting the admin systems right. And I'm a star at causing myself, never mind other people, confusion!
As I write, the garden is alive with the movement of blackbirds; they're pecking furiously at the apple pieces and bits of bread we've put out over the last few days. I've also seen sparrows tugging at bits of fibrous material from hanging baskets, presumably to start making nests.......
Which leads to thoughts of longer evenings, sitting outside.......
Meanwhile......
DECEMBER, 2007
I continue to be utterly absorbed by the production and publishing of a little magazine called HOWDEN MATTERS. So much so that I haven't written anything myself since....whenever!
Mind you, a writer doesn't necessarily write anything straightaway: being a writer is more a state of mind than anything. To that extent, we're all writers: i.e. we all think about ourselves in relation to the world around us.
It gives me so much delight to be sharing other people's stories, poems, articles and pictures through HOWDEN MATTERS, and for each to be read by close on 500 people. Now that's what I call being published!
Never mind the illusory Holy Grail of 'being published'.
I enjoyed giving a talk, recently, to Howden Women's Institute: Writing & Performing Poetry It was good fun, and we all had a laugh - I think!
Afterwards, I did wonder whether I should have consulted Gender Equality legislation on Being a Male in a Predominantly Female Environment!
OCTOBER, 2007
What a delight it was, on Friday last (5th October), to travel across the Yorkshire Dales - Otley, Ilkley, Skipton and Settle - to visit Casterton School, near Kirby Lonsdale.
The weather was - and I can retrieve no better word - sensational! What a way to go to work! The blue sky, bright sunshine and merest suggestion of Autumn 'misting' infused the Dales with a richness and depth of life and colour which made me want to stop, get out and hug the ground. Well, maybe not hug it in public but certainly lie down on it...... I didn't, however!
Add to this, the fact that it was Friday and that I was returning to a school I had visited before, looking forward to meeting friends and renewing acquaintances, and it was as 'perfect' a day as I could have hoped for.
And I thoroughly enjoyed my two one-hour sessions. What greater satisfaction can there be?
SEPTEMBER, 2007
We've just spent a few days in Grasmere, virtually the only place we ever go for a holiday break nowadays. It's becoming like a second home, without the worry of having to look after a second home - not that we could ever afford such a thing.
Living, as we do, in a flat area, the Lake District offers the imagination so much, doesn't it. Just looking at the fells, wondering at the sure-footedness of the nevertheless precariously-balanced occasional sheep, being mesmerised by the rain sheeting down like stair-rods - to mix metaphors - and thinking the oldest human thought of 'What lies beyond that hill?' (which we know very well!) is something I and my wife never tire of after over 30 years of coming here.
One day I'll pluck up the courage to take my 'up-dated' version of Wordsworth's Daffodils to Dove Cottage and see what they say:
VERSE 1
I wander'd lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and crags,
When all at once I saw a crowd
A host of Tesco shopping bags;
Beside the lake,
Stuck in the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
I'll maybe print the rest another day!
JULY, 2007
I found the picture! (See JUNE below) It doesn't do justice to the brightness, freshness and dancing colourfulness of the light we actually experienced, but you can sense why the children were so drawn to it. Liberating!
JUNE, 2007
Recently, I had the chance to work with all of the Y2 children at Howden CE Infant School. We were 'exploring' Howden Minster, and the children were responding to what they saw and felt via a number of expressive forms.
Sunlight, flooding through one of the south-facing windows, created a pool of colour on the stone floor, a 'splash of vibrant delight' in an otherwise rather dark and gloomy - if utterly splendid - building.
The following few lines are the product of putting together words and phrases used by the children as they paddled excitedly in this colourful pool. So it's their poem really!
It seemed a great place to begin a spiritual journey.
Let’s start
HERE,
On the patterned floor -
Sun-shone window bright;
Colour-puddle dancing
With rainbow feet
And disco delight!
I've got a picture of this 'pool' somewhere: I'll try to find it.
I was delighted to able to perform 2 x 45 minute sets in Hepworth Village Hall, one Friday night at the beginning of this month. Hepworth village is a couple of miles or so from Holmfirth, location of one of my favourite 'sit coms' - dare I say it....Last Of the Summer Wine!
