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Poetry
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The Shows
By Talisker
22 November 2006
Inspired by George MacKay Brown's "Hamnavoe Market" and ancient personal experience

The shows came overnight,
On rumbling magic carpets
Cramming the old ash park

Flashing globes of every colour,
The hue and cry of swarthy lads,
“Hold on tight, here we go again!”

The breeze was all fried onions,
Candy floss, and screams

Hydraulic arms gyrated,
Plunged and soared,
Generators hummed,
And hawed under the load

Gerry gave his silver
For falls of brassy pennies

Johnny shot a crooked gun,
And won a gaudy gonk

Oli met a dizzy girl,
Tasted the toffee apple
On her shiny, giggling lips

Tom collected falling stars,
Beneath the chair-o-planes

They all floated homewards
Except for Tom
He was of the shows.

Oli (22/11/06)

Reviews
The Show
Written by Josie (2785 comments posted) 22nd November 2006
I like poems such as you have written above where there are quick dashes of colour, sounds, even tastes which all add up to the general feeling of "being there". I also liked the personal images of the people who were there. I liked the repetition of sounds: "generators hummed and hawed under the load." I also liked the image of the shows coming overnight on a magic carpet. You've even captured the smell of the onions frying - something you always associate with shows and fairgrounds. Very nicely done.
mmm...candy floss
Written by JourneyAtNight (314 comments posted) 22nd November 2006
Yes, it took me there too. Something about the way you've structured it and crammed in a bit about everything going on around you gives that feeling of hustle and bustle. 
 
A nice piece of nostalgia! I liked it. 
 
JAN x

Written by Phil (6730 comments posted) 22nd November 2006
Really liked this Oli. It's very immediate - takes you right there. Sound, sight, taste and smell. Liked the different characters and the small details like 'crooked gun.' 
 
I was sick on my girl friend while on the waltzer once - pure white jacket she had on! 
 
All the best, 
 
Phil. 
 
(Hamnavoe as in Shetland? My cousins lived there for about twenty years. Beautiful place.)

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