The new symbols of North and South, the Angel and the yet-to-be-built HorseEngland's North-South divide has been the object of good-natured humour and debate for decades. And now it's being fought on a new battlefield - poetry.
The new symbols of North and South, the Angel and the yet-to-be-built HorseEngland's North-South divide has been the object of good-natured humour and debate for decades. And now it's being fought on a new battlefield - poetry.
Football, weather, food and life in general. Nearly all subjects have been covered in the endless banter between northerners and southerners.
Football, weather, food and life in general. Nearly all subjects have been covered in the endless banter between northerners and southerners.
But on Monday in Kings Cross, London - a location which for rail travellers is the gateway to the North - the regional differences are being explored in verse.
But on Monday in Kings Cross, London - a location which for rail travellers is the gateway to the North - the regional differences are being explored in verse.
Poets from either side of the divide - and some who have crossed it - are holding a recital in which they will be expressing their love or loathing for one side or another.
Poets from either side of the divide - and some who have crossed it - are holding a recital organised by Poet in the City, in which they will be expressing their love or loathing for one side or another.
Kit Wright, who lives in the East End, and Liverpudlian Paul Farley will be among them. Here is one example from each of them. If you'd like to write your own poem on the North or South then use the form at the bottom of the page.
Kit Wright, who lives in the East End, and Liverpudlian Paul Farley will be among them. Here is one example from each of them. If you'd like to write your own poem on the North or South then use the form at the bottom of the page.
THE NORTH - PAUL FARLEY
THE NORTH - PAUL FARLEY
AN INTERIOR
AN INTERIOR
They ask why I still bother coming back.
They ask why I still bother coming back.
London must be great this time of year.
London must be great this time of year.
I'm not listening. My eyes have found
I'm not listening. My eyes have found
the draining-board, its dull mineral shine,
the draining-board, its dull mineral shine,
the spice rack, still exactly how I left it,
the spice rack, still exactly how I left it,
knives, a Vermeer vinyl table-mat.
knives, a Vermeer vinyl table-mat.
How many hours did I spend watching
How many hours did I spend watching
the woman pouring milk into a bowl
the woman pouring milk into a bowl
that never fills? I never tired of it.
that never fills? I never tired of it.
Vision persists, doesn't admit the breaks
Vision persists, doesn't admit the breaks
the artist must have taken, leg-stretching
the artist must have taken, leg-stretching
alongside a canal twitching with sky
alongside a canal twitching with sky
not unlike the leaden one outside;
not unlike the leaden one outside;
or just leant on the door jamb, looking out
or just leant on the door jamb, looking out
onto a courtyard, smoking a pipe
onto a courtyard, smoking a pipe
before going in, to sleep on his excitement.
before going in, to sleep on his excitement.
THE SOUTH - KIT WRIGHT
THE SOUTH - KIT WRIGHT
ODE TO DIDCOT POWER STATION
ODE TO DIDCOT POWER STATION
What vasty thighs outspread to give thee birth,
What vasty thighs outspread to give thee birth,
DIDCOT, thou marvel of the plain?
DIDCOT, thou marvel of the plain?
Colossal funnels of the steamship EARTH,
Colossal funnels of the steamship EARTH,
Thy consummate immensity
Thy consummate immensity
Enshrines the rare propensity
Enshrines the rare propensity
Of fumes to form eternal acid rain!
Of fumes to form eternal acid rain!
While, in their pious hosts, Romano-Celtic ghosts
While, in their pious hosts, Romano-Celtic ghosts
Are knelt to worship thy
Are knelt to worship thy
All-belching amphorae,
All-belching amphorae,
And shadows of thy sacrificial breathing fill the sky!
And shadows of thy sacrificial breathing fill the sky!
DIDCOT, thou bugger!
DIDCOT, thou bugger!
Thou teaser of the mind
Thou teaser of the mind
And recollection-tugger! Thee I find
And recollection-tugger! Thee I find
To replicate the days when I was small
To replicate the days when I was small
What time my mother, sweet and kind,
What time my mother, sweet and kind,
The fragrant Friar's Balsam did infuse.
The fragrant Friar's Balsam did infuse.
She therewithal
She therewithal
A towel placed upon my head
A towel placed upon my head
And loving care did use
And loving care did use
That pulmonary perils might not wake me with the dead.
That pulmonary perils might not wake me with the dead.
DIDCOT! To one more
DIDCOT! To one more
Soft eidolon thou steam'st ope mem'ry's door ...
Soft eidolon thou steam'st ope mem'ry's door ...
For in thy hanging shrouds I view return
For in thy hanging shrouds I view return
Far other blue-grey clouds;
Far other blue-grey clouds;
My father's pipe-smoke I in thee discern,
My father's pipe-smoke I in thee discern,
Companion true,
Companion true,
That followed him all days
That followed him all days
And ways he ventured through this singing maze,
And ways he ventured through this singing maze,
To take that turn
To take that turn
All entrants in their bafflement and grace may not eschew.
All entrants in their bafflement and grace may not eschew.
What links of tenderness are forged by thee,
What links of tenderness are forged by thee,
DIDCOT, thou ever-burning core!
DIDCOT, thou ever-burning core!
Insensate lover of the loves that flee!
Insensate lover of the loves that flee!
Thou glade of past felicity,
Thou glade of past felicity,
Thy sap of electricity
Thy sap of electricity
Complicit in our veins for evermore!
Complicit in our veins for evermore!
Struggling anent the storm, thy children ghost the form
Struggling anent the storm, thy children ghost the form
Of all our quickenings may ever be ...
Of all our quickenings may ever be ...
DIDCOT, thy billows pour,
DIDCOT, thy billows pour,
Connatural, contiguous, familial as the sea!
Connatural, contiguous, familial as the sea!
The North and South poetry event is at 1900 GMT on Monday, 16 February, at Kings Place, Kings Cross, north London
The North and South poetry event is at 1900 GMT on Monday, 16 February, at Kings Place, Kings Cross, north London
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