Why do I like it? Well, I suppose it's a chance to look at the panoramic hills, valleys, rivers and so on; it shows a slow pace of life; it is occasionally funny..... I certainly don't watch it for belly laughter purposes, but I'm always conscious of a smile on my face for 30 minutes, and that's not a bad thing.
However, I think I like Last Of the Summer Wine because it's a sobering reminder that we never really 'grow up', whatever that means.
It's probably even more true of boys, and as I watch the group of retired/unemployed - now elderly- men strolling around and getting into mischief I'm confident that they wouldn't look out of place in shorts, etc, etc.
You can often see such groups of boys 'in training', wandering round in small groups, doing daft things, getting people's backs up, repeatedly trying to achieve the impossible...... but just enjoying the freedom of wandering around. It does raise the question of work, I suppose.....!
Anyway, I was due at Hepworth Village Hall at 6.45pm, and at 6.25pm I was in Holmforth, hoping to see some familiar sights - I didn't see one!
A few minutes after 7pm I arrived at Hepworth Village Hall (see two pics, showing the hall on 'stilts' and the beautiful setting), having used my SAT Nav (Stop And Talk) to little effect. It's normally very reliable and you get chance to talk to people.
I must have asked six or more people how to get to Hepworth from Holmfirth. On each occasion there was a sharp intake of breath, a puzzled expression and then very tentative directions, as if to say, "Hepworth is a foreign land to me".
A thoroughly enjoyable evening, however. Thanks to the organisers - Hepworth really is a lively place with plenty going on - and thanks to the audience of about 50 for turning out on a lovely warm, sunny Friday evening, with England v Brazil live on BBC1!
The picture of me is to prove I was there, I guess. There was an audience. Honest!
MAY, 2007
We went for a walk in the Rievaulx valley, near the ruins of the old abbey. Delightful. The sun was shining, there was scarcely any wind and it was dry under foot. We have reached the point where these are the conditions we 'need' for walking"!!
Half-way 'round' we crossed the open but shallow and narrow valley, passing some sheep and lambs in a field of luscious-looking, sunwashed grass. Each lamb had a large, spray-painted number on its side, in magenta.
Nearby was Lamb No.43, aware of and a little nervous of us. All kinds of thoughts came together for me at this moment (as they did, I found out later, for my wife), driven by a currently preoccupying theme of meat-eating.
After watching Channel 4's 'The Lie Of The Land', recently, I've been taxed by the worry that I never really know where our meat comes from, or the conditions in which it is not only reared but slaughtered.
Moreover, I've never killed an animal to eat.
It's as though I've handed over all responsibility to 'someone somewhere'.
What follows are the notes I wrote down, on the spot.
Let it be
Lamb 43
That I eat
If it's meat
That I choose.
This Lamb 43
In the field
By the track,
Nibbling the grass
As we pass.
APRIL, 2007
March was a very hectic month, and wouldn't you know that was the 'moment' when the lurgy chose to assault me! Still, we just about kept going, and it's amazing how, even when you don't feel well, the adrenalin from performing, especially when accompanied by the enthusiasm of children, is better than any medicine.
So, a big thankyou to all the teachers and children who helped with my medication!
I am delighted to have a new main web-site - through which you may have reached this page. If, however, you reached this page via www.theadampress.com or www.quarto-entertainers.com, then do have a look at www.ordinarilyspeaking.co.uk(.) I hope you like it.
Another big thankyou - this time to Rebecca Skerne who designed the site for me.
MARCH, 2007
9TH
I've had a very busy week in schools this week - relentlessly energetic is how I would describe it. In fact, when performance poetry is done 'properly' it's more productive than P.E. in exercising those parts of the body other activities cannot reach.
But the highlight was one lunchtime, when I was talking to some Y4 children (or thereabouts). One was asking me if I could spell 'diarrhoea', and I said, "Yes, if I can look at it." I hadn't realised quite what I'd said until he looked at me rather questioningly.
Anyway, I DID spell it, by writing it, whereas he seemed able to spell straight from his head, so I guess he 'sees' it there. I offered him 'manouevre' in return. No problem!
However, that's not the highlight. A few minutes later, a boy (Y3? Y4?) wandered past, saw me sitting there, stopped and reflected before positioning himself at a slight angle to me. With all the dignity, assuredness and considered tone of a rather 'distant academic', he said,
"Very entertaining. I liked your show. One of the best things I've seen in a while."
