hunger


Hunger was written by Alan Brunton. I first read it in the 'Landfall' quaterly. The book followed me around many flats, and on the day of hearing of Alans death I dug it back out. While reading it, I thought it seemed like a great last thing to say. I re-worked the words for a piece of music I had written for the memorial show in honor of Alan. I think he would of liked it. It was loud, angular 5/4 repetitive punk-rock type tribute.

 We are civilised. We eat salt.

Hunger for the sweet
hunger for the sour
for the bitter
hunger for the salt, white
incorruptible
money of what we are
which is like a thirsty
not for water
gets wilder during days
with Hunger

We keep on

in our veins sodiums
circulate
from a remote Precambrian Age
we sweat atoms
immemorial
in that origin
Hunger so bad
mamas cram themselves with dirt
the genital salt of the earth
and we hunger

We keep on

Above the dead
we dance in acts
spontaneous triumphant
or with devotions when bereaved
Woo, our minds
start up like salt-drinkers in the jungle,
the startled heart leaps, to these optimistic songs

In this Hunger we fear to catch our death
from products in our time available
Too much salt might push us so far so fast
we would zoom to a miraculous sleep

… nevertheless,
my friend, be salt in excess to me

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