I BEAR WITNESS: fin de l'humanité 2024/25 dycp
DYCP 1 - 8
- fin de l'humanité #1, #2 and #3 and new writing BLUID and DUST (mentors Tina O'Connell and Franko B)
- crack and tar - new writing (mentor Fiona Peek and Tim Supple)
- PHENOMENON - work in progress and new writing (mentor Fiona Peek and Tim Supple)
- KNAG - work in progress and new writing (mentor Fiona Peek)
- March/April/May 24 filmed, edited and completed the final 3 films for Larmes de Clowns: KNAG final 3 films start at 10.34 on the above film (mentor Tina O'Connell)
I BEAR WITNESS: fin de l'humanité
work created as part of DYCP grant 2024/25
This year I've been focusing on making films, writing text for films and all aspects of filming and editing, as well as studying the art of film (BFI/Open University: Reading the Screen). Also making sculptural costumes as an expression of my film's themes and soundscapes too. I'm at the beginning of a technical journey and there is much to build on from what I've learned this year.
1. I BEAR WITNESS: Fin de L'Humanité #3
*works in progress - there will be a re-shoot of this film; also the potential to perform in live events
NEW WRITING BLUID and DUST
in progress 2025
I SEEN DUST DUST DUST I SEEN WEE GIRL WI LEGS BLAWED AFF BLAWED FRAE HOOSE HINGIN’ LIKE CARCUSS O’ LAMB HER LEGS BLAWED AFF AND SHREIDED PAPERY STRIPS O' YOUTHIE FLESH AW BLUID AN' DUST SMOOTH BELLY BARE LIKE MA DOCHTER’S SMOOTH BELLY BARE WEARIN’ PINK PYJAMA 7 YEAR AULD SEVEN! HER NAME SUDRA HASSOUNA SAY HER NAME SUDRA HASSOUNA AT LEAST I SEEN NOTHIN’ BUT BLUID AN’ DUST I WAD HUG HER TIL I WILL HUG HER TILL I WILL HUG HER TILL I WILL HUG HER TILL I WILL HAUD HER TIL I WILL HAUD HER
I SEEN DUST DUST DUST I SEEN WEE BOY AW GREY DUST A SHADE GAUPIN’ IN NUMB DISTRESS MAPPED BLUIDY HEID AW DUST NAKIT FEET DABBED REID BLUID DUST AW DAZED DUST SHOCK AND AWED DUST AGOG DUST PHIZOG DUST DUST DUST I DO NOT KNOW HIS AGE BUT THREE I’D SAY! I DO NOT KNOW HIS NAME SAY THAT AT LEAST I DO NOT KNOW HIS NAME I SEEN NOTHING BUT BLUID AND DUST I WAD HUG HIM TIL I WILL HUG HIM TILL I WILL HAUD HIM TIL I WILL HAUD HIM TIL I WILL HAUD HIM
I SEEN DUST I SEEN APOCALYPSE I SEEN BABES WI’ NO HEIDS WI FLAPPIN' SKULLS BRAINS BLAWED OOT BABES SNIPED IN CROWN AN’ CHEST BABES BURNT TAE CRISP AND ASH BABES REID AND BLACK FRAE WHITE PHOSPHEROUS BABES WI’ LIMBS BLAWED AFF BABES AS FOETUSES IN RUBBLE AN’ DUST BLAWED FRAE WOMB TOO SOON MAMMIE DEID AN GONE ABLOW RUBBLE AN’ DUST A TORTUROUS DAITH A SEEN BABES AW SKELET STAIRVIN AND DRAWN HORROR FAE A DIFFERENT TIME EYES BLACK WRETCHET WELLS O' RAVAGED INNOCENCE ANGUISH SORROW BEWILDERMENT THE INNOCENT! THE INNOCENT! AW THAIM BABES BLACKENED MUMMIFIED BABES LEFT TAE DIE AND ROT COS INCUBATORS WIS SWITCHED AFF BY INVADERS BRAINS SEEP FRAE EARS FRAE CRACKIT SKULLS I’VE SEEN CHILDER CUT IN HALF IN PLASTIC BAGS INFANTS WI’ EMPTY HEIDS VISCERA SQUEEZED FRAE TEENY BELLIES TEENS SQUISHED BY BULLDOZERS FLAT BABES WI' NO FUCKIN' HEIDS NO FUCKIN' HEIDS O AGONY! O AGONY! BLUIDY GENOCIDE BLOODY HOLOCAUST I SEEN DUST DUST DUST BLUIDY BLUID SEEPIN' MUNTAINS O' DUST AND ENDLESS WUNDED CHILDER NO SURVIVING FAMILY WHIT THE FUCK WHIT THE ACTUAL FUCK APOCALYPSE I SEEN DUST DUST DUST AT LEAST SAY THAT AT LEAST 18000 CHILDREN DEID AND GONE .......AT LEAST SAY THAT AT LEAST
2. I BEAR WITNESS: Fin de L'Humanité #2