He then mused for a few moments before walking off to his study, where, presumably, he would mull over what he'd said, whilst smoking his pipe!
1ST
I can't keep this up! I must write my latest news - even if I'm the only person who's interested.
I have decided that it's a 'male thing' to push the trolley if I find myself in a supermarket. We don't use supermarkets a lot but sometimes they sell things, especially organic ranges, which you can't buy anywhere else, so when I do visit I feel proud and privileged to be the trolley pusher.
Whilst I acknowledge that my wife uses an amazing bank of food/other product knowledge and experience to select appropriate items, I push the trolley. But 'push' the trolley is to do less than justice to the necessary skill levels, as I'm sure other humble but advanced trolley pushers will agree.
A slight tensing of the wrist ensures a few degrees of turn; a subtle nudge with the hip positions it conveniently for my wife; a stiff, one-handed flick will spin the trolley round the corner; and a slow, two-handed manouevre will guarantee that the trolley comes to rest at the check-out, much as a boat nestles into its final mooring. Perfectly aligned. Not the trace of a bump; just a gentle settling.
Such satisfactions from an apparently simple job well done.
DECEMBER, 2006
Because I have two linked web-sites - something which confuses me, never mind anyone else! - I've decided to reconfigure them into just one!
Why I ended up with two linked web-sites is pretty typical of how technology works for me - or doesn't.
I'm hoping to have the 'new' web-site up and running by March.
This web-site will become The Adam Press.
NOVEMBER, 2006
Thursday, 16th
I experience such a great feeling of shared pleasure when I'm performing in schools, especially primary schools, where children and teachers are so 'up' for joining in.
Yesterday, in Mayflower Primary School, Bawtry, we wibbled and wobbled on our bikes, warned the three pigs about the 'danger' lurking outside and felt the pure release of Play Time.
It seems to me that there is something about this shared endeavour that is socially binding, that the performing of poems together brings us together. No stars! No failures! All in there together, pleasuring in the ordinariness of those special experiences which mark key moments and events in our life on this planet.
So one day, I hope, we shall have a government advised by educationalists who say, 'Never mind separating people out, through tests and grades and comments, let's bring them together.....'
But then I always was a dreamer!
OCTOBER, 2006
Thursday, 5th October
I heard on the radio, this morning, that it was National Poetry Day. Quite honestly, I hadn't realised, though I had known it was sometime in October.
So, I coined a few lines. I know the day serves to highlight poetry but to me it's an everyday way of being: i.e. I'd be lost without the rhythms of poetry.
And 'makes' can be interpreted in two ways!
EVERY moment
Of EVERY day
Rhythm
Makes
The World
OK.
Tuesday, 3rd October
Do you ever think, "I'm talking rubbish," but carry on in the hope that sense may percolate through? And does your 'rubbish' intensify the more you continue? I sincerely hope so!
I'm currently on 'Version Without Number'! This version is 25th October.
Do you ever think,
"Stop now,
You're talking rubbish"?
Do you ever think,
"Quit now,
Whilst you're ahead"?
Do you ever wonder,
"Where's
This drivel going?"?
Do you ever wish
You were
Somewhere else instead?
Do you ever feel
Your mouth's
Gone independent?
Do you ever think
Your brain is
Out of synch?
Do you ever wonder
Why you
Keep on talking?
Do you ever wish
That you could
Stop - and think?
Do you ever wish
That you could
Say, "I'm sorry."?
Do you ever say,
"This really
Isn't me."?
Do you ever hope
You may not
Be the only one?
Well,
I do.
SEPTEMBER, 2006
Should I be embarrassed that I never know when National Poetry Day is? Probably not, though I always feel that I should know when it is (when is it? It's October - I think).
I suppose it's my deep-seated unease with labelling, categorising, reducing through simple identifications, and so on. Sounds a bit precious, maybe, but every day is Poetry Day and, whilst I understand the idea behind it, National Poetry Day always seems rather artificial.
Let's have the Poet Laureate on, invite listeners and viewers to send a few poems in and that's another box ticked/checked. And then let's move on to National This, That and The Other Day.
Is this an Angry Old Man speaking (sorry, when you're certain age you cease being angry and become Grumpy!! I'm on a roll, now)?
No, I don't think so. I've been concerned for a long time that poetic language, and all its associated rhythms, never mind its simple expressive possibilities, has been supplanted by prose narrative.
