a. = Se *

_

5 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