Gutter, God, Gala and Good Works of Art

Well, I got a poem in Gutter: the magazine of new Scottish writing. As did fellow bloggers shug, Marion McCready and Aiko Harman - good company; how cool is that!

Issue 3 out in August: catch it while it's hot, here:

http://www.guttermag.co.uk/

Last post, Enchanted Oak asked about my Big One. I hope this poem, which I've posted before and is from The Fat Plant, starts to answer the question.

On reading the bible to my children

“Is this a true story?” they ask, at five.

Flawless, I reply: “In the meta sense”.

For the cut glass crystal clarity

of this book so apparent that wonder

means no doubt could ever enter here, my mind

seven days creation, nanoseconds

of the big bang and eons of galaxy gathering

until a planet earth, then life could be,

and it started in the water, on the fifth day.

We evolve the next, command the earth

till Adam’s subtle serpent tempts Eve,

he wants her fruit, and I know children

mean all innocence is lost: you have to grow up.

Pressure on resources makes unhappy

hunter gatherers have to herd, then harrow,

then murder so cities can be built,

but thrown together we reveal ourselves

to God, so He floods the earth, and wouldn’t you?

Noah hope, rainbow promise, start again

and ziggurats rise in Ur we were so wise

that we could be as God, so of course were fools

and never spoke to each other again.

By the time you get to Abram the psychological

truth of that story, in that place, at that time,

means you cannot doubt another word and look,

boys, look, we’re only at Genesis 12.

I do not even colour, for faith

is air not effort to me and

I never have to justify.

Meanwhile, Penpont is in the throes of Gala fever. The Queen was crowned on Sunday, the Scroll was read and the children of the village got soaked to the skin in "It's A Knockout".
On Monday it was Scottish night in the school, Tuesday was the mini-marathon and last night my team and I raced to third last in the Pub Quiz. Five-a-side tonight, and tomorrow it's big decision time, as the Pet Show is at the same time as the Car Treasure Hunt. But the big day is Saturday, as that's Fancy Dress and Parade time.

A while back I said I'd try and find Eryl a picture of the boys the second year they entered (at 2 years old) as Romulus and Remus, with Titus as the She-Wolf.

And lo, it's a bit fuzzy, and Mr T's head appears to have exploded, but here it is. Do please note the craftily painted egg-box.

On looking in the album, I noticed Titus also won the Terrier Race that year. Streets ahead. There were hay-bale hurdles too!


Finally, as it's the last week of school, every single piece of paper, workbook, drawing, test, story, poem, painting etc. that the children have created during the year are coming home. It's a heavy load each night, and even harder to "lose".
But T2 brought this home tonight, and whether created by luck, judgement or accident, I was really impressed. I'm seriously considering getting it framed. And trust me, I'm not that sort of mother. I just really liked it, never mind the artist.