Rob Ayling writes:
"Thom the World poet is an old mate of mine from way back in my history. Even pre-dating Voiceprint, when I was running "Otter Songs" and Tom's poetry tapes and guest appearances with Daevid Allen, Gilli Smyth Mother Gong are well known and highly regarded. It just felt right to include a daily poem from Thom on our Gonzo blog and when I approached him to do so, he replied with in seconds!!! Thom is a great talent and just wants to spread poetry, light and positive energy across the globe. If we at Gonzo can help him do that - why not? why not indeed!!" (The wondrous poetpic is by Jack McCabe, who I hope forgives me for scribbling all over it with Photoshop)
MOST IS FORGOTTEN
underneath the waters-we see parts of ourselves
waiting to be seen by us
most is unremembered-unremarkable
except for the simple fact that
who we really are is only made up
as we go along-like a poem(or song)
and the riff becomes a raga when we remember
who we were -all along
was -underneath the waters.
MONKEYS MAKING SHAKESPEARE
Given enough computers-a Space Probe
Falling NASA Satellites-
Space Shuttles hairline fractures-
Lost spy satellites-space junk debris
Meteorite storms-Cloud Of Unknowing
Mysticism comes in where Science fails to impress
The Goddess undresses herself
Only for the Muse.
DISCOS WITH DRUGS
Evian water plastic bottles in their hands
Raised as in supplication
For the mythical GOOD TIME
They will sway until the day
disturbs the night's sweet sweat-away
into a Chill Zone-crash and wait
until the next website reveals the site
for another Rave Up-another Disco -with drugs.
MY FRIEND IS A SOUNDTRACK
He plays Cds until he hears them clearly
Then he writes his own songs
For keyboard and guitars
Trains the young-and comes
into a comfortable obscurity
Aware of his need to hear
what others need to buy to see.
BBQ UPON THE BEACH
They come for sand and sun and surf
(back beat behind them)
Burning meats as in oblation
For a harsher God of Sun,who leaves them
under a gentler moon-reflection
of this transition-afternoon into evening
They will all go home when Light leaves them
Under stars -with little left to guide them
On the sand.
DEATH CAN WAIT
Youth ,impatient ,wants to ride this surf
Again ,again-until that Perfect Wave
Deposits them like a bottle upon an empty beach
They will practise living as the living practice
breathing -in tune with moon and stars and sun
All is air in this most visible constellation
When what we see is only particle consciousness
Death must wait -for breath to cease
Yet is she patient-upon each beach
Counting the waves.
JAZZ FISH
Swerve beneath these whiteroll waves
Patrol birds watch for their weaknesses
dive into the seas at first opportunities
Extract the body of a fish -to take into the air
So she may never breathe up there
where only teeth greet her life's scales
Music on the shore-and within-
Fish live -between these waves-and dream..
ABOVE US,BIRDS
V this blue eye sky
Formation flying somewhere else
We stare upwards-wonder at wings above us
As one or two will s ssswoop dive down to pickup lunch
Fresh kept as a secret underseas-and we
between elements at this moment-cling to shallows
knowing that we would be food for sharks
apart from guards who watch us like birds too-
we are their food.
WATER SLIPPED ,SLAPPED INTO MY WORDS
Sand ,too-insistent,in shoes
Dragged in -too small to resist
Wet towels and grainy sandals
The Universe within a soggy sandwich.
SAX UPON THE BEACH
And beat from a big bass
Guitar,too,in trio moods
Elegant as an edge of listeners
A shell of ripples extending
Into the ears of waves,shushing!ATTENTION!
EYE CHOOSE NOT TO BE FISH
or even winged huntering birdwave
nor the sea which provides some temporary sanctuary
More the eyes-watching-as from a distance
realising most the intricate connections-
Waves,sea,bird,fish,hunt,me.
LONG LINES
into the deep
seek out the attention
of some distracted creature
ah! poetry!
THERE SEEMS NO TIME TO READ
Nor listen-or even see-how quickly
Time has taken what we were familiar with
and changed everything.
SEVERAL LIVES AGO
Before now-and you-and what we know of US
Eye was oblivious.
TO YOU-THIS IS JUST A DAY
like any other-a temporary lover
You resist her-she must change into her evening
wear stars within her hair-you stare
across a dreaming distance-and say
'Have we not met before/ in another day?"
POOLS WITHIN ROCKS
and Life,trapped -like crabs-plots
to escape into the deeper deep
and -waves away-a tide -will come
and take everything upon this land
and drag it back to see again-
separateness-illusion.
PERHAPS,SOMEWHERE
on an island-alone and perfect
with everything he needs-he weaves
fishnets for a morning tide
brings in-newspaper food-digests
the day one sun away-and night
just a dream of moons.
TATTOOS-inked patterns
seen upon this beach sunwarming
Midriffs,too-with piercings
Ears with rings-all jewelry
Scattered upon sunbaking skins.
(Scene to be seen)
BETWEEN SKYSCRAPER SLUMS
Rising like corporate debt
Decrepit cottages creak
Religious reminders of daze passed
when parties were hippies and heart
before rents rose like evictions
and a new wave displaced the art.
SHE SMELLS THE JASMINE
Before she sees it-small Illuminations
sneak into our attentions-span consciousness
before we can censor -or deny
Take Us Away!
THE YARD IS TORTURED GRASS
Mexicans come with more power than they have
and cut those who rise up
Blades whirl faster-chop down
All who will not fit within regulation
Within,citizens fear extermination
If this can happen to aliens...
WE FOUND BOOKS,IN GERMAN,OUTSIDE
We left them for their owner to find them
Now-if only someone could sing their saga
in an English version.
EYE WILL NOT PLEDGE UNIQUENESS
Nor swear eternal fidelities
We are together by delicious accident
Me,writing.You -reading this
SSH! DO NOT TELL ANYONE!
They would never believe -this happy ending.
IN THE LAND OF ETERNAL SUNSHINE
The only politics is commercialism
CASTLES,SAND,WAVES
Temporary as time-
ATTENTION!
WE ARE IN RELATION SHIP
Sailing between ports of call
Harbours of night-beached whales
Eating beluga!
CALLIGRAPHY
Mostly,remembering
Names upon grains of sand-and
what was forgotten-those without enough rice
to feed them
MUSEUM OF COCKROACHES
Rats,mice,ants,fleas
Snails-all the despised of humanity
Holocaust of killers
and the failure of exterminations to convince.
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