Bad Examples
The bad examples of obscure philosophers
and the shadows of old session-men
pass fondly through quiet studios
wondering how they held that rhythm
and speech or stopped that thought
Hanging on the wall there’s
an engraving of old Venice that
looks like a beached whale
They all shuffled their talents
as if they were dealers at poker
those ancient merchant seamen
with their eyes always on the opposition
They passed through libraries
caressing spines with embossed titles
but those see-through eyes
couldn’t open a single book
The words stayed stubbornly
in the allotted places
never to share their bitter flavours
Maybe I am a replicant
and so these memories bright as tulips
are really made of plastic?
Grant Duncan 25.5.09
and the shadows of old session-men
pass fondly through quiet studios
wondering how they held that rhythm
and speech or stopped that thought
Hanging on the wall there’s
an engraving of old Venice that
looks like a beached whale
They all shuffled their talents
as if they were dealers at poker
those ancient merchant seamen
with their eyes always on the opposition
They passed through libraries
caressing spines with embossed titles
but those see-through eyes
couldn’t open a single book
The words stayed stubbornly
in the allotted places
never to share their bitter flavours
Maybe I am a replicant
and so these memories bright as tulips
are really made of plastic?
Grant Duncan 25.5.09