3. I BEAR WITNESS: Fin de L'Humanité #1
4. text for fin de l'humanité, which is used throughout the film soundscapes in #3 and #1
5. NEW WRITING: crack and tar
a piece of text for a 3 to 5 piece performance film installation 2024/25
see film above
6. PHENOMENON
excerpt: new section from a work in progress 2024/25
ignis fatuus (section one)
Steel beam thrust upwi, root doon (upwards, root down) stridin’ iron feet clench deep earth,
suck up brouky, ceety muck. (grimy, city)
Frae thaim strident stems
gless bloom in sheet an’ plane (glass)
hing diamond-taut (hang)
sheemmer siller an’ gowd in phantasm Sun,
blue sfumato delicate an’ fine in the hyneawa,
((SHOOT THIS ON THE SEA,I AM IN THE SEA ))
gleeterin’ like ice an’ snaw,
jaggit sweep o’ colossi parrot each infineetely, (jagged/infinitely) thaim towers plink an’ prinkle an’ soar (twinkle)
as far as an eye can leuk,
mirror
fug, rain, snaw and firmaments sc-scuddin’ by. Steep an’ crucial upby (up there)
they,
lovitch an’ brassy tyrannical (lavish)
heave,
scrape clood high high (cloud)
perch fir faggit bird no-less (worn out)
stiff mast airbus must miss;
illusory, delusory, steeples o’ kaleidoscopic fantasy, phantasmagoria o’ warlds unseen
a veil tae chimera, (a veil covering an illusion) a mirage,
scoukin’ (hiding) saicrets (secrets) athin and unner (under)
not fir the meagre
annerly thon wanton weel-aff by-ordinar (only, the extraordinary) wha’s steely towers teeter in metropolissh pirr.
the clatch (section two) *untidy mess, dirty untidy person, a slut
a wumman daunder in street ablo (wanders)
hatted frae hunger, shudder bent (shoulder)
bow o’heid, bare o’feet
trapsin’ gloom doom o’ jest aboot livin,
when a sunny gleam flit an’ bunce on towers glass-edge.
Thon flash o’ sun drunk-up by gutterie daub (muddy puddle) chuck momentary scarrae upo her cheek! (reflection of light) The hatted wumman grin, wee bit in glee
as tho’ golden coin drappit at clarty feet. (dropped, dirty)
She glence (glance) upwi, til the ‘Gawds’ in plesuir an’ thanks
tae see The Sun.
The gawdy gless, diamond-taut and snar which nae eye can pierce
gleet (glitter) sun-siller-gowd an’ glower back, nae benevolence, insteid attack; they that live athin
they, thiefies of light an’ oxygen
(an’ their hingers-on)
sowpin’ (sipping) gilt-fantasies ballooned, silk-suited pilferers of howp ’n dream an’ all thangs guid ....and green,
they “well-bred” pearly-teethed thugs - youse could say -
frantic tae be seen’ in DRIP and BLING
(gotten as sweetener an’ bribe gien,
putative corruption o’ jest doin’ and dealin’)
by Prince or King or Baron or Oligarch
snapped and razzled in Gown an’ Tux
papped in Horse & Hoond
in tweed, breech, stock collar, cap, gaiter, hairnet, half-chap
on The Bloody Hunt;
or blabbin’ or snackerin’ or champagnin’ while law-makin’
they “well-bred” pearly-teethed thugs
(and their hingers-on)
hoity-toity smug an’ upstikit (snobbish) an’ haurd o’hert (*hard of heart) brankie an’ posh in architectural garb (spruce, well dressed)
cuinyied (moneyed) cologned, geary ( having riches) til their chops
thaim hoity-toity haughty thugs
frae a newly minted invention, a ray-gun
and fir sport,
blast electricky leam (ray, flash of light) at wumman’s braisent een (insolent)
- a lighting strike tae punish her brass neck
fir leukin’ up - thochts above her station and the rest.
