Copyright jim ferguson 2018
when she waited for her wages
yet they failed to come
and she smiled down on her children
sleeping safe and warm
—were they monetised yet?
—converted strictly to cash
—were they dropped off in the pawn?
—possessions of an ugly kind of love
did the Gods see her coming
did her work take her soul
and did she give of her off-spring
to take home Faustian gold?
no, no, no, it wasn’t like that
she was never, never, in control
all she had was stale bannocks
and some mouse-sized cheese
—were they hungry yet?
—were the crops doomed to fail?
—feeding innocent mouths on thimbles of brine
—clocks tick and yet nature doesn’t tell the time
as a hundred massive airships filled the skies
hoped against hope, hope would tumble down
not some black-snow sorrow yet unseen
but quiet nutritious love that might sustain
—when will we see home again
—her children wake and wonder
—when will we see home again?
—her children wait and question everyday
when grown, they bury her in sand and clay
but don’t see home again
no, no, no, it is how it is,
just don’t see home again
a mirage in their minds arises very near
yet remains so very very far away
the guards won’t let them pass, the fences reach so high
it’s here they’ll stay and here they’re sure to die
clocks tick yet nature does not tell the time
clocks tick yet nature does not tell the time.
Viddy-Poems comprises eight essentially homemade collages of image and sound, illustrating a selection of Jim Ferguson's poems.
The eighth track features a recording of the late John McGarrigle's work read by Jim Ferguson. To purchase for £6.50 including post
No 3. Clocks Tick
-Nature is Silent