Theme was something on the lines of skirmish police . I had a long stand, then worked out the policing that I did in my head around what I think I should etc etc etc and I was gonna write along those lines ( about our inner critic I suppose) . Then I was thinking about what I thought about earlier today - about maybe a prompt that might be more about changing how we write instead of what we are writing about . I wrote a lot differently when I first wrote on my phone . At that time I would have been using predictive text. It ended up in lyrics coming out that possibly changed the course of my writing especially in terms of taking on different personas. ( there were quite a few cyber personas at that tume!) So what to change snd how -? write while walking, write while in bed, write on paper or in a different form than what we usually do maybe , dictate. Stand or sit .
Anyway time ticked on so I sat on the floor in the sun on my onesie with pen and paper and this came out. It’s neither poetry nor prose nor a song or lyric. It’s a hybrid of jottings which might be the core of something . Now get to writing it to share with you…
Well here I am in my sheep onesie with a piece of paper in my hand
Red specs cup of coffee. Lavazza is my brand.
I’m tired of the screen-write - the tiny words.
Baa! I say as I curl up tight.
Getting back to basics- snug- toes on the terra-cotta ( wool) carpet
We sheep like connection with the earthly things.
Matilda - I’ve decided to call myself.
She’s me in this embodiment.
She contemplates the stillness
In between chews- or coffee slugs in my case
She’s distractible of course
despite the urge to be poetic
The cat coming by, the sounds of a bee buzzing, the water fountain all create atmosphere
If I was a sheep I would not care too much about grammar or spelling
I wouldn’t care if lines were long
Or short
Or ended in full stops
Or abused exclamation marks!!
I wouldn’t worry about scansion
Or be ready with arguments to
Justify the extra syllables
And rhythms you
Might not have thought of …
I wouldn’t consider
a legacy, a heritage
- The steps and words of others .
Wouldn’t know I’m
a bit Welsh
- the land of poets and bards.
Wouldn’t get lost in contemplation
Of my travels
Those I met
Revelations I have had
To be honest I’m lucky to
Have escaped the abattoir
- that I didn’t know about - or do I- ?
And do I feel utter
Despair each year my
Darlings and I are separated?
Here in my sheepskin I
Dont feel much like editing
My scribblings turn to paper- mache anyway.
And of course it’s hard to hold a pen in a hoof.
It’s all in here ( points to head) yes
Behind those eyes
( inscrutable)
You’ve seen a thousand times and ignored
Oh I’m not worried about being hackneyed or cliched
First world problems!
My rage- a plot line- I think not
I am the sheep if stillness
of enjoying sun
After a downpour
Of enjoying fragrant heather
On bleak moors
Of enjoying this day
After all that
And not even worried about being
‘Relatable’
You can’t feel my anguish and I wouldn’t wish it on you
But you might notice
as I look up
My expression changes
Mostly I practice being
Totally enigmatic.
( insert more expressions here)
But today I temporarily frolick
Flick my tail
And
Bounce!
Embodying our universally
Understood friskiness
Didn’t expect that eh??
Clever clogs!
Never underestimate a sheep
They are omnipresent and
Know your every thought
And to be honest
Dont rate you much!
@rayboneor Feb 2022
I really do love this. I don't want to descend into analysis when appreciation seems more appropriate. I chuckled at the mention of first world problems, from a sheep's perspective. I love the imagery, too. Ah, to be out enjoying fragrant heather on the bleak moors! I almost feel that I am :)
@coolparadiso Feb 2022
Oo sort of babe for sheep! It is odd but good odd and hey i like odd anyway!
@timfatchen Feb 2022
This is quite theatrical and amazing. I could see it staged as both part-sung and spoken. No I'm not going to set it but in a less stressed time...and you've already organised the costuming. There's quite a moral tale here!