“How daur youse, wumman
hatted frae hunger, shudder bent
bow o’ heid, bare o’ feet
skank, rank, c-c-c-clabbery (dirty)
how daur youse leuk tae us.
We sun-siller an gowd, lofty as we be, worthier than thee heavenly
youse coud say
anointed and appointed
how daur youse daur tae leuk tae we!"
That casual cruel shot rip her dress an’ hat
blister nakit feet, blast raw her lip and cheek!
Thaim heavenly hooverers o’ spoil -
The verra best o’ men – and their hingers-on -
thaim gowden-lickt, gorby (greedy) fur-festooned cocks
snichter-snitter an’ guffaw at the houndin’ of her
mock haithenous her pain (cruel)
- sneety sneisty (giggles, tittiers)
garr (force) the wumman tae crumple afore their hied-heich poust (proud) glowerin’ an’ grim abuin. (above)
wumman, sodden frae the daub (puddle) intae which she’d fawed foondert, (floundered)
crouch on aw fours, gowch (a gasp)
(make sounds of breath)
wabble, strauchle tae scuffie feet (struggle, shabby)
totter, totter.
She, the dochter o’ PAUPERTAS (poverty)
sans opulentia (wealth) athoot luxus (luxury)
she,
jest a other, a bit, a wretch, a rampallian
a grime, scullion, fustilarian,
she a ragamuffin, she a tatterdemalion,
a freak, cuffy, crotch an’ canker blossom
she a guttersnipe, a mumblecrust, a scobberlotcher
a vagger, thigger, limmer,* minker, hallan-shakker (vagabond) (*malevolent women)
a gang-aboot she, a trollop she, povert, a hure, a caird, a scurrivaig (lout) hure -whore a drab, dudderon (slut) dilapdant, daw (slut)
a gaberlunzie she, (tramp) a skintdog,
a gangrel (vagrant) skel-drool, jankymule, a blathrie, a waffie, (three-inch fool) a waff! (solitary lonely feeble disreputable)
she the dochter o’ PAUPERTAS
momeentarilty
in stun, stamarghastert an’ numb (bewildered) cruel-minded o’her seetuation (situation), her desteetution
her skank, rank, c-c-c-clabbery lot she, keep scuffy een doon,
niver gaup high
niver leuk tae sky
niver aim tae reach
niver tae breach the gless. Her sort
mere chunk o’ meat stinkin’ cheap peetifu blight
nae wirthy o’sun, nae wirthy o’ light
nae wirthy o’sun, nae wirthy o’ light
jeoparty (section three) *jeopardy
jest then, Signor Lush Concrete
ersatz in compassione, splairge his flinty airms (arm)
“Come Come,” an’ she, the wumman, follow him.
Signore Concrete usher wumman frae crottles o’ split sun (small fragments) intae indigo Islolation Alley
strait an’ narrae, soor shadae (sour shadow)
an’ direct tae his chum, a blaik-yellae Monsieur Street-Lampy.
(paint my face yellow, with cone hat – edit as an insert)
He Monsieur Lampy whisk she tae his grim cone in faux concern “Mmuh Mmuh!” and the Wumman, shockit (shocked) pulpy, scrappy, turn lax in his light-shaft.
She blink in his glare, her een (eyes) sair.
He stoop an’ chuchote in her ear
“Dentie Damsel in distress, sweet flooer-pecker”
an’ he leuking aboot, “whaure be yir chums? Hummm?
Are youse alone, birdie? Och hoo aboot some fun?
An introduce-e-t-i-o-n,
Bonjour Cherie, Je suis Monsiour Street Lampy aka The Buddha, WELCUM...
