Journey of Words

The Joy Has Gone / Muzak / Bones

Spare me this muzakThis rolling newsfeed24 hours – no codaOstinatoA builder’s skip fullOf disposable nappiesAt dawn, with ratsAt noon, in full sunAt dusk, with fliesThe witching hour passesMore disposable nappiesAre piled onOn the hour, every hourOstinatoHuman interest storiesWho writes this stuff?¡Ay!One could not make it upThe stench buildsOstinatoThe chorus of bluebottlesDrown the choirsOf widowedOrphaned, the… 

Spare me this muzak
This rolling newsfeed
24 hours - no coda

Ostinato

A builder’s skip full
Of disposable nappies
At dawn, with rats
At noon, in full sun
At dusk, with flies
The witching hour passes
More disposable nappies
Are piled on
On the hour, every hour

Ostinato

Human interest stories
Who writes this stuff?
¡Ay!
One could not make it up
The stench builds

Ostinato

The chorus of bluebottles
Drown the choirs
Of widowed
Orphaned, the vilomah

Ostinato

The nation diverts funds
From the disabled and sick
To rebuild armed forces

Crescendo

A woman
Studies her DNA
After a healthy, happy life
She’s discovered
She was swapped
In the maternity ward
For another baby
With the same surname
Seventy years ago

Fanfare

Thousands killed in earthquake
Desperate scramble
To save lives

Diminuendo

Bones
Play those rhythm bones
That’s all to play on
The bones of the  bombed
Town hall
Hospital
Mosque
The bones found
In the school yard

Ostinato

¡Ay! The joy has gone

~

n.b. Here, the weekend. Let us play, watch sports, listen to music, relax. The Earth spins on.

CLP 05/04/2025

5 responses

  1. kim881 Avatar
    kim881

    Your title reminded me of the old BB King blues song ‘The Thrill is Gone’, Chris.

    1. Christopher Perry Avatar
      Christopher Perry

      Kim, Good morning! I took the three elements of the title from the tabular prompt, but yes, a strong echo of that BB King classic.

  2. Alana Avatar
    Alana

    Wow. This is epic. Such musicality and sweeping movement and strangeness. I love it.

  3. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Holy poetry! You had me on my seat, Chris.

    1. Christopher Perry Avatar
      Christopher Perry

      …and on a Saturday too! Thanks for letting me know 🙏

The author

Chris Perry

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