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Raj Arumugam Jan 2012
I, Sarah Malcolm
Raj Arumugam
Jan 2012
I am Sarah Malcolm -
yes, the one they call the Irish Laundress
and the jury found me guilty of the murders
(the Infamous Murderess)
of Mrs Lydia Duncomb,
Mrs Harrison and the servant Ann Price
in Mrs Lydia’s chamber
at the Inns of Court in the Temple;
and the jury only needed 15 minutes
and there was disbelief when I admitted to robbery
but not ******
and there was disgust
when I said the blood on my clothing was my own menstrual blood
and not the blood of Ann Price:
I had broken a taboo in talking of menstrual blood
for, as they say,
only loose and the not so virtuous women speak that way
and of course even after the judgement
I have been deemed even more guilty
for I am of a different Communion
of the Catholic faith, not Anglican -
just as the Ordinary, James Guthrie described me
in instructing me here at Newgate on the Christian faith;
and I have earned the name now of many
as the evil, barbaric, and stubborn woman
And now Mr Hogarth sketches and paints
that you might have a view of me;
and the appointed date is 7 March 1733
when I will be executed...
and these lines I add to the picture
that you might remember me
yes, the one they call the Irish Laundress
and the jury found me guilty of the murders
(the Infamous Murderess)
of Mrs Lydia Duncomb,
Mrs Harrison and the servant Ann Price
in Mrs Lydia’s chamber
at the Inns of Court in the Temple;
and the jury only needed 15 minutes
and there was disbelief when I admitted to robbery
but not ******
and there was disgust
when I said the blood on my clothing was my own menstrual blood
and not the blood of Ann Price:
I had broken a taboo in talking of menstrual blood
for, as they say,
only loose and the not so virtuous women speak that way
and of course even after the judgement
I have been deemed even more guilty
for I am of a different Communion
of the Catholic faith, not Anglican -
just as the Ordinary, James Guthrie described me
in instructing me here at Newgate on the Christian faith;
and I have earned the name now of many
as the evil, barbaric, and stubborn woman
And now Mr Hogarth sketches and paints
that you might have a view of me;
and the appointed date is 7 March 1733
when I will be executed...
and these lines I add to the picture
that you might remember me
poem based on steel engraving of Sarah Malcolm (1710-1733) by William Hogarth (British, 1697-1764)
John Bartholomew Jan 2018
Window Gazing
John Bartholomew
Jan 2018
As I sit here just chewing the cud
Nights lost and debauched with my friend Richard
Picking up that guitar as a kid from Cash Converters
He left me for the sun down under with the students and the surfers
E Minor through to a chord named A Sharp
Strangling that neck with fingers that don’t know where to start
I should have listened to Mr Hogarth for this career in its finest form
Rocking out on stage wow that would have been a storm
But it’s never too late to try and give it another go
Read music they say but I wouldn’t know my **** from my elbow
No, no, no, that’s not the attitude
I’ll plug this thing and never give up as someday I’ll fill those smoky rooms
I joined a band with 2 brothers and bassist of whom I did not know
Mill Hill practice every Sunday just thought I’d give it a go
But only one song and a commitment I could not keep it was always bound to fail
I’ll carry on solo still looking on but really just chasing my own tail
Work carried on as a plumber of which I never did really enjoy
But it paid the bills
A mortgage
A van
And a wedding on the horizon
All in sight except for that unseen tree which nearly stopped me from ever rising
Paraplegic is a word I had rarely ever used
you’re a *******, a ****, I had said once myself how dare I have used that abuse
To be told you will never walk again is a shot that broke my heart
Don’t let it get you down be strong and try for a brand new start
The days go by at the start of this new journey
The loss of once friends and to gain some new is now what must ground me
A different perspective and a sharper humour has now unveiled
Hello new world you won’t get me down just watch this beast unravel
Taking the good with the bad and filtering through the ugly
A different ship to now set sail, get ready for this could get choppy
But as I say and always repeat, life goes on its just how you take it
This second chance given to me a bit lower down, but still determined to make it,
Hey Mr Wheelchair.