Why? Probably because you can examine and assess prose more easily!!!! (Questionable, I know.)
So let's have a National Poetry Day to make sure poetry is not totally forgotten. Oh no. That's not what I'm arguing , is it?(!!!)
I am very excited about a little project I started towards the end of 2005. Believing that our small community was not being given the opportunity to 'express' itself - what I've come to call the democratic deficit - I decided to make my contribution to democracy (sounds grand, doesn't it!) by compiling, printing and publishing a little booklet called HOWDEN MATTERS.
Of course the 'democratic deficit' exists up and down the land and is deeply rooted, so HOWDEN MATTERS was and is a 'toes in the water' job.
But, in a community of between four and five thousand people, this bi-monthly (currently) publication is being read by over 700 people!
Better still, hardly any of the content is my writing, and the views, stories, poems and anecdotes in HOWDEN MATTERS are all contributions from local people. Moreover, people - including me - find it a thoroughly enjoyable read and always look forward to the next issue.
I've been staggered by the popularity of HOWDEN MATTERS! In order to pay for it, I've sought advertising from local traders, but it's still a close call financially, so from 1st January HOWDEN MATTERS will be by subscription, @ £5 per year (six issues).
That will be the real test of HOWDEN MATTERS - but I'm confident, and back to where I started........ I'm excited!
AUGUST, 2006
My finely-crafted sentence for this month draws heavily upon the inner contradictions of the everyday oral tradition.
"Now then. What's up?"
JULY, 2006
This will be a short entry!
And that's it, basically.
I'm already planning an additional sentence for August . . . .
JUNE
Friday, 23rd
I learned a lesson, yesterday, at Brompton Primary School, near Northallerton, North Yorkshire.
Jorrell, a Y4 boy, came into the hall with his teacher, Mrs Causley, at the end of the day, in order to share his poem with me. He read/performed it to me and the rhythms and rhymes were delightful, as was his rather clever - and original - idea.
Mrs Causley said that what had 'inspired' Jorrell was the rhythm of a poem I had performed, called 'Green Granny'. The theme or idea of his poem was totally different to 'Green Granny', but (rather like a jazz musician) he had internalised the rhythm and it had re-expressed itself in terms of his own language and 'view of things'.
The poem came out 'in an instant'!
Here is Jorrell's poem. As always, it needs to be performed for full value, with the pace slowing at the end of each verse.
Indoors and Outdoors, by Jorrell Rose
Indoors, indoors,
Not as fun
As outdoors:
You can't run;
You can't race;
You can't skip;
You're not even allowed -
To flip!
Outdoors,
Outdoors,
Not as fun
As indoors:
It's too hot;
It's too wet;
It's too damp;
Inside, there's -
None of that!
Thursday, 14th
Here is Niamh's performance poem. Niamh is in the Reception class at Camblesforth Primary School.
It's a pity you can't see her perform it, hands on hips, set jaw and smile flickering 'around the edges'.
Apparently, her teacher had been 'misbehaving' in the Head's office, defacing Liverpool posters!
Naughty Teachers
Silly teachers,
Silly teachers,
Doing naughty things.
Silly teachers,
Silly teachers,
Doing naughty things.
Mrs Parker,
Mrs Parker,
That's -
A warning!
By Niamh
(Let's hope this doesn't preface a career in Ofsted!)
MAY
What a delight at Allerton Primary School, yesterday, when, right at the end of an afternoon's story-telling/writing session with Y6, a girl put her hand up to ask, I assumed, a question.
I thought it would be something to do with what we had been doing, and prepared myself for a deeply-meaningful response:
"Mike, would you do Green Granny?"
I thought back to earlier in the year, when I did a Poetry Performance Day at the school. One of the poems I performed was Green Granny, the one poem I perform which I DIDN'T write. It was written and performed to me many years ago by a Y3 girl at a school in Bridlington.
Green Granny is the poem which contributed to my wanting to do performance poetry when I grew up, being 50 at the time!
And so we finished the day with Green Granny, our bodies and souls bouncing along together. Great!
Please stand and deliver . . .
Green Granny, Green Granny,
Who's got a Green Granny?
I have got a Green Granny,
Green Granny, green.
She's as green as the grass,
She's as green as the trees,
She's as green as peas
That you ever have seen.
