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r _ Nov. 27, 1986. Page 12

The Other Press

 

 

Poetry Corner

I Grew

I was born.

The world welcomed me by taking me away
from that warm, comfortable womb,

turned me upside down and then

slapped me.

It hurt,

so I cried.

Mamma was soft and her arms cuddled me.
In her eyes there was protection, security;
there was love in Mamma’s eyes.

In fathers eyes,

there was nothing.

Father was not there.

I grew.

In kindergarden the teacher

drew a stick person on the board.

I drew a house, a car, a family.

I recieved a C.
The teacher had only wanted a stick person.
I grew.

In grade six I asked the teacher why?
When I was told why, —

I said ‘no’.

They said ‘it is your attitude’.

I grew.

At sixteen I became independent.

I moved downtown to my own little room.

In grade twelve I had been taught to conform,
‘and at seventeen I had learned how to think.

So I thought that life was good, honest and fair,
the streets showed me hunger, abuse, and neglect,
I grew.

There was no love in Father’s eyes
and Mamma’s eyes only tired of the tears of the years.

At twenty-one I could not find a job,
so I tried to starve

but, I did not,

I did not die.

I grew.

At twenty-six I applied to college.

They said ‘there is no money’;

you have not passed the requirements.

I laughed.

Was I truly to believe two years of college,
would teach me life

When I had seen the hunger of the poor,
the homeless,

the pimps and prostitutes,

the rich man with his ready $100.00 dollars and fat cigar.
The slanderers,

the liars,

the thieves,

the vipers,

the lonely.

I cried,

I almost died

but, instead I realized that I am number one,
that I know how to love,

and that I would try again.

I realized I could keep trying,
I would keep trying,

I couls help,

so I grew.

Wm. Joseph Toews

 

 

 

   

 

It’s square and still. It glows.
It’s not for sale in South Africa,
and if you’re a lucky kind of per-
son there will be a prize inside! It
is the fifth and most recent Sh-
riekback album, Big Night
Music”!

Shriekback are bassist Dave
Allen, former member from Gang
of Four, keyboard player Barry
Andrews, former member of
XTC, and drummer Martyn Bak-

- er. And the Shriekback Big Live

Band on this record are Mike
Cozzi, Steve Halliwell and
Wendy & Sarah Partridge.

“Big Night Music” is a bit more
polished than Shriekback’s pre-
vious album, “Oil and Gold”. But
don’t fear, just because “Big
Night Music” isn’t as mysterious
as “Oil and Gold” does’nt mean
that they have lost their drive and
powerful hold. “Big Night Music”
is entirely free of drum machines,
sequencers - “digital heartbeats
of every kind.” Which is refresh-
ing in this techno age, although I
do like techno music! “Big Night
Music” is seductive and aquatic,

Ponriek

NIGHT Wwe

 

3ack

the sounds just flow and are
acoustically rich. | Shriekback
“celebrate the blessed dark - |
nights of heat and weirdness or

nights fragrant with blossoms,
possessed by cool _ beauty”.
Shriekback’s different kind of

music exalts human frailty and
the harmonious mess of nature.”
Shriekback have really varied the

musical styles on "Big Night
Music”, each song creates it’s
own imagery and _ atmosphere.

Part of this is due to the cunning,
hypnotic, engaging vocals. My
fave songs are "Gunning for the
Buddha”, veiled with _ steel
drums, and “Pretty Little Things” ,
which reminds me of the Harlem
Globe Trotters theme song,
Sweet Georgia Brown.

I highly recommend “Big Night
Music” and ” Oil and Gold”! Look
for an interview with Shriekback
in an up and coming issue of The
Georgia Straight. Also, Shriek-
back will be in Vancouver on De-
cember 4th, go to VTC/CBO for
tickets, but hurry!

by Kirstin Shaw

 

 

Now Piaying:

‘“Where’s Charley?’

On Tuesday ($2.50 night) we
ventured forth to view the well-
publicised Douglas College play,
“Where’s Charley”, a comedy-
musical venture based on _ the
play, “Charley’s Aunt”.

If you want fun, excitment and
entertainment that will have you
smiling and laughing all night,
go and make sure you drop
whatever it is you’re doing and
see this. fun-loving, action-
packed comedy.

The acting on the most part is
simply brilliant. They succeed in
personifying the lives of the
upper-middle class English Soc-
iety as it was then...the outra-
gousness of the individuals, their
arrogance, their attitudes that
seem shocking are all there and
well played by the cast.

I must take this opportunity to
say sincerely that I found the
stage design to be very well
done. The props chosen and the
way they fit in to the scenery is
fantastic.

Entertaining,
stompingly

and _foot-
“‘Where’s

fun,
mad,

 

 

Charley” is a must, and I do
stress must. Make sure you catch
this sure-fire comedy hit while
it’s here.

comments by Richard