JJB
Nights lost and debauched with my friend Richard
Picking up that guitar as a kid from Cash Converters
He left me for the sun down under with the students and the surfers
E Minor through to a chord named A Sharp
Strangling that neck with fingers that don’t know where to start
I should have listened to Mr Hogarth for this career in its finest form
Rocking out on stage wow that would have been a storm
But it’s never too late to try and give it another go
Read music they say but I wouldn’t know my **** from my elbow
No, no, no, that’s not the attitude
I’ll plug this thing and never give up as someday I’ll fill those smoky rooms
I joined a band with 2 brothers and bassist of whom I did not know
Mill Hill practice every Sunday just thought I’d give it a go
But only one song and a commitment I could not keep it was always bound to fail
I’ll carry on solo still looking on but really just chasing my own tail
Work carried on as a plumber of which I never did really enjoy
But it paid the bills
A mortgage
A van
And a wedding on the horizon
All in sight except for that unseen tree which nearly stopped me from ever rising
Paraplegic is a word I had rarely ever used
you’re a *******, a ****, I had said once myself how dare I have used that abuse
To be told you will never walk again is a shot that broke my heart
Don’t let it get you down be strong and try for a brand new start
The days go by at the start of this new journey
The loss of once friends and to gain some new is now what must ground me
A different perspective and a sharper humour has now unveiled
Hello new world you won’t get me down just watch this beast unravel
Taking the good with the bad and filtering through the ugly
A different ship to now set sail, get ready for this could get choppy
But as I say and always repeat, life goes on its just how you take it
This second chance given to me a bit lower down, but still determined to make it,
Hey Mr Wheelchair.
JJB
“I had learned quickly that life doesn't always go the way I want it to, and that's okay. I still plod on.”
― Sarah Todd Hammer, Determination
“Know me for my abilities, not my disability.” Robert M. Hensel
“My disability has opened my eyes to see my true abilities.” Robert M. Hensel
― Sarah Todd Hammer, Determination
“Know me for my abilities, not my disability.” Robert M. Hensel
“My disability has opened my eyes to see my true abilities.” Robert M. Hensel
Jemia de Blondeville
May 2022
Hogarth, was a troll
Normally a very friendly troll
Unless he was hungry
When he was hungry
He wasn't friendly at all
He once ate a cyclist, bicycle and all!
But the cyclist, leapt out of the mouth of the troll
As the troll, was on a stroll
And felt quite full, after eating the bicycle whole
The wheels of the bicycle broke loose
As the troll burped, and farted, like a goose
Then the pedals turned around, within the trolls tum
As the troll was cleaning his ears, with his big troll thumb
Then the troll farted again, which rang the bicycle bell
The troll then tripped, and over he fell
And just as he snorted, out of his snout
All the parts of the bicycle, were suddenly blown out
The gap in his tum , was just an empty hole
Saw his reflection, in a pool, he was no longer a troll
His colour from being, a slimy greeny, green
And his big troll ears, could no longer be seen
He now had big pouty lips, and watery eyes
A dark emerald skin, And a long tongue, for catching flies
Then realised he wasn't looking at his reflection in a pool
It was a rather large toad, he felt such a fool
So he wandered off home, to under a bridge
And ate a caterpillar sandwich, he'd left in the fridge!
by Jemia
Normally a very friendly troll
Unless he was hungry
When he was hungry
He wasn't friendly at all
He once ate a cyclist, bicycle and all!
But the cyclist, leapt out of the mouth of the troll
As the troll, was on a stroll
And felt quite full, after eating the bicycle whole
The wheels of the bicycle broke loose
As the troll burped, and farted, like a goose
Then the pedals turned around, within the trolls tum
As the troll was cleaning his ears, with his big troll thumb
Then the troll farted again, which rang the bicycle bell
The troll then tripped, and over he fell
And just as he snorted, out of his snout
All the parts of the bicycle, were suddenly blown out
The gap in his tum , was just an empty hole
Saw his reflection, in a pool, he was no longer a troll
His colour from being, a slimy greeny, green
And his big troll ears, could no longer be seen
He now had big pouty lips, and watery eyes
A dark emerald skin, And a long tongue, for catching flies
Then realised he wasn't looking at his reflection in a pool
It was a rather large toad, he felt such a fool
So he wandered off home, to under a bridge
And ate a caterpillar sandwich, he'd left in the fridge!
by Jemia