Me, The Sugarman, see, wha offer cornucopia o’ hinny treats.
I can tak youse frae these shaidaed streets tae pairadise,
in a snap
... fir ensaumple, and fir youse tae sample
GRATIS
Ah proprose, huh huh, an evenin’ o mirth....
here we’s be encircled by sumptious drinkin’ den -
Tae the left Gin Lane
Absinthe Wynd tae the right
An jest ahint whar we staund
Blootered Hoose, a pub o’ distinguished guests
Princes, politeecians, film starns an’ the rest...
Afore youse quaff, a dry aperitif, perhaps?
As in .... umph...a whiff o’ Jif or eh, a toot o’ toot? (amphetamine, cocaine)
or um, how aboot a grind o’ gravel or a scoop o’scoop? (synthetic drug highly addictive) (GHB) Bittie Junk, Molly, mebbes a seck o’ Cotton Candy? (heroin), (MDMA) (methamphetamine)... tae stairt...
How’s aboot pauchle shards o’ ice fir buzz an’ crack? (crack cocaine)
Or, somethan’ maire woozy perhaps? A squirt o’ Blind Squid? (ketamine),
Or, a dentie flutter o’ snaw? Or, kneel tae the Mother o’ God, naw? A Nib nabble o’ Monkey dust - join the monkey wi’ Bananas - or Kibbles an’ Bits? Bliss?
Or HALLOA! It’s the Mad Hatter! Aunt Emma! Big Chief! Uncle Sid? (heroin) (LSD) (mdpv) (hallucinogen) (cannabinoids), (opium), (mescaline)
Say hello, how’s aboot a kiss fae thaim comrades? Dinna leuk sae sad!
Clean up wi a’ sprinkle o’ Bath Salts, hey? Haha nae fir yer bath! (chemical drugs)
Or whit aboot a jaunt wi Lucy in thon sky wi’ Diamonds? Tak youse high as a kite. An’ shrooms’ll slip ye a magic trip psychedelic an’ rich an aw
Or should youse prefer EU-PHO-RIA,
a hug frae the GREAT BEAR? A Jackpot that! (both fentanyl)
or ...ummmm.. YUM YUM, a splatter o’ zingy beans (Adderall) fir upper
a clatch o’ peachy plank (xanex) fir dooner? If aw that be too deep a dive,
how aboot forsooth, cheechin’ a couple o’ well rolled zoots?” (weed) (this section will be more rhythmic, like a rap, more rhyme)
The street-lamp Buddah, The Sugarman, thrice named,
awreadies chuffin’ awa,
Blaw puff intil her open maw
Then, slam baa’aam thank youse ma’am
She’s oohhizzz ... jeez ...
and he “escorts” her intil The Blootered Hoose
Whaur he plighs her wi’ drink til she’s stovied and loose.
(cont.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
7. NEW WRITING: KNAG (excerpt 2025)
*KNAG: GNAWING GRIEF, HEARTACHE, PAIN
in progress; writing for ONE TAKE performance film 2024/25
whit is lost?
aw is lost
the warld is lost
we be damned
this *sairy tale stairts wi’ me
hauds MIRROR tae you
shines light on wider STUFF
an aw that’s got missin’ an’ lost
or killed or squashed or pulverised or turnt tae dust
(PLAY VIOLIN - VIOLIN WORN AS TIE).
When a wis AGE 2
a lost SKIN SKINNY on ma THUMB
tae get Attention
tae get Attention
Ma and Pa no GETTIN’ alang GLUM drum (sad)
Divorce on the table, troublesome
Paurents THE LAWYER
BLAH BLAH BLATHER
me squattin’ on a desk A witness tae PALAVER
wee fasht heid aw LAITHER LAITHER LAITHER *fasht – troubled
See Pencil Shairpener
puttens in thumb
SCREW SCREW SCREW it roond
RED bluid makkits a HOOD
like WEE reid ridin’ hood
HhhWWWWOOOOOOH scream MA “whit’s she done!”
Ah understood!
Ah UNNERSTOOD!
Carfuchlin’! Provocation! Protestation!
