Thread: Regime Change - Andrew Motion

This poem was written by Andrew Motion, Poet Laureate to HRH Queen Elizabeth II, in protest at the invasion of Iraq.

Advancing down the road from Nineveh
Death paused a while and said 'Now listen here.

You see the names of places roundabout?
They're mine now, and I've turned them inside out.

Take Eden, further south: At dawn today
I ordered up my troops to tear away

Its walls and gates so everyone can see
That gorgeous fruit which dangles from its tree.

You want it, don't you? Go and eat it then,
And lick your lips, and pick the same again.

Take Tigris and Euphrates; once they ran
Through childhood-coloured slats of sand and sun.

Not any more they don't; I've filled them up
With countless different kinds of human crap.

Take Babylon, the palace sprouting flowers
Which sweetened empires in their peaceful hours -

I've found a different way to scent the air:
Already it's a by-word for despair.

Which leaves Baghdad - the star-tipped minarets,
The marble courts and halls, the mirage-heat.

These places, and the ancient things you know,
You won't know soon. I'm working on it now.'

This was just good. Just also meaning fantastic, in my world.

I'll probably yelled at for saying this, and perhaps I am wrong, but did the rythm here seem a little off? Or am I just reading it wrong?

I liked the images, particularly the part about flowers...

I thought it was average. We all know that Duffy should be the laureate anyway.

I'm actually not very impressed by this either... but then again I don't really know all the rules (something that's been talked about a lot lately, it seems), and sometimes think "I just don't understand poetry..." when I feel "This work is mediocre at best."

Originally Posted by Matthatter

I'm actually not very impressed by this either... but then again I don't really know all the rules (something that's been talked about a lot lately, it seems), and sometimes think "I just don't understand poetry..." when I feel "This work is mediocre at best."

Totally agree. One of the reasons why I prefer novel writing to poetry.

But I still love poetry when it comes from people like Duffy. She blows all the old rules and rubbish out of the window and writes some amazing stuff.

Originally Posted by Mermaid on the breakwater

Totally agree. One of the reasons why I prefer novel writing to poetry.

But I still love poetry when it comes from people like Duffy. She blows all the old rules and rubbish out of the window and writes some amazing stuff.

The point in posting this was to show that all poets do not always discard all the old rules and there's really no reason why they should apart from the prejudice of some modern writers, whose bias is equal to those who say that rock music negates classical.

Originally Posted by Baron

The point in posting this was to show that all poets do not always discard all the old rules and there's really no reason why they should apart from the prejudice of some modern writers, whose bias is equal to those who say that rock music negates classical.

Both have their value. But this poem isn't anything special.

It’s no wonder the British Commonwealth went down the gurgler, with wankers like this pissing in the Queen’s ear. I imagine his nickname may be “Bowel.” Bowel Motion – get it? It’d certainly suit his style.

And Baron, what’re these “old rules” of which you speak? Would one of them be “Thou shalt write codswallop?”

Originally Posted by The Backward OX

It’s no wonder the British Commonwealth went down the gurgler, with wankers like this pissing in the Queen’s ear. I imagine his nickname may be “Bowel.” Bowel Motion – get it? It’d certainly suit his style.

And Baron, what’re these “old rules” of which you speak? Would one of them be “Thou shalt write codswallop?”

That seems to be one that you willingly obey.