Category: 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

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

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.