workings
when the machine runs out of oil,
there is no more machine,
just an ornamental structure.
we could probably get a few more grinds out of it
if we turned it off and on again,
but it wouldn't do the motor any good.
there's a man underneath the railway bridge
with a host of old devices,
all rusted pistons and welded axles;
he's mournfully proud of them.
'run like dreams' he mumbles,
drumming on their hollow metal sides.
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editors
Sophie Collins
Sebastian Rayner
Sebastian Rayner
About
sam⋅iz⋅dat
[sah-miz-daht; Russ. suh-myiz-daht]
(Russian, literally "self publishing") The process of disseminating documentation via underground channels. Originally referred to photocopy duplication and distribution of banned books in the former Soviet Union; now refers by obvious extension to any less-than-official promulgation of textual material, especially rare, obsolete, or never-formally-published computer documentation.
Samizdat began late last year as a scissors-and-glue freesheet style zine with the aim to create a platform for amateur poetry. The main contributors were...well, us: Sophie Collins and Sebastian Rayner, both Creative Writing students at Goldsmiths. This year we hope to reach a wider audience and get more submissions from other young poets (please see below for submission details). The design of Samizdat has evolved into a booklet which we will distribute throughout the college and at various poetry functions around London, and so, whilst the format of the zine has changed, the aim most definitely hasn't. This is a chance to get your poetry/prose read and your art seen, so get in contact and get involved.
[sah-miz-daht; Russ. suh-myiz-daht]
(Russian, literally "self publishing") The process of disseminating documentation via underground channels. Originally referred to photocopy duplication and distribution of banned books in the former Soviet Union; now refers by obvious extension to any less-than-official promulgation of textual material, especially rare, obsolete, or never-formally-published computer documentation.
Samizdat began late last year as a scissors-and-glue freesheet style zine with the aim to create a platform for amateur poetry. The main contributors were...well, us: Sophie Collins and Sebastian Rayner, both Creative Writing students at Goldsmiths. This year we hope to reach a wider audience and get more submissions from other young poets (please see below for submission details). The design of Samizdat has evolved into a booklet which we will distribute throughout the college and at various poetry functions around London, and so, whilst the format of the zine has changed, the aim most definitely hasn't. This is a chance to get your poetry/prose read and your art seen, so get in contact and get involved.
Submissions
Submit to samizdat@live.com
Entries under pseudonyms and anonymous entries are both welcome but inclusion of a title for any written pieces is preferable.
PLEASE NOTE: we welcome all poetry/prose/art but do take into account the size of the zine (pages are A5) when submitting your work.
Entries under pseudonyms and anonymous entries are both welcome but inclusion of a title for any written pieces is preferable.
PLEASE NOTE: we welcome all poetry/prose/art but do take into account the size of the zine (pages are A5) when submitting your work.
I read this on your blog, and then again on here, and now I know what it's about I like it much better. Perhaps the title could reflect your intentions for the subject a bit better? Or work in some indication that you're talking about relationships, because I think it's a great metaphor and lovely image, but personally, I got no hint from the poem itself what it was really 'about'.
ReplyDelete'Coincidence of scrap' is great - not words you would usually place together, so they're striking, but at the same time make absolute sense.
cheers jess. i think this title works better (?). still working on this.
ReplyDeletei liiiiiiiiiike
ReplyDelete'coincidence of scrap' is ace indeed.
maybe 'ornamental structure' could be changed a bit to reflect that it did once have a use though?
also love the repetition of 'when the machine runs out of oil, there is no more machine'.