Liam Mayhew
Updated: 1 day ago
Biography
Posting impromptu poetry and reflections Top topics include: - Education - Race - Feminism - LGBT+ - Philosophy
the colonial gallery
to analyse a painting is to bring with it your identity but how can reflections rise when art galleries only speaks a certain tongue of hegemonic european whiteness - power to unearth artwork is to understand nuance form identity associate and belong how are perspectives formed when only one voice is heard, represented what is - multiculturalism. It is time to change the conversation within the institution of colonial power paintings can offer perspective to question the past and unearth a future of possibility
me
bent like witches finger nails bright like bluebells amongst spring dew camp like cherries on cocktail sticks
pub
Empty tables wait round the clock dust collector Seeking new shadows
Ceasefire
Ceasefire colonialism.Even today it still exists the very framework from which our empire persits divide and rule, do they take us for a fool? More than 2000 years of peace in palestine, built with sweat and tears, all to fall down within the last 75 years extinction. While Israel continues it's endeavour, our leaders simply stand by even worse, they tell lie after lie Israel has the right to self defense, whilst 11,000 and more continue to die where's the common sense? America. The land of liberty working with Israel to keep 2.5 million in captivity the land of democracy funding a fascist state to me, the land of hypocrisy supplying arms to wipe out Palestinian ambitions, killing children and families with American ammunitions School. A haven to learn, a place to play where bodies burn the dead are left to lay Empire. Just like a pulse only continuing to beat If blood is allowed to keep it alive that's why we march on the street In order to stop the legacy survive divide and rule Empires biggest tool to think those in power took us for fools Freedom. We're told we have freedom yet they keep us in chains we are never told to question the stains we are Never told to question the past running through the middle East's veins? when will Palestine have justice at last Injustice. Israel continues to destroy everything it touches whilst protests continue to be threatened where is the justice? bodies buried beneath the ruble how many years must Palestine continue to struggle? Rule of law. Which we teach our children to respect when international law is continuously under neglect Broken every single day and all we can do is pray. Extremism. Cruella Bravermen insits that we are extremists why she stands by in her complicity we stand together and refused to be silenced It's her that has blood on her hands whilst Israel continues to take land we scream we shout we let it all out but who's hearing our voices and who's making all the choices?
Goree Island
walls thick with memories Stone arched staircases Coloured like a flamingos With each step, a feeling of dread Because Towering above them the Colonial office Where fateful decisions were made Families were separated Torn apart like cattle And tens of thousands perished In the centre of this small island Which perches on the edge of Dakar, Senegal (The cold Atlantic ocean, like a winters duvet, enclosing from all sides) Traps the infamous house of Slaves Africa's biggest slave trading port during the 15th-19th centuries One contemplates the difficulty of history If only the waves could have destroyed this beast Before it was allowed to destroy a whole continent And sat above the arched staircase smug colonial governors lit their cigars Tobacco slowly evades into the crisp, salty sea water— Tobacco, handpicked in Caribbean plantations Teaspoons swirled fresh tea leaves around in Han blue bone china teacups Sugar to sweeten the appetite of greed— Sugar and tea, Handpicked in Caribbean plantations Soft, white cotton shirts soaked up the sweat from the glaring African sun as the acidity of freshly ground coffee tingled the taste buds— Cotton, Handpicked in Caribbean plantations The triangular slave trade which supplied the commodities for the European enslaver, who revealed in their panaromic views of West Africa from their Stony island windows, away from the prying eyes of civilization, governing like an omnipresent torturer. Oblivious, but aware, that below them, Death awaited. If not from starvation From disease If not from disease From the journey beyond the door of no return Thousands perished within the hard stone walls of Goree island yet nameless they were not They had a son A brother A sister A mother— A mother who gave rise to a voice which resisted their captor
Don't Pick the Bluebells
Didn't your granny ever tell you Don't pick the bluebells If you are to stumble across one Hiding amongst the weeds Peeping above the shrubs Stretching beyond the pavement Swaying in an desolate park Reaching across meadows Or Gathering in countryside fields Then just remember what granny said Don't pick the bluebells Unfortunately There was once a young, slim built man Who walked home one day and foolishly conjured up a plan For lying beside the pavement And to the young mans amazement Lay a carpet of lilac bluebells Only if the boy was to dwell He'd know all too well That granny did often tell Don't pick the bluebells If a bluebell loops to one side Then one ought to leave it to reside For native bluebells comes a tell tale sign That an ancient woodland lay on the site below But little did the young man know Plucking four bunches and ready to show Oh how his granny would be cursing from below And instead of rising to say a quick hello She would have repeated her demand from time ago Don't pick the bluebells Don't pick the bluebells
Haikus
A lonely island Navigating choppy seas Life inside your head Pick wild flowers Stop, look, listen, think, run home You've saved seven pound Smell the lavender Slowly takes your breath away Thank you air freshener
All poems are copyright of the originating author. Permission must be obtained before using or performing others' poems.
Blog entries by Liam Mayhew
Ceasefire (27/04/2024)
Goree Island (27/04/2024)
Didn't your granny ever tell you? (27/04/2024)
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