Green Granny, Green Granny,
Who's got a Green Granny?
I have got a Green Granny,
Green Granny, green.
Doesn't it lift the spirits!
Thursday, 4th May
From now on, unless I'm overtaken by regular surges of psychic energy, I'm going to make just a monthly entry on this weblog. By the time I've finished my hand-written journal, each day, it's time to start making a living!!
Sunday, 9th April
I was delighted for very different yet associated reasons a couple of days ago, when someone sent me a letter after reading my new book, SING ANOTHER POEM. These were her words about one of the poems, Poetic Licence:
Wonderful stuff! Poetic Licence says what the majority of people feel about 'real' poetry but dare not admit to in case they look a fool. . . . . .
So reassuring when someone represents what I too believe to be a majority view. Thankyou!
Poetry is too natural a mode of human expression for it to be 'coralled' by 'experts'. But I'd better stop there in case I get carried away . . . . !
Tuesday, 28th March
I was delighted to receive some delightful letters from children at The Mount School, York, after performing for them last week. What I enjoyed most about the children's very well-written letters was their enthusiasm for rhythm and rhyme.
That shouldn't be a surprise, I might hear you say, but it took years to dawn on me that the vibrant pleasure we gain from nursery rhymes doesn't die away it is simply suppressed in favour of 'thoughtful and serious poetry'(!!!)
So, as I say in my poem 'Poetic Licence', Thank God, therefore, for Eminem/In his trusty rapmobile/Charging to the rescue, shouting/Rhythm and rhyme are real . . . .
Friday, 23rd March
It has been so pleasurable to visit several schools in March, not only meeting and performing for staff and children but sharing the common ground of experience which is the delight of poetry and stories.
So, here's to pumping up the language and keeping the rhythm alive!
And a big Thankyou to all at: St Peter's, Brafferton P.S.; Allerton P.S.; Stanford P.S.; Beverley St Nicholas P.S.; East Dene P.S.; St Peter's P.S.; Kilnhurst P.S.; Carlton P.S.; Middlethorpe P.S.; Hempland P.S.; and The Mount School.
NOTE: I've made a discovery. Performance Poetry can be very energetic! There are times when it's more productive than going to a fitness club. The Discovery? There's P.E. in PoEtry!
Friday, 10th March
And thanks to all for my lovely day at St Peter's RC Primary School in Scarborough, yesterday. It was good to see familiar faces again, having last visited St Peter's in November, 2003.
When you 'work alone' you sometimes miss the cameraderie of working with others, especially when the staff football team is your last chance of being spotted by Sven Goran Ericsson. Time to wake up!
Tuesday, 7th March
Thanks to all at East Dene School, Rotherham, for a most enjoyable day as part of a week of book and writing-related activities.
The above picture shows that performing poetry means you're on your knees more often than not. Whichever way you interpret that will be correct!!
Friday, 3rd March
What an enjoyable week, not only performing in four different primary schools but being privileged, last night in Howden's Shire Hall, to perform some of my poems for about 15 minutes before introducing Ian MacMillan to the audience for a hilarious evening of entertainment.
Ian was not so much a poet, more a wonderfully funny, and clever, Word Comedian. Actually, his act was so fast-moving I think he delivered it in one sentence - in one breath!!!
A great night!
Sunday, 26th February
I'm excited! On Thursday of this coming week I do my very first warm-up slot - at least that's how I see it.
Who for?
Ian MacMillan!!
It's my equivalent to being the support band for R.E.M. or Radiohead . . . . Or, given Ian MacMillan's love of football - something I share - it's like being allowed to join in with the players warming up on the pitch before the match proper! Either way, what a privilege.
Ian's been to Howden at least three times. First he came as part of the wonderful Circus Of Poets, then with the late Martyn Wiley as Yakkety Yak and, finally, with David Harmer to run a performance poetry workshop.
Oh, and I've just remembered: he almost certainly came as part of the Versewagon for one of the early Howden Festival weeks (before the current festival), and I also invited him to do a workshop at my school.
My wife tells me that he ate everything we placed before him. Now that's what we like!!
24th February
To accompany my new book, SING ANOTHER POEM, I've made two C.D.'s. One is a 'poems only' single C.D., to accompany the book, and the other is a double C.D. of the poems and their introductions.
