Last Week at Special Sounds . . .

Last week at Special Sounds, we abandoned our usual pop quiz in favour of something a little more creatively stimulating. Kicking off the evening, I invited our assembled guests to write me a poem, with a prize on offer of this month's mixtape (lovingly compiled by the Spirit of Gravity's Señor Cheesemaster). I fully expected almost no-one to show an interest and a paltry smattering of half-arsed verse to follow, but I was pleasantly surprised by a plethora of fine poems. Please allow me to share with you some of our favourites . . . .

Once upon a man there was a time,

a fleshy construct born of rhyme,

and in his mind there was a pen,

the paper hopes and dreams of men.

L. Renshaw

          _______________________

Preconceptions poisoned a powerful statement

Laymens terms apply

This fool is hardly the apples of my eye

No tool to maintain this guy

M.O.T., D.O.A., 

somethign surely went astray,

ran away,

but not from home

sluts on the phone

you tut, i moan

seasonal sorry sad metronome

"Tiny, tone it down!"

Bassline buried frown

under some gorge of

other hims and hers

gospel hymns and church choir fur

oh father i pray to be

blessed with your sordid slur.

Powers that be, arguing

love motives assumingly.

Aggressive as it was so

light to touch but fear of

fumble - your tears will 

crumble this establishment's walls.

T.M.

          _______________________

Intense?

Kissing you

Explosion!

As you walk up the stairs

I already miss you!

 - Why haven't you answered?

Are you angry?

Are you sad?

Don't be - I'll call again later . . . 

or send you the tenth text.

She: I'll never snog again!

          _______________________

In your ragged shirt

no style, no mode

five quid is too much

you said

for a t-shirt

And you were right.

No 'do' for you

clippers will suffice

oh how we laughed

at the slaves

How shallow, we said

and we were right

Without warning

No bell announced

In other words

I was surprised

When ragged became passé

and a grand 

was not enough

clippers begone,

the hair it shone

How fabulous they said

and they were right.

          _______________________

Sitting here in Oliver's

Listening to Special Sounds

Pints are very expensive

Each one costing four pounds

Wailing accordians

Boxes full of beats

We all love it at Oliver's

Shame there's no spare seats

(except the ones down there. And over there.)

James Dale

          _______________________

Haikus are easy

But sometimes they don't make sense

Refrigerator

          _______________________

Drawings of T-Toe and Laying on of Hands by Steve Reed of Club Silencio.