STRESS!
they whisk me frae the office an’ the lawyer fabricating separation
tae the doctor doon the way
THUMB skooshin’ BLUID *blood
fir examination
DIVORCE went oot the windae
yit
since thon DAY
thems parents were *muckle verra verra unhappy *greatly
and naebody wan (normal voice)
ah lost, they lost we lost cos AW the luv wis pure GUN *gone (NORMAL VOICE)
(VIOLIN)
Whit did youse lose
Aye youse whit did youse lose? (violin play grimace/cry – bordering on buffon)
AGE 3
Ah losty ma WOOF WOOF doggy
Scarlett, was her namie
Scarlett, was her namie
Suffocated PANT PANT tae daith in a BLAZE
an infernae nae less
while we the tremblin’ faimilie jumped oot the windae
tae safety
tae safety
an fire folk ablo,
tae safety (speak all in rhythm)
we left her in there, we left Scarlett in the fire
asphysiatin’ UNNER THE BED until she wis dead (NORMAL VOICE)
Whit did youse loose? (violin)
Aye youse, Whit did youse loose?
A losty MA hale HAME then
THE OGILVY AIRMS a hotel near Glamis
Went up in flame (use arms)
A rampant bale
WHOOSH!
A drunken Jock chuck flickerin’ match
intil the LINEN CUBBART tae punish ma DAD
cos o’ a spat they’d had.
Whit BAMPOT!
Bairns, residents, SCARLETT asleepin’ in bedrooms!
Wha’d do that? Wha’d do that?
BANG went aerosols BLAST went chemicals BOOM went combustibles!
KKKKKccHHHH went electricals!
SNAP CRACKLY POP
SNAPPY CRACKLY POP
lostit teddies, jammies, aw ma saft stuff (cradle a teddie)
SCARLETT MA WOOF WOOF
SCARLETT MA WOOF WOOF
Never ever gotten ower that
It bruk ma heart
Left cuntry fir ceety
lost village square, the vicar wi’ the wee kirk whaur wees did smirk
an Auntie cawed Lady wha makkit deleecious treacle toffee
an’ griddle pancakes extraordinary
lostit hills, wild, sheep
foxies, castles, trees
laund, loch, lichen, earth aneath ma feet
river, forest, winter snaw,
the lang siller slide in THE DEN,
heather, muntain, breath, FREEDOM
gaing tae the city maks me muckle verra angry
sour
stuckit atween ma sister an brither
drivin tae Dundee in a Ford Cortina
“Whaurs Scarlett?” cheeps I, not knowing she’s DEID* cos Ma’d SAID *dead
“We left Scarlett’s wi’ the guid shepherd” (posh voice)
STUPIT!
We knew REAL shepards in the Glen
REAL sheep bAA-Baaaaain’
Age 3 A didna ken
BIBLE stories guid guid ENUFF
to ken THE GUID SHEPARD s-y-m-b-o-l-i-s-e DEATH an’ thon stuff
PUFF PUFF PUFF
A LOST TRUST! A LOST TRUST!
PUFF PUFF PUFF
What did you lose? violin play grimace/cry
Yes you, what did you loose?
Age 6
Ah lostit ma HONOUR
Whit DISASTER!
Fund* paddy BRA in ma sister’s drawer *found
FRILLY PUFFY LACY LOVELY
“A’ll wear it tae Miss Rutherford’s Drama Class
A'll be bonnie an’ braw wi’ booby-boobs at last!”
Oh calamity!
No-one seen booby-boobs on me age SIX
Seen jest wee dizzy LASS in PLUMP STUFFIT BRA
niver niver not mean’t fir HER
ill-fittin’ an’ bumfled
aw bumps n’ lumps unner black SLINKY NYLON LEO-TARD
HAHA HEW HAW the hail warld laugh
HAHA HEE HAW I be DAFT DAFT DAFT!
Oh Catastrophe!
Teen laddie ah luved bent double wi’ laughter
chortlin’ guffawin’, whit disaster!
I wantit the grund tae swallae me up
Ma honour SPLAT SPALT atop the floor
wi’ SILLY SILLY bra I’d flung there an aw
RAW RAW RAW
dishonourt, disgraced, reid-faced
age SIX ah wisna verra slick
I felt sick
it was not nice and I was mortifeed* *mortified
I left The Bra at the Drama Class but it was a story that had long legs efter that.