I decided that the latter might prove useful as a 'talking book', whilst the single 'poems only' C.D. may prove interesting to listen to in conjunction with, or after, reading the book.
Not absolutely sure about pricing yet, but where direct sales are concerned, the single C.D. will probably be free with the book (i.e. £5). The double C.D. is likely to be £5.
JANUARY
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
From 1st January, 2006, I've decided to price all of my DIRECT book sales at £5. Packs and booklets continue at their normal prices.
Sorry if you bought at the higher prices, previously. However, if you do buy any more of my publications let me know the price you bought at - even if years ago - and I'll set things right!!
A fiver feels good, even though it contradicts modern economics, and it's so much easier to deal with £5 notes!!
30th January
The launch of SING ANOTHER POEM, on February 1st, will involve me throwing it across the room to my wife who will catch it with grace and dignity before placing it carefully in the magazine rack for future consideration.
25th JANUARY
I am excited to be printing and publishing SING ANOTHER POEM, my new book of poems, as the first via The Adam Press. It has its own Adam Press ISBN number!
In SING ANOTHER POEM, I have included ALL of the poems I've written since ORDINARILY SPEAKING. Thus, whilst I hope the book will be bought by adults there are quite a few poems you might like to share with children.
One poem, Poetic Licence, has some strong, if entirely appropriate, language in it, so it's perhaps not a book I could sell to young children . . . .
PRICE, IF SOLD DIRECT (incl. on-line, but + p&p.) £5
19th JANUARY
I've just 'posted' my new logo. It represents what I think I do . . . . with words and actions feeding off each other. Hope you like it.
Mind you, I don't do enough performances - YET! - to be able to learn the words and KEEP REMEMBERING them. Nevertheless, with the use of a music stand, I am trying to make a decent shot at keeping all body parts free!!
16th JANUARY
One day in 2004, some time during the summer, I tried to read a poem in The Independent. I couldn't - or perhaps didn't want to - understand it.
So I sat right down and wrote myself a poem - which I eventually called Poetic Licence - at the end of which Eminem comes riding to the rescue in his trusty Rap Mobile!
When I'd finished, I realised, after all these years, that there's no point in trying to be a literary person when you just aren't made that way! The poem in The Independent obviously contained lots of references to other 'literature', and made assumptions about what readers brought with them from their wider reading.
So, if not part of the Literary Community, I've decided to establish an Ordinary Community, on the basis that Literature divides and Ordinariture (!) unifies. Why? Because Ordinariture does not depend on having read anything else . . . .
All of this is a bit short-hand, but by the end of my poem (it lasts ten minutes) my Poetic Licence has been granted!
I now feel able at least to inhabit the same world as Marshall Mathers, The Streets, Arctic Monkeys . . . . . They are definitely where it's at. Not that I am anywhere near them!
13th JANUARY
For the last two days I've been proof-reading my next collection of poems. I always enjoy this but it can also be a very sobering experience when I re-read poems I thought I'd finished and realise they're not!
Plus, after a visit to York Hospital, today, I realise the book won't be complete without a poem on the subject of suppositories . . . .
2ND JANUARY
As I walked up town, a couple of days ago, Arnold Shwarzennagger (not sure about the spelling!), The Terminator, came to mind. It was probably because of lingering thoughts about his recent decision to finally confirm the Death Penalty for a man who had been on Death Row for 20+ years.
Anyway, in spite of the seriousness of context, I reflected on what kind of - - - - ator I am . . . . It was very easy!
Please stand and deliver, flex biceps - regardless of gender - and assume Arnie's Austro-American accent.
MORE A WAITER THAN AN ACTOR
I am -
The Terminator, Baby,
Of
Do it right away;
The Instigator, Baby,
Of
Leave it for today;
The Initiator, Baby,
Of
In a little while;
The Perpetrator, Baby,
Of
Lethargy with style!
Deliberator!
Meditator!
Hesitator!
Vascillator!
I am -
THE PROCRASTINATOR, Baby . . .
And
I shall be back . . .
Later . . .
Maybe . . .
This is probably the last entry, not only given the demands upon time made by HOWDEN MATTERS (very pleasurable demands!) but also because The Adam Press has begun to publish other people's work (see 'Aspects Of Howden' by Ken Powls) and to develop small-scale printing. Add to this the need to do a bit of my own performance writing from time to time, and time becomes limited.....
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