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By Veronica_Milvus
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26 August 2008 |
I've just come back from a folk festival, and this is just about peoplewatching while I was there. It's just a list. I fall into none of these categories - but I do have some flowery wellies.
NOWT SO QUEER AS FOLK
The bangles and the tie-dye blouses,,
the headscarves and the patchwork trousers,
the mohawked and the tonsorially weirded,
the tatty-haired and the differently-bearded,
the pointy-hatted and the rainbow-sweatered,
the facially-pierced and the Gothically fettered,
the tankard-toting Real-Ale bellied,
the teens in tutus, flowery wellied,
the bandanna-wearing dogs on strings,
the grown up girls in fairy wings,
the spike-haired wimmin in sensible shoes,
the guy in the next tent playing the blues,
the rappers, cloggers, molly dancers,
the protest singers with all the answers,
the music students from university,
the smattering of ethnic diversity;
There are a hundred ways to live
when mainstream is alternative.
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Written by mia_ms_kim (1057 comments posted) 25th August 2008 | Very enjoyable, fun and witty, VM. I could picture most of these people in my mind. One must feel self-conscious in a gathering like this if he/she looks mainstream.
I think your last line sums up what is happening in our society. Freedom and permissiveness we enjoy today give opportunities for diverse and creative expressions for many of us as never before. I think we are also seeing the side effects of this phenomena gone too far, where all boundaries are pushed to the margin. I feel now that the alternative lifestyle is becoming just another tradition.
As always, your poem provokes train of thoughts.
Mia  |
Written by grace (173 comments posted) 26th August 2008 | Brilliant!
I feel as though I was there. Your imagery is vivid and I can only think you had a wonderful time.
I was taken back to the 1960's and 'flower power' etc.
Your poem is a wonderful experience, thank you,
Pamx |
Written by Phil (7001 comments posted) 26th August 2008 | Very visual - worked well.
Really liked: the spike-haired wimmin in sensible shoes,
Phil |
Written by Brett (1001 comments posted) 26th August 2008 | Enjoyable, as always, V. Some lovely rhymes here.
I love the phrase 'tonsorially weirded'.
Hope you had a good time (even in flowery wellies).
Cheers |
Written by Artemis (6 comments posted) 26th August 2008 |
Fabulous V, I can see all of them (and smell some of them). |
Written by Bottleblondesurfer (3590 comments posted) 26th August 2008 | A great bit of observational writing. It read like a ballad. All you need is a chorus for it, a tune and a band and you'll be appearing at the next festival instead of attending it 
cheers
jane | reminded me
Written by fellpony (1749 comments posted) 26th August 2008 | | rhythmically, not so much of the festival scene, but of Auden's "Night Mail". Nice bit of observation. | The last lines
Written by patterjack (1435 comments posted) 26th August 2008 | are what give this piece its cutting edge .
But doesn't mainstream have its varied categories too?
patterjack |
Written by Talisker (1336 comments posted) 27th August 2008 | Nice little poem - certainly more than just a list.
It strikes me how mainstream alternative is - with all the uniformities which you describe. Similar to the concept of the "uniform" worn by Goths - a so called alternative culture.
As soon as some sub-culture is described as "alternative" it is subsumed back into the mainstream somehow. I think you make a similar point with this.
Enjoyed
Oli | Brilliant!
Written by Katanga (1537 comments posted) 29th August 2008 | Love this!
Original or what?!!!!!
Just off to purchase some flowery wellies of my own!
Cheers!
John X |
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