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we can sell

by James Graham 

Posted: 08 March 2003
Word Count: 24


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we can sell
I wish to sell
you peace of mind
my doves

it's perfect for
this jewel was my mother's
that special gift
but my son will sell it now






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Comments by other Members



Anna Reynolds at 14:46 on 08 March 2003  Report this post
I love the structure of this and the fact that as a reader you have to read it in different ways and work a little- very unusual and beautiful

Hilary Custance at 12:39 on 26 April 2003  Report this post
James, I have read this every which way and it works again and again. I love the song inside it, the almost nursery rhyme quality, that makes you start again from the beginning when you get to the end.

James Graham at 14:45 on 26 April 2003  Report this post
Thanks, Hilary. I'm glad this poem works for you. I don't think I've explained it yet. The lines in italics are verbatim (i.e. as translated) from words spoken by Iraqi people in a documentary a couple of years ago. They were having to sell precious possessions in order to buy essentials. The other lines are, of course, verbatim from TV ads - the first from a US ad for Chrysler cars, the other I forget, could be almost anything. That nursery rhyme quality - that's good, and I'm delighted this raw material could come together in such a way as to acquire that 'innocent' tone.

James.

Hilary Custance at 14:33 on 02 May 2003  Report this post
Interesting. I picked up the italic story, but not its Iraqi origin. It sent me to mediaeval France, so I got time plus country plus human angles contrasts. All in eight ultra short lines. Very satisfying. Hilary

didau at 17:20 on 20 June 2010  Report this post
Just read via random read. Great - I love the idea of found poetry - you've stitched the component parts together very neatly.


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