Friday 6 February 2015

Dr FEELGOOD FARMING

Or workshop 7.
I recently ran a workshop for Juncture 25 and based it on an idea by Tony Williams that had been published by The Guardian. Essentially the idea was to write a poem from the perspective of a commodity. 
The first idea I had was this:

Modern Farming Methods

The land endures.
You cannot own it but we believe do,
are willing to die for this illusion.
But look at the results of our husbandry;
speed freak intensive production,
cranked up Dr. Feelgood farming.
If this field was a man
he'd be stick thin, with rotting teeth,
and dark circles under each vague eye,
lined up with the methadone brigade,
waiting for that sticky, sweet dollop of grace
that each morning brings.
I was thinking of how intensive farming has depleted the land how it is dependent on the chemicals we add.
This second attempt was about the forced harvesting of organs from prisoners.

eyesight to the blind

Each has it's price.
Worth more than this captive life,
which is stamped and set for execution.
Once the deals are done,
and the logistics of modern medicine
have arrived at an optimum date,
a harvest festival of human organs.
We shall give thanks,
but not enquire too closely
how they have come here.
Pretty desperate stuff eh? Hopefully next post will be a little lighter...
Here's Brooke Sharkey and Adam Beattie.

2 comments:

  1. I love the title. The first thought in my head is the wonderful song by Aretha Franklin, which had a lovely sensuality to it. Then the poem reminds me of an old Native American custom (for some tribes I should say). Some native peoples of America had the view that you could never own land. If you couldn't pick it up and take it with you...you didn't own it. Great job idea for a workshop. Cheers!

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    1. Aretha is a wonderful singer. I had not heard the particular custom you mention but I was thinking of the different way First People regard the land. I have to agree with them, you can't own the land. Glad you liked the poem:)

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