Derek Mahon
As It Should Be
We hunted the mad bastard
Through bog, moorland, rock, to the star-lit west
And gunned him down in a blind yard
Between ten sleeping lorries
And an electricity generator.
Let us hear no idle talk
Of the moon in the Yellow River.
The air blows softer since his departure.
Since his tide burial during school hours
Our kiddies have known no bad dreams.
Their cries echo lightly along the coast.
This is as it should be.
They will thank us for it when they grow up
To a world with method in it.
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18 comments:
How very apt.
Seana
Yeah its not on the web anywhere so I had to dig it out of an anthology and type it in myself, but it was worth it.
As I bet you could guess, I am not totally of the mindset, but I understand it and commiserate with it, so thanks for that extra effort. I hope a few others will find it here.
Two of my events coordinating friends really enjoyed that Onion piece on author readings, and one said she was tempted to print it and frame it so that she could look at it for her own amusement. Our main events coordinator happens to be in Jordan right at the moment, which is very typically her way of syncing in with the times. No doubt she will enjoy it on her return, which, en shellah, she will.
Seana
Yeah its a very funny piece.
Twice I've had crowds of zero people at events I had actually flown across the country to attend. At the Boulder Bookstore I was told by staff at the front desk my event had been cancelled when in fact it hadn't been. (Only my cousin made it through the disinformation campaign). In San Mateo a bookstore owner's daughter impersonated the only member of the crowd. Etc.
I refuse to do readings now unless its with another author or its at a bookstore where I know they will drive them in with a stick if necessary.
Sticks. Now I hadn't thought of that. I'll have to mention that to the powers that be here, although I think they might be a bit afraid to give me one.
Seana
And then there was the time I got heckled for "using fancy words" at an event in Boston.
But of course it could have been worse
What a great story. I guess for a comedian everthing really is material.
'Everthing' was a typo, not my attempt to mimic a Louisiana accent.
That was an excellent poem and if I am interpreting it the right way, it packed a huge punch, for me at least.
The Onion article was an entertaining piece. Liked this:
"Sometimes when it's this vast sea of eight faces"
Sean
Yeah I laughed out loud at that bit. Once at the Tattered Cover I had a crowd of 11. I could hardly believe it.
At least you've never been a bookstore when someone dropped dead during a reading. Oh, wait. You have, haven't you?
======================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Well, at least it wasn't him, Peter. Which might have happened to that comedian.
Great timely poem. Thanks for finding it. When did he write that and about whom?
Off topic...
I am LOVING Fifty Grand audiobook. I love your writing style. I love how I love your heroes. Paula Christensen is grand.
I think by me reading that I just used up all of your internet time for the month.
Trudy
It was written over twenty years ago. About whom though I have no clue. Not a very nice person I'll bet.
Brian
Yes I watch a lot of Project Free TV but I cant really believe I use 16 gigs a month.
Peter, Seana
Yup someone did die on one of my shifts at Barnes and Noble. In fact she died in the morning, sat in the chair all day and no one noticed.
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