24 Puaner oF THE Arts / NOVEMBER 1995 The following is a selection from painter/poet Alastair Wood's upcoming anthology of poetry. Should you wish to obtain a copy, please contact Alaister c/o ECIAD. Swamp Blues - A Retrospective I visited your strange den last night, I wanted to see you in your weird playground, I wanted to hear you speak From your psychotic battleground, I] walked to and from the front lines, I watched and almost understood The menacing behavior You engage at the riverside. The bizarre colour you paint yourself Sets you apart from the rest of us, Yet when we’re down and out, It’s you to whom we turn for words of wisdom. Messing about on the front porch, Standing an inch too close to the doorway, We see you rocking back and forth, Humming, thinking, falling, stinking. You've scoured the minds of the past To create your present, What will you do tomorrow? Will you wander through the quagmire Smoking and abandoning empathy? Please promise That you will continue to send us postcards From your terrible travels. Don't give us notes and details About the folly and the loss, We need only roadmaps and weather reports To piece together the puzzle And find out where you are. When we need you, We'll cook a hot meal And with a brown dish cloth Waft the scent in the direction Of your last known location, As a native creates smoke signals To communicate back to the tribe. Should you ever leave the river And come back from the swamp you're calling home, We should feel two things - First, the comforting knowledge That you have at last returned To the safety of our realm, And second, the sadness in our hearts Of understanding that you ventured Too far from the anchor that we are fi And not nearly far enough Darkness to Light - To please yourself. How | came to ECIAD photo: France Guerin A terrible truth was revealed no words could kiss it better ir tire swing beckons everyone takes a turn reality breaks down behind the mask the new girl stands back not included in the fun after an unexpected invitation told the family; changeling she happily runs over climbs onto the tire acceptance to change - reincarnate Limerick contest packed the bag, headed west driving, driving, driving they wind the swing preparing the ride H the rope twists and knots You cou ld Wi Nn a she ascends ever higher for condemnation backwards in time they let go of the swing FRE E CO M PACT D | SC as the school bell rings out — . for the rock on the head laughing uproariously by writing the best ECIAD limerick! return to their class room waiting, waiting, waiting hasn't come yet. i see her through the window Contest Rules: © Limerick must contain the word ‘ECIAD' helplessly spinning round : © Entrant must be a current ECIAD student 2 : faintly i hear her cries Maybe the creations will be ghostly, catch blurred glimpses halt Leseneie fo maybe they can't be photographed? of fear and helplessness Planet of the Arts (Rm 242), skin along with your name & phone #. i feel shame -kristeeyauna rena del pieve gobbi re ere ree o. 24 Prver or ne Aes | Nowe 1995 The following is selection from pointer/poet Alastair Wood's upcoming onthology of poetry. ‘Should you wish o obtain o copy, please contact ‘Aloster co ECAD, Swamp Blues ~ A Retrospective I visited your strange den lastnight, {wanted to see you in your weird playground, [wanted to hear you speak From your psychotic battleground, | walked to and from the front lines, [watched and almost understood The menacing behavior You engage at the riverside The bizarre colour you paint yourself Sets you apart from the rest of us, Yet when we're down and out, e's you to whom we turn for words of wisdom, Messing about on the front porch, Standing an inch too clase to the doorway, We see you rocking back and forth, Humming, thinking, falling, stinking. You've scoured the minds of the past To create your present, What will you do tomorrow? \Will you wander through the quagmire Smoking and abandoning empathy? Please promise That you will continue to send us posteards From your terible travels. Don't give us notes and details About the folly and the loss, We need only roadmaps and weather reports ‘To piece together the puzzle ‘And find out where you are ‘When we need you, Well cook a hot meal ‘And witha brown dish cloth Wiaft the scent in the direction Of your last known location, {As a native creates smoke signals ‘To communicate back tothe tribe. ‘Should you ever leave the river ‘And come back from the swamp you're calling home, ‘We should feel two things ~ First, the comforting knowledge That you have at last returned ss in our hearts Of understanding that you ventured Too far fom the anchor that we are ; ‘And not nearly far enough Darkness to Light ~ Tepes ousal © ae How I came to ECIAD sot: Fane Guin A terrible truth was revealed he tire swing beckons everyone takes 2 turn reality breaks down behind the mask the new git stands back not included in the fun after an unexpected invitation ro words could kis it beter acceptance to change -reincarnate Limerick contest told the family; changeling she happily runs over limbs onto the tire packed the bag, headed west Atriving, driving, driving they wind the swing preparing the waiting, waiting, waiting ee eee You could win a meee 2 ee - : FREE COMPACT DISC or condnnaton bcos nie yg ob tesla a forthe rockon the head ington menus by writing the best ECIAD limerick! return to their lass room hasn't come yet. i see her through the window Contest Rules: _* Limerick must contain the word "ECIAD! helplessly spinning round ‘© Entrant must be a current ECIAD student faintly i hear her cries Maybe the creations willbe ghosty, catch blurted glimpses ‘Submit Limericks to ‘maybe they cant be photographed? of fear and helplessness Planet of the Arts (Rm 242), ae ‘along with your name & phone #. [feel shame ~histeeyauna rena del peve gobbi