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The black box of history

Submitted by vandiemenspeak on Sat, 2016-02-13 22:37

Like a funereal time machine
askew against a wall, lit Brit
with the graffiti of men
stands a long black box

Time just left it here
wedged in a corner
where its accumulated ghosts
were set adrift in history

And can speak no more of
its singular Blackwood horrors,
how it survived, down the centuries
while they perished in the salty dark

Even in memory they are extinct
yet this crudely built, time daubed
monstrosity persists, and is
yet heralded, the arbiter of

The ghoul tourist gaze
And utterances of astonishment
while the forgotten poor, travelers
in time, are gone to unknown shores.

Style / type:

Free verse

Review Request (Intensity):

I appreciate moderate constructive criticism

Last few words:

A short piece about this: http://shapingtasmania.tmag.tas.gov.au/object.aspx?ID=18 to give some context.Sorry, not exactly a happy valentine - but more, in memory of the Women prisoners of the colonial past, who should never be forgotten, lest we let it happen again (and we are).

Editing stage:

Editing - draft

Comments

Roscoe Lane

Sun, 2016-02-14 04:26

Thoroughly enjoyed,

Thoroughly enjoyed the images created in your poem, and though i don't have a great knowledge of this piece of our history. I will certainly know more before the day is out. Regards Roscoe..

Roscoe Llane,

Religion will rip your faith off, and return
for the mask of disbelief that's left.

vandiemenspeak

Tue, 2016-02-23 06:58

Ta Roscoe..

Its quite an arresting object to see (at the TMAG Tasmania) although there is an eery air about the thing and what it represents, hope to do a few variations on various objects there.

Thanks,glad you enjoyed.

Chris.

Chris Hall - Tasmania

Grossbooted draymen rolled barrels dullthudding out of Prince's stores and bumped them up on the brewery float. On the brewery float bumped dullthudding barrels rolled by grossbooted draymen out of Prince's stores.

author comment

Esker

Sun, 2016-02-14 17:27

the brutality of history shapes the values of humanity

and only the strong survive.......ramses was great..and he was theproduct
of brother and sister.....theology ruled..christians conquered rome....and yet
in the inquisition period they superceeded the barbaric and beyond cruelty
practises....but beyond..back to the box.....how many grew up just locked or
sent to their room...the corner....I was lucky enough to have gone too school
and I think I wore a Dunce cap! a few times.....the stronger ones wanted the
popular ones.....so I was expelled..and glad....now I see there is more then just
our smal town politics as it was then.......I think of the Iron Maiden...I think hell is
here on earth....my own opinion!....cant go into it much more..I read the histories
and watch the footage all the time too keep in check with how reality is more
incredibly macro then the movie industry or the pretend thirst man has...
control
a ruling body makes examples...
and during harsh times
and they will come again
it shall be re issued
sad as that is....

we are grateful I am grateful I live in Ontario canada
and not in other places
but that was by chance
of the creator
or God...

would I be ignorant and revel in the rules and demise
of others by sex or gender..persecution from intelligece
expressions or speaking out...
nothing has lasted that has truly been cruel and
ambivelant
all that totters...

glad they keep the old not so long ago items that
were seen as the proper way to eradicate the
wastrels..seen then of society...
when in reality it was probably very creative intelligence
people and or the brilliant
mental illness and the knowledge of rights
which are the dangers of independence
...
love ur interest in history
dude.....I only run with the kick ass
and knowledable..

but running an empire?
no easy business....
ha..

thank U

vandiemenspeak

Tue, 2016-02-23 06:53

i hear you...

Prison witinin a prison within....
Escape all that and then we have to liberate our selves from our own shackles..
Thanks for the mention of the Iron Maiden, there is a parallel..(run to the hills..loved iron maiden, the band too)
The black box was a dunking device for unruly women on ships in the early fleet..unspeakable horrors, tough women, still the stoic resilience in the older Tasmanian generation now, visible as two hundred years of Longing in the eyes, you see it every now and then.

Thanks for your always interesting expansive replies -always enjoy them, cutting out, coz I'm on the road again..
PS stumbled upon some signed first edition canadian poets books (maybe moved down here, I dunno) called George Bowering, Vermeers light, did you ever get into his stuff, gather he was quite a "big deal" over there in the neighbour of the beast..hmm i like it..

Take care,

Chris.

Chris Hall - Tasmania

author comment

emeka ozurumba

Mon, 2016-02-15 15:34

Nice piece

The best test of loneliness on loves aftermath, though satiated

vandiemenspeak

Tue, 2016-02-23 06:26

Thanks emeka

Thats an interesting line, something for me to think about! Thanks for checking out.

Chris.

Chris Hall - Tasmania

author comment

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The black box of history