Fahrenheit Says Nothing to Me

I am not used to measuring temperature on the Fahrenheit scale. Hence such a measure of temperature says nothing to me.

— Wittgenstein, Philosophical Investigations #509

Me too, Ludwig,

and the following also —

the dogs in the street

who know things

say nothing to me

tarot cards

tea-leaves

economists

pictures

give me a thousand words any day.

For certain reasons

I have trouble

with res ipsa loquitur

and the sworn testimony

of a superintendent

government press statements

The Irish Independent

the income returns of publicans

the pro-life movement

toilet humour soccer.

Daddy Bush and Baby Bush

Black Bush and the burning bush

Ronald Reagan and Donald Duck

mind body spirit

and the great American Novel

and American movies

say nothing to me.

The queen of England

her heirs and successors

and her so-called court

and Philip Larkin

say nothing to me.

Banks insurance companies pension funds

right of way on roundabouts

cats turnips

and Jehovah’s Witnesses

do not speak to me.

Women’s tights e-books

tongue-rings do not speak

or navel-rings

labia rings

the ring of confidence

and the ring of bright water

and the paedophile ring

Sky News

and the ticker tape at the bottom

the Nike swoosh

and the bent toothbrush

and the Fahrenheit scale

say nothing to me.

Prayer for Riding in Front

The omens are not good.

Rain overnight

has changed the road

the radio says be careful

confusion is in the way

and the phenomena assemble.

Come back my love

and put your hand on my back

the way you slept last night.

There is no prayer for riding in front

(where presumption goes)

but insurance matters

and an air-bag.

Dawn’s rose blooms

under a brushstroke of ash.

Come back my love

and put your hand on my back

the way you slept last night.

the shield-maker

We may say

he made also a great

fallow field

large and three times

over-ploughed already.

Labourers he made there

and ploughboys

turning their horses up and down

furrow by furrow

and the ploughed-land was dark

behind them

though the field was of gold.

on the eve of war 2003