Recorded at Resonance 104.4FM, London on March 24^th 2011.

Graham reads three of his poems:

They’re hanging the Nazis….

They’re hanging the Nazis
Two by two
Two by two
One for me and one for you
Two by two
Two by two

They’re hanging the Nazis
Two by two
Two by two
One for Christian one for Jew
Two by two
Two by two

They’re hanging the Nazis
In a shed
In a shed
Tightens the rope around the head
In a shed
In a shed

They’re hanging the Nazis
In a shed
In a shed
Twelve million others dead
In a shed
In a shed

They’re hanging the Nazis
In a row
In a row
Mr Pierrepoint lets them go
In a row
In a row

They’re hanging the Nazis
In a row
In a row
Was it for justice , was it for show
In a row
In a row

They’re hanging the Nazis
Two by two
Two by two
One for me and one for you
Repeat ad nauseum

Game

In my game reserve
the wildlife all wear trainers
and amble up to onlookers
grinning from ear to ear:
‘Sure, you can take our photographs.’

Lions bake birthday cakes for wildebeest,
giraffe help warthogs reach top-shelf magazines,
tigers take beauty tips from zebras,
and baboons huddle and chuckle
over the concept of human rights.

Editing

Hit ‘em with a close up.
Nothing too gory.
That kid with his head caved in –
life isn’t like that.
Bodies with sheets covering them are fine.
Who shot this?

*     *     *

Graham Buchan graduated as a Chemical Engineer but worked instead in the British and American film and TV industries as an editor, writer, director and producer. He published Airport Reading in 2004, There is Violence in these Vapours in 2007 and In Bed with Shostakovich in 2009, all from The Tall Lighthouse. He reads regularly in London and has taken his work to New York, Austin and Vancouver.  His poetry has appeared in two dozen magazines, eight anthologies and The Daily Express, and he has also published short stories, travel writing and many film and art reviews.

Recording Notes

This was one of several wax cylinder recordings made by a group of poets in the studio of Resonance104.4 FM. With thanks to John Page.