Month: October 1984

Is Martin Sugared? – 21st October 1984

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 1 Comment

Is Martin sugared?
Is Martin sweet?
Is Martin oblivious
To unbearable heat?
Is Martin cold?
Is Martin hot?
Is Martin what
You’re exactly not?

21st Jan 1998 – Martin was a guy I worked with – I wonder what happened to some of those people?

The guy I worked with specifically in that first job was in a punk band called the Void (they never amounted to much more than a few legendary local gigs – where I sang with them one time too!). A few years later he became the town mayor – the other contender tried to put shit on him during the election because he was bisexual – his plan however backfired as it was seen as malicious slandering and irrelevant to whether he would be a good mayor or not. And while he was mayor he did all he could for the youth of the town etc (he was about 40 but still a kid in many ways.

His name was Phil Webb but everyone called him Piwi – everyone!)

Black Squares – 19th October 1984

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 1 Comment

Walking across the tiled floor
Multi-coloured tiles lay out my track
I can choose three different routes
But why do I always choose the black?
Black squares – under my feet
Black squares – look so neat
Black squares – lay out my track
Square square square
Black black black

21st Jan 1998 – This is about where I had my first job which had black and white check tiles much like our kitchen had before we had it recovered. Funny how something so trivial could spark a poem out of me in those days – now I write much more emotional style pomes.

Patient Patient – 17th October 1984

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 1 Comment

We are harmonious
We are discordant
We are waiting
We are patient
For the patient
We are the patients
Running out of patience

21st Jan 1998 – I think I have become a very patient person over the last few years. I never used to have patience with people, especially ‘stupid’ people (or ‘normal’ people maybe – not even sure what I mean here myself!) People who didn’t understand me I didn’t have much time for. I learn from people like yourself that sometimes it is worth the effort to get to know people better and I am making the effort a bit more these days – I’m actually enjoying working here at the moment – there was a certain atmosphere of a team spirit over Christmas which was enjoyable although one or two people seem to be in it for themselves, digging away at people and things that they don’t understand – I guess a sign of immaturity (much as I was immature in my behaviour before when I was younger).

The Carpenter’s Go-fer – 15th October 1984

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Sawing and chopping
Planing then stopping – and saying
Go-fer the tape, go-fer the screws
Go-fer the coffee, that’s what I could use
Having a rest, drinking his coffee
Just enough time to bite on a toffee
Before
Planing and chopping
Sawing then stopping
And saying
Go-fer the wood, go-fer the square
Go-fer the nails, go on – over there
I went for the rope
And put it round his throat
And pulled it as tight as I could
You know I think he wood –
Go-fer

6th July 2023 – I did a couple of days of work with a builder who was a friend of someone in the family in some way. I only remember moving bricks and sand around in a wheelbarrow but it’s probable that this experience inspired this verse. I guess I also did a pretty shit job as I was never asked to come back again.
To be honest, I felt pretty useless. I didn’t really understand how things worked at all. Common sense was still a way off for me. I was a late learner in some things. When Hayden shows signs of this too, I have to remind myself about how I was even up until my thirties.
When I consider how Thai students are coddled through school here and learn some of the stories of behaviour once they leave it’s a wonder that many can even dress themselves.

*The Week That Was – 15th October 1984

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Record of the week: Cult Maniax – Cold Love LP

15th October 1984
Stayed in. Went to Ferndown Industrial Estate.

17th October 1984
Went to Holtwood Youth Club. It’s quite good.

18th October 1984
Stayed in. Finished reading The Funhouse – good. Reading Delta Star – fucking funny book.

19th October 1984
Went to Hinton Martell. Applied for Youth Club leader. ‘They’ll let me know.’ Sure

20th October 1984
Doing fireworks – down track. Jasper’s a fuckin’ selfish wanker. OH WELL – THAT’S LIFE.