 Peter
Waugh - Peter Ian Waugh was born in Barnet, London in 1956. Has
lived in Vienna since 1981, where he works as a freelance
translator and English teacher. Co-founder of Labyrinth and
co-editor of sub dream, the Vienna Journal of English Language
Poetry, publisher of Labyrinth poetry books. Studied with Allen
Ginsberg, Ann Waldman, Jackson Mac Low, Ed Sanders, Andrew
Schelling, Blixa Bargeld, Andrei Bitov, Henri Chopin and others.
Has organized and participated in numerous readings in Vienna
and Austria, including appearances with the groups Dunkler Sand
and the Karl Sayer Jazz Sextet and the Erste Wiener Lesetheater.
His poetry has appeared in anthologies and magazines in England,
the U.S.A., Austria, Slovakia, Macedonia and Croatia, as well as
in the chapbooks Horizon Firelight (2000) and Haiku Butterfly
Death Dream (2002). Verse translations include the bilingual
German-English volumes Terminal by Klara Köttner-Benigni and
Standpoints by Edith Sommer
Two Wrongs Make a Million
Once upon a time
we used to live here
Before they came with guns in the nite
and kicked us out of our house
threw us out of our homes
drove us off our ancient land forever
So they could live there themselves
happily ever after
Later they sold us guns
Now we live far away from them
To the people who used to live there
we came with guns in the nite
and kicked em out of their beds
threw em outa their homes
drove em off their ancient land forever
So we could live there ourselves
happily ever after
Now we sell them guns
to the people who used to live here
they came with guns in the nite
and kicked em outa their beds
threw em outa their homes
drove em off their ancient land forever
So they could live there themselves
happily ever after
ever after
ever after
ever after
Willow Basket
There’s blood on his shoulder
‘Enry, Enry tha ain is long air
see ow it runs darn is body
so pale so wretched n bare
Wrap is bones in willow leaves
till they’re dry
place is pain in a sealed basket
and sail it away on the waters
to the end o the sky
There’s blood on is temples
‘Enry, Enry tha ain jus sweat
see ow it runs inna is eyeballs
from the crown o thorns on is ead
Wrap is eyes in willow leaves
till they’re dry
place is sight in an osier basket
and sail it away on the waters
to the end o the sky
There’s blood uner is ribcage
‘Enry, Enry I believe it ain skin-deep
see ow it gapes like Mary’s vagina
see the dark red tears ooze n weep
Wrap is heart in willow leaves
try not to cry
place is soul in Moses’ basket
and sail it away on the living waters
to the end o the sky
There’s blood on his kneecaps
‘Enry, Enry tha ain no mud on is shins
see em broken by soldiers’ batons
Enry look at the size of them iron pins
Iron Nails Run In
Iron Nails Run In
Iron Nails Run In
Iron Nails Run In
Iron Nails Run In
Iron Nails Run In
Wrap is wounds in willow leaves
till they’re dry
place is pain in the sealed basket
and sail it away on the waters
to the end o the sky
There’s blood on is loincloth
‘Enry, Enry tha ain no piss on is thigh
see it dribble between is airs
Enry do they or don’t they know why
Iron Nails Run In
Iron Nails Run In
Iron Nails Run In
Iron Nails Run In
Wrap is fist in willow leaves
do not wince or sigh
place is anger in the osier basket
and sail it away on the living waters
to the end o the sky
There’s blood on his fingers
‘Enry, Enry tha ain a red sleeve on is wrist
butcher’s pig strung up for slaughter
it’s a smiling torturers’ gift
Iron Nails Run In
Iron Nails Run In
Iron Nails Run In
Iron Nails Run In
Wrap is hands in willow leaves
till they’re dry
place is life in Osiris’ basket
and sail it away on the waters
to the end o the sky
There’s blood on his ankles
‘Enry, Enry tha ain no oil on is feet
see ow it wells up like black water
and drips down onto the winding sheet
Iron Nails Run In
Iron Nails Run In
Iron Nails Run In
Iron Nails Run In
Iron Nails Run In
Iron Nails Run In
Iron Nails Run In
Wrap is oiled feet in willow leaves
till they’re dry
place is death in the sealed basket
and sail it away on the living waters
to the end o the sky
© Peter Waugh
Kleran, S. Tyrol
3+18.7.1999
|
ss
