Filmpoem 53/ The God of Sugar - by
The God of Sugar is part of a series of films commissioned by Absent Voices, a group of artists focused on the celebration of the post-industrial Greenock Sugar Sheds.
The God of Sugar is part of a series of films commissioned by Absent Voices, a group of artists focused on the celebration of the post-industrial Greenock Sugar Sheds.
Base Camp. Horizontal sleet. Two small boys
have raised the steel flag of the 20 terminus:
me and Ross Mudie are going up the Hilltown
for the first time ever on our own.
‘Say efter me,’ said Rab, as he gied the waen
/ a hauf-croun muckle ‘s the muin i the middle air,
/ the siller…
The Shopping Forecast issued by the Dole Office
/ at 1930 on Monday 1st January.
/
/ There are warnings of Sales in Frasers,
/ Debenhams,…
The machines don’t / stop, night or day, although, one by one, / the anonymous men are slipping away.
I wanted the gold, and I sought it,
/ I scrabbled and mucked like a slave.
/ Was it famine…
Such words can sound like flagged-up slogans, true. / What we merely say says nothing — / All that matters…
You want to be a fat cat, want to do the deals?
/ Fix the odds, pull the birds, eat expensive meals
/ that…
O! nane, I trew, on a’ the yirth
/ Was happier than me,
/ When in my wee…
Living without money would be good.
/ Swap yellow poppies for the miracle
/ of frost and stars, offer work
/ for the sweet joining…
Tell me
/ My friend and comrade,
/ Do you remember
/ The night of uhuru
/ When the celebration drums throbbed
/ And men and women wept with joy
/ As…
Tuna you are the mirror of the blue
/ Tuna you are the pain in my veins
/ Tuna you are lord.
/
/ When I set…