Did youse ever loose yer honour?
Age 9
A lost face
seen school fir whit it is
a survive-at-aw-costs HELLSCAPE
Annabel Lee picks SCRAPPY SCRAP wi me
she’s bigger in Primary SIX
plump, fierce, frecklt, ruddy cheekt!
Ah dinna ken whit the BOUT’s ABOOT
Wi hands on hips she spoot
“Youse think you’re great” (btw I do not)
Unprovokt she an twa ithers jump on me an’ ma pal
On the grim stone pillars o’ Dundee High School
An' I fought back
AYE
Ah have a brither
Push come tae shuv in grisly attack
AH DINNA TAK CRAP
I SCRAP
I’m glad aboot that
She, ANNABEL, PUSH ME DOON
pullit ma hair, schriech in ma ear
an I, wi’ FURIOUS wee TEETH I BIT HER!
AAAAArung! CHOMP! (music thing)
Left a mark! Take THAT!
Wee circle o’ teeth,
a mini-scored Stonehenge
notched in tyrannical freckly skin!
She quit then
AYE
stomped aff in a huff
I thocht, “She’ll think twice”
but-bigger-than-me Annabel Lee
even-though-she-attackit-me-Annabel-Lee
tells HER teacher, Miss Taylor
THE BITE
‘N A wis pulled oot ma class
felt embarr-ASSED
had tae staund in front o’ HER LOT
at Taylor’s DESK feeling HOT
an' actually…. CROSS
my wee back pricklin’ in morteefication.
THE BOYS - gaupin’ at me
snortin’ in sha-den-freude glee
Bloody tormenting CHAGRIN!
A got aff.
It didna feel that wey.
Thaim girls PERSECUTE fir ETERNITY
hound me fir years wi’ smearfu’ BRUTALITY
A lost ma DIGNITY
School wis a horrid PRISON (normal voice)
Ah didna fit in
Ah didna fit in
Whit did youse loose?
Aye youse, Whit did youse loose?
Age 11
ah lost ma wee fawny FGNAW FGNAW (gerbil sound) GERBIL
ROMMEL was his namie
Rommel was his namie
wee neck stuck in the whirly wheel
thrappelt tae daith, Oh whit a mess!
Come home frae school hungert for TEA
Rommel’s morbid grimace GURNIN” at ME
Sick til ma belly
Til ma belly a was sick
The leuk o daith on his lip H-O-R-R-I-F-I-C
violin
Que’c’est-ce-que vous avez perdu?
Oui, vous, que’c’est-ce-que vous avez perdu?
Aw the years a was WEE
Ah lost, we lost,
ma sisters, ma brithers, ma Ma & me,
coontless MEOW MEOW cats
squished flat
by speedin’ motors an’ lorries on the street ootby
it makkit us cry
Jules, Laurence, Minski Popov
Anoushka, Rainbow, Ginger Awsorts
Jampsi, Marmalade, Boris
Big as a big hat, Top Cat
Wha lost a tale tae a truck, lived years after that
Til like the rest, was eventual squished flat
…it bruk hearts
it bruk hearts
GRAT GRAT GRAT (do crying, hanky with lots of water)
violin play grimace/cry – bordering on buffon
Cosa avete perso
sì, voi, tutti, cosa avete perso
Age 12
Ah lostit ma GRANNIE
Ma daddie last his MAMMIE
My mammie lost a soul she luved
Ma GRAND-DADDIE lost his WIFIE, Jean
JEANIE JEANIE (sing – like Bowie, support with tune)
Come back frae school
On a kitchie chair
Ma wee twin brither an’ sister DESPAIR
baith sat upo ma faithers knee
there wis no place fir me
there wis no place fir me
Pa’s eyes were reid cos his MA wis deid
Mammie grat sizzlin’’ onions by the stove
Snifflin’ (SNIFF SNIFF) like she had a cauld
But it wisna a cauld it was grief ayont belief
Ma youthie heart wis broke
BUT I do NOT (rhyme these two emphasise) remember crying
(Just a look her don’t speak)
AT 14
ma verra glamourie & dandidee Uncle
BRUCIE BRUCE
luvin’ saft gentle
DIE tragic frae a grusie deadly VIRUS
that growed pandemic A CRISIS!
