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Medieval torture griddles

 

The pigs wings

sharp as knives and chisels

do scrape and grind like tools,

create the pain of medieval torture griddles

on the open fire,

to turn me sides-to-middles

and bring my powers to rest

as to move would wake their wild incestuous

pestilence

and give me cause to scream in weird discomfort

as if in some dream, not master of my body

taken over by some other fiend

and lead along an avenue without a bend,

held stiff and straight

in chain mail of such weight,

my strength flaked out

I lie corpse-like slaked.

 

No cause for stress

and yet it does not bless,

these 'blessed' idiots that make a mess

of my normal happy self

now in distress.

 



— Nordic cloud, Oct 06, 2009

About This Poem

About the Author

Region, Country: Oslo and Flatdal, Norway., NOR

Favorite Poets: Too daunting this.

More from this author

Critiques

O

orgami

16 years 8 months ago

Season of the poem

what a poem this is and for Longo too yes how pain does medeival on the distant comfort meds only can do so much before they spill into everything else got one thats great for back pain and its killing my appetite too which is good still this poem is a very good poem throughout the whole of it my favourite I can not take a part without the whole Thank you!
hugo la rosa

hugo la rosa

16 years 8 months ago

Dear Ann of Norway:

Is this a vegetarian's hell? I guess you dwell on your spiritual philosophy of oneness even in your dreams. That reminds me that I used to be a vegetarian, and although I still feel for those poor creatures that die for us to live, I've come to believe it is all a matter of consciousness. You see, my dear Ann, I think the Earth is alive; therefore, everything is alive, even the vegetables. So even if I'd like to be a vegetarian, I couldn't be, because if I were to believe in the Oneness of all, I'd rather hunger than eat conscious vegetables. Instead, I prefer to believe that we are on our way to Oneness, step by step. Will you frown at me if I tell you that I think that animals feel pain, but they don't suffer, because suffering entail being conscious of oneself; that is, to suffer we need a conscience, which I don't believe a pig has, and if it does is still rudimentary enough. Best Regards, Hugo P.S.: Unless you were talking about something else in your poem. On a second look at your poem I came across the footnote to your poem, and I now understand your point of view. I'm sorry if I misunderstood your poem, which I now believe I did :)
L

lyz

16 years 8 months ago

Dear Princess of Norway

Still your heart flows to the fingertips. Pain is a bitch and it always seems to control, but u my dear with ur words of life and ur heart of gold, a little ease has been bestowed. love to u and urs, Love Lyz. XX
Geezer

Geezer

16 years 8 months ago

Feeling...

another's pain, is a sacrifice that takes a brave and compassionate heart. I love that you can do this. I did not get the reference to [pig's wings]. Would you please explain? And Lyz; she is the Queen, not the princess. Although I imagine that she was a princess at one time. A saucy little princess, that was spoiled but nice. A little rebel. ~ Sir Gee
Nordic cloud

Nordic cloud

16 years 8 months ago

Pigs wings, you asked for it! Vingen

When we were walking in the west of N. we bought some 'grisevinger' in a local shop to take up high, where we were to walk three days to fin rock carvings over the tops, down to the fjord at Vingen, these pigs wings we ate in the evening round the camp fire, I refused the alcohol out of a plastic smelling bottle, and the next day we walked down 500 m to the the fjord edge( which in the evening had been totally pink in the setting sun) and came to those most exciting carvings, where 'they' believe the people of 6000 yrs ago chased the deer over the cliff edge to just that spot, so idyllic it took our breath away. Look, here's a deer, no see here there's a man behind this one, and over here there's one that running so fast!!!!! Across from there is the highest drop in Europe where 'Gamle Erik' ( Old Erik the Devil) dances with the trollkjerringer, or wives of trolls, on midsummer nights. Well all that came of us calling the chickens wings 'svinevinger'. And we were going to a place called 'VINGen' We laughed a good deal about it, perhaps that was the reason that I, in the middle of the night, last Friday last wrote this beginning!!!! half dreaming and thinking of the wings, their softness destroyd by pain made sharp and uncomfortable, angels become devils, as I was just then too unable to turn over without feeling that me muscles would crack in two across my back. Gone mostly now!! Are you satisfied with my evidence my Lord Geezer? from your nomadic Queen Ann of the Nordic myths.
Geezer

Geezer

16 years 8 months ago

Yes...

Indeed! Your evidence is most satisfactory, my Queen. I love The Nordic myths. I used to have a book called: Bullfinch's Mythology. If I still had it, it would be worth about $800 now. Not to mention the value to the mind. I have seen pictures of the carvings in the rock, in my Nat. Geo. magazines. Magnificent! Thank you for a glimpse of your Nordic past. Yours ever, [Lord?]Have I risen to the noble life? ~ Sir Gee ~
Nordic cloud

Nordic cloud

16 years 8 months ago

Your query about the pig has got my little mind going.

here is how much- just go to the FORUM and there i have started a discussion about how poetry froms in our minds!!! Sir Gee, You were always noble. The beginning is:- 1) Pigs wings- can have many other associations, for instance the pig is usually snubbed by society and considered a lowly beast - he loves best to find his food in muddy places, his snout is so designed that he can dig up the earth with it and find truffles, tubers or nuts, and doing so he dirties his pale pink skin abominably - those furies, or the beast that Longo mentions in his poems can be associated with this behaviour and uncouthness. 2) The thought of pigs flying at all is comic but also heavy and sad. 3) " The pig with the ring in its nose" fairy tale pigs.( "The owl and the pussy cat" by Edward Lear:- III 'Dear pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling
    Your ring?' Said the Piggy, 'I will.' 
So they took it away, and were married next day
    By the Turkey who lives on the hill.
 They dined on mince, and slices of quince,
    Which they ate with a runcible spoon;
 And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,
    They danced by the light of the moon,
          The moon,
          The moon,
 They danced by the light of the moon.") 4) Pigs have so many tales and roles within those tales, or sayings that I shall go no further. But this thought got me thinking about poetry and where it comes from, how we think up these ideas and then put them in pride of place, at random in some ways, just to start off a thought. ( Go see the forum place) Yours Ann Queenie.
Seren

Seren

16 years 8 months ago

Dearest Ann

What can I say that hasn't already been said my dear friend ... Pain is a bitch I know what its like and have learned to live with it but others whose pain doesnt go ... I feel for them ... I ache for the ravages they face having had a slice of it dealt to me .... and dear Joe inspires me always with his battle,and the courage with which he faces it ... and a supreme grace I feel from oceans away ... thanks for sharing this one with us .... love and higgest bugs Jayne x x x
seabhac

seabhac

16 years 8 months ago

Ah the banter is great.

I loved the poem My favourite lines were in chain mail of such weight, my strength flaked out I lie corpse-like slaked. I can picture this well. I just love the banter of the responses or should I say, the patter and I know you will understand that one...Best thing for a sore back is strangely enough, a piece of felted sheep’s wool. Next to the skin it provides an electro static pulse on the back bone similar to a tens machine....go for it , try it I'm sure you have some felt or woollen piece somewhere. Hope you are feeling better Liz