What do you see #205 September 25, 2023
The #WDYS photo poetry prompt invites us to write a poem inspired by this photo of a construction site.
I wrote WITHIN A MILE TO MADNESS in response to this prompt. I wrote it as a gush. Without any poetry form or rhyme scheme. To express the ceaseless cacophony of building works and urban living.
Living in the centre of the City of London, in the Square Mile, means that there is a constant background noise of building works and nightlife revelry.
Within a Mile to Madness
Beeping this vehicle is turning right, this vehicle is turning right, beeping creeping lorries, vandal vans, climbing cranes beeping beeping beeping, clanking cementing carrying lorries driving weeping making dementedness—driving heavy deep throated drilling yawing yawning boring grinding holes poles axing hacking banging clanging—and pub nights—don’t forget night nightclubbing every Saturday night through Sunday drunken lurching shouting staggering shouting shouts then, Monday morning moaning comes noisily again and again and again drilling, beeping interminable interminably high pitched beeping high pitching screeching whines, groaning groans thumping— interspersing relentless car alarming—thumps thumping and building building bumps bumping crashing crashes yelling yells hells bells…driving anyone within a radius of at least one mile to madness. Lesley Scoble, September 2023
Here’s a brief video clip I made in black and white ink style FX that I think goes with the prompt’s subject. It shows a digger and passers-by in slomo.
“The giant machine is closed; but in repose, There is meanness in its half-shut eye, watching cyclists and an old man pass by… “
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thank you as always, Sadje, for your #Whatdoyouse inspiration.
Lesley lives in the City of London Square Mile. An artist, actor and sculptor (her first ceramic sculpture won the V&A inspired by… Award). Scenic artist & book illustrator, playwright, (her musical play, Rapscallion performed in inner city schools and theatre school); TV dancer; Animator and illustrator for TV production. Set up Pinecone Studios Ltd and IIMSI Ltd drama and filmmaking workshops in London – producing award-winning films made by children.
LesleyScoble.com 
Leave a comment