An Interpretation of Bart

AN INTERPRETATION OF BART

A piebald pattern
On a pillow-case, shades of
Rorschach, conjures views, from an angle, ink-blot shapes
Of Bart, Bart Simpson –
The enlarged head, that haircut –
In different poses.
Bart Simpson at attention.
Bart stooping forward,
Hands on hips, making a speech.
Rear profile, standing
Erect with hands behind back.
Stooping at shoulders,
Wearing graduation gown.
There’s Bart, vomiting.
Bart with a duck on his head.
Sitting on a rock.
Carrying two large bundles
On his spiky head.
Surprise – playing a French horn.
Then he’s on all fours.
With three – unidentified –
Playing a game of
Football (the FIFA version).
Bart checking his flies.
Is that a fascist salute?
One says what one sees,
And not what one wants to hear;
That includes Hermann Rorschach.

© Copyright RC Clermont 2017

CREDO

CREDO

When the gunman comes
There are those who use
Thoughts and prayers
To cure the ills
In place of gun control.

Their faith is their salvation
As a form of protection
And a means of prevention.
So put God in your heart
Till the next massacre.

© Copyright RC Clermont 2017

Reflections 4: Impressions

Available at the Amazon bookshop.

Reflections 4 is the fourth collection of haiku 5-7-5 verses in the Reflections series.

Reflections 4 fires  further acerbic shots in some themes already explored in Reflections 1, 2 and 3, as well as new subjects such as: vulgar displays of ‘new’ wealth (Wasteland III), economic malaise and inequality (Economics IV), the supremacy of the right in UK politics and its harsh socio-economic consequences (Politics) , the poison that exits within families, or various members therein (Blood IV), the importance of culture and the futility of conforming to  other people’s expectations rather than following one’s own path (Tangibility III), the lack of due process in an increasingly insecure world (Law and Justice),  the savagery of English holidaymakers abroad (Home and Abroad III), love, loss and friendship (Friends, Lovers and Other Relationships IV), the  life-and mind destroying daily ritual of commuting to work, especially by train from a far suburb into the Capital (Commuting III), the reality of sport for most people is the mediocrity  of being a pub-going spectator (The Sporting Life IV), the  myths and the fraud of the health and fitness industry (Health and Well-Being II), and the bigotry, fakery  and fraud that is religion (Religion and Spirituality).

Contains very strong language

Copyright 2015 © RC Clermont

Reflections 3: More Haiku Verses

Available at the Amazon bookshop.

In Reflections 3, RC Clermont draws these haiku verses not from the Elements, Nature, or the Seasons in the ‘traditional’way, but from modern life, how we are all living a lie. The themes follow those in Reflections 1 and 2, including: global capitalism, economic, inequality, neo-liberalism, suburban greed, materialism and pretension, the English obsession with home-ownership, the pressure to conform, the importance of culture, literature and art instead of consumerism, commuting to a job one hates for poor pay, the toxicity of family life, love and friendship, the myths of sporting prowess and the golf and tennis ‘culture’ of Middle England.

Copyright 2015 © RC Clermont

Reflections 2: 55 Haiku Verses

Available at the Amazon bookstore.

In Reflections 2, RC Clermont explores further themes visited in Reflections – the first anthology-such as family dysfunction economic malaise, the gross inequalities of the neo-liberal model and the post-Thatcher economic legacy in Britain which still exist today (Economics II). The vulgar materialism of suburban England (Moonscape II) and consumption are exposed for the worthlessness they are (Wasteland II).

New themes explored include the destructive economic, geopolitical and social climate of modern America (Atlantic).
Jerusalem critiques the darker side of Englishness, xenophobia and the sense of ‘entitlement’ to possess one’s own little piece of England.
Commuting reflects on topics that anyone who has ever commuted into a city to work, and wondered whether their way of life is worthwhile.
Tangibility sees culture, art, literature and learning as a signs of a civilised, enlightened society, increasingly under threat from the forces of consumerism, global capitalism and religion.

Society II comments on the social vanity of the London rich. The Sporting Life II explores themes of bigotry and misguided assertions about sporting prowess. Once again, in Home and Abroad II, embarrassing Britons are targeted. The vanity and the lifestyles of the rich are re-visited in Images II.

Proverbs II explores attitudes to success.

RC Clermont uses the English haiku 5-7-5 format and the intention is say what is needed in as few words as possible.

Copyright 2013 © RC Clermont. This edition published in 2015.

 

‘REFLECTIONS’ At Amazon Books

 

In Reflections, RC Clermont uses the ‘English’ 17-syllable haiku form. In an age of too much information, Reflections deploys the 5-7-5 format to achieve brevity.

Traditionally, haiku focuses on themes such as nature and the seasons
In this collection of fifty 17 -sound haiku verses, RC Clermont has departed
from this rule.

Reflections comments on themes such as family dysfunction, particularly
the consequences of relations’ attempts to dominate their ‘blood’.

Other themes explored are: love and friendship, economic malaise and inequality,
as well as the crass, crude, materialism of suburban England. Reflections also takes
a swipe at capitalism, the shallowness riches, and how money does not make people
more respectable.

Reflections also takes a more critical view of the green lawns and fairways of Middle England, and the bigotry and hypocrisy therein, as well as the hell that is the England football supporter. The English abroad are also observed at their worst.

Reflections also delivers a critique on the stark reality of global politics and so-called democracy.
Reflections is part of a series, and the first collection of poems is now available in traditional book format for the first time and is also available through Amazon.

© Copyright RC Clermont 2013. This edition published 2015.