AIDS glower the giant TOMBSTONE,
Terror tae the bone!
Brucie pass awa in New York Ceety
T’wis muckle more’s the peety
didna get tae say farweel
tae him alive nor even at the funeeral.
We didna go caus o’ familee feud
whit category o’ brood wad be so rude crude cruel?
I mind Brucie elegant, sweet, cool,
a Londoner, New Yorker, A Dood
flowin’ limbs, lang lush locks in latest cut
sunkiss cheek, white white teeth
bonnie smile, diaphanous threads worn in style
his end
THE DEATH
PENN-I-LESS
A Wither Awa, an eating-up, a hollow-out,
jest a pile o’bones in a skanky flat
What tae mak o that?
Aye, whit tae mak o’ that?
Who did you lose?
(over the top American accent)
Ah lost, we lost
ma sisters, ma brithers ma Ma & me,
frae auld age not a blaze
a dear WOOF WOOF doggy, ANITHER
Scooby Doo
(Sing) “Scooby Scooby Dooo Whaur be you?”
Ah fund her A DEID doormat,
Deid as a DODO, a heart attack prhaps
Asleepin-like flat on ma’s bedroom floor orange carpeted, by the door
Ma’d rushed tae wirk
left Scooby deid and weird
Fir us tae find
she didna want tae believe
Scooby’s end had comed
But the ERROR
no GROWN UP haud oor haunds in oor horror
ma wee sister thrawed up (throw up)
such wis her sorrow an’ scare
Oh Daith!
Scooby’s corpe wis hivy
makkit me sick til ma belly
makkit me think o’ the dirty filtheeness o’daith
I’d readen aboot in books on WAR FAMINE DISASTER an’ the rest
daith that cannot, will not, be scrubbit aff
ingrain, a stain, from which not one single o’ us will abstain
comes tae each an’ aw one day how far away is no fir me tae say.
Grieve fir whit is lost
Grieve an’ pay attention to each and ilka death
fir it be somethin’
aye, it be somethin’
Ma an’ me buirit* Scooby Doo *buried
in the gairden wi the roses, the gerbils, the squished cats, the cat poo
hivy like the earth we drappit her corpe intil the graff* grave
gotten vargelt wi’ mud soiled
covert her black fur wi’ soil
til she wis GONE GONE GONE
unner crumbles o’dirt an’ stone
ablo the grund,
the Haly-Muild. buriel ground
an’ jest the day afore she’d been sonsie an’ wairm
jest the day afore she’d been sonsie an’ wairm
It bruk hearts
aye it did that
(violin)
Hvem mistet du?
Ja du, hvem mistet du? (Norweigan)
Ah lost, we lost
Ma sisters, ma brithers, ma Ma, ma nephew an me
My DA,
he drunken tae muchen o’ the VODKA
such wis his dolor
SEE
puir gadgie he’d LOST muckle much an aw
his puir hert was sair raw
the drink teuken ower,
teuk awa the sorrow an’ the skaithe
teuken awa his LEGS an aw
gangreeny-black and raw
his foul legs, they had tae go
chappit aff by the surgen
SAW SAW SAW
it wisnae frae loss o’ bluid or brucken heart
he perish, depairt
NAH he DROWN
an ulcer bursten his lung
GLUG
nae hope, no a glimmer
he drown tae daith
even thou’ he wis a verra good swimmer
I’m triste Ah didna know him better
Aye it’s heart-crackin’ kinda stuff
Ma DA, bytimes a beast
also braw, funny, tender, saft
- cry for the lost -
interestin’, clever, an excellent story teller
spoken Russian, Urdu, Mandarin
towards the end wis a changed man
a melancholy an’ hurt dustBIN
he keepit everyything in
silenced by emotion he coudna neither steer nor halt
O DAITH come by hook or crook
we canna escape
you cannot escape
violin
Am I ready fir it?
Are youse ready fir it?
Whit did we lose
aye us, all of us,
what have we lost
Whit have we lost?
(cont.)