I have loved this land for a thousand years,
You cannot take it from me now
And though it may have changed
My feelings stay the same
You cannot take it from me now
You have soiled this land
You have torn its soul
These people aren't your sheep
They're my brothers
I have loved this land for a thousand years
You cannot take it from me now
Despite the ways of time
This love for it is mine
You cannot take it from me now
You have claimed a throne
But you cannot claim the bones
These people aren't your sheep
They're my brothers
I have loved this land for a thousand years
You cannot take it from me now
Friday 23 August 2013
Monday 19 August 2013
The Underground
Edward and the old woman met eyes. Sweat dripped slowly down his forehead as both edged closer to the spare seat from opposite sides. The rest of the tube compartment watched whilst pretending not to; a man in huge spectacles peered over the top of his newspaper, giving himself a paper cut under his nose.
Edward's eyes narrowed. Both parties picked up speed, but Edward was faster. He flung himself down into the seat and defiantly rested his briefcase on his lap, straightening his tie and flashing the old woman a smug smile as she scuttled back to the pole on which she had previously rested. He could feel the heat of judgement from all of those squeezed in around him, but he didn't care. He'd had too long a day to care for such common courtesies.
The tube stopped at the next station. Edward passed the time by reading the billboard on the platform; trying to match the advertisement slogans to the brands. He quickly realized that he was unable to do so for any which were more recent than five years old. Oh dear. He had lost touch with things.
The large woman sat next to him stood up, and Edward finally felt able to exhale and release the final inches of his body mass. His old woman nemesis began her decent upon the seat, but was abruptly halted by a tall, thin and doughy eyed man who almost knocked her down as he fell into the cushioned spot. Finally, thought Edward, somebody ruder than him. He never thought he'd see the day.
Edward watched the man out of the corner of his eye. Of course, the unwritten law of the London Underground forbids direct eye contact, so Edward pretended to sift through the crumpled papers in his case.
After several moments, he felt the uncomfortable sensation that he was no longer the watcher, but the watched. He dared to turn his head to the right, and was met by the man's face so close to his own that they were practically rubbing noses.
'Hello,' said the man. his black hair was pushed back, glued to his pointed scalp. His eyes were dark, almost black, and wide with an unnervingly friendly curiosity. His thin mouth was spread in a wide smile. 'Hello. Hello,' he repeated, in just as high and enthusiastic a voice as he had used previously. Edward rubbed his nose. The man smelt of peppermint.
What was this man doing? This was certainly not permitted by tube etiquette. Direct conversing! He tried to ignore the man, falling deeper into his case. He played with his sandy hair, untied and retied his shoelace. But still the eyes were on him.
'Hello.' The voice cut through him, smacking him in the face like a frozen sausage.
'Yes, hello,' said Edward irritably without looking up. The eyes continued to watch so that eventually he had to turn towards the man, who was still watching.
'Nice to meet you. I'm an alien.'
Edward rolled his eyes. Oh, here we go. An underground nutter. Well, it was a Friday afternoon.
'Brilliant,' he said quickly.
'No, you're brilliant. Lovely man on a lovely train. How are you today?'
'Fine, thank you.'
'No, thank you.'
Edward sighed as obviously as he could muster. 'I'm sorry, did you want something in particular?'
The man's smile did not fade. 'Your world is very nice, but very strange. Please tell me about it. It is not like mine.'
Edward looked at his watch. Well, he supposed, it would be another twenty minutes before he reached his stop. This could be an entertaining way to pass it. He looked around quickly. The women on either side of them were both plugged into the iPods, whilst those on the other side of the carriage either could not hear, or had the common decency to pretend.
'Very well,' said Edward. 'What would you like to know?'
'Everyone in your world is very beautiful. So beautiful. How is it that everyone is so beautiful and healthy?'
Edward thought for a moment, remembering a fat man he had once seen eating a burger off the floor outside McDonald's at four in the morning. Beautiful?
Edward almost didn't answer, but he could not resist the opportunity to impart knowledge. He would play along. 'Well, I suppose it's because we have hospitals, which are buildings where people look after you when you're ill. So if people are ill, then hopefully they're in a hospital. So everyone outside the hospital is healthy.'
'Really? You speak the truth?' The man was amazed.
'To an extent, yes.'
'And who heals in these hospitals? Who are these angels?'
'They're called doctors. Oh, and nurses. Can't forget the nurses, they do all the nitty gritty. It's all thanks to the NHS really, though that's a controversial topic, what with all the recent hullaballoo regarding the welfare state.'
The man stared at him blankly, furrowing his eyebrows. 'Hullababoo? Nitty gritsy? I do not understand.'
Edward blushed. 'Never mind.'
The man smiled again. 'Yes, never mind. Everyone in your world is so clever. Why are you so clever? How do you learn so many things?'
Edward sat up a little straighter. He had always prided himself on his intelligence. 'Well, from books mostly. Libraries and the such. And school.'
'School?'
'Yes. It's a building where you are taught things as a child. A building for learning, if you will.'
The eyes grew wider. 'That sounds magical.'
'It's not really,' said Edward, the memory of having his head flushed down the loo by Roger Fredson rushing back to him.
'And who teaches these things in these places?'
'Teachers, funnily enough. That's what they're called. They're adults who make it their job to teach things that they know to children. Mathematics, literature, historical events, science and so on.'
'Wow. Angels. All angels. What other jobs can angels of your world do?'
Edward mumbled to show his skepticism at the titling of every human being as an angelic force to be reckoned with. It wouldn't be the first word he would use to describe the McDonald's burger man.
He counted off absentmindedly on his fingers. 'Well, there's cleaners and binmen who keep things tidy. Drivers who take people places in cars, buses or trains like this one.' The man looked around as if only just noticing his surroundings. Edward continued. 'Then there's shopkeepers who make sure people can buy what they want to buy. Office workers who make sure useful companies remain intact. Farmers who make sure people have food to eat- '
'And what do you do?'
'Oh. I'm a lawyer.' Out of habit, Edward prepared himself for a dose of scrutiny.
'And what is that?'
'Well, if someone does something bad, then the police capture them and then it's my job to prove that they did in fact do the bad thing, so that they can be punished for it.'
The man screeched with joy. 'But that is a very fantastic thing! What a good good man you are!'
Edward laughed sheepishly. 'Thank you, that's not the whole story but, to an effect, yes, very good.'
'What else, what else?'
'Erm, well there's writers and actors who keep people entertained. And plumbers and builders and electricians who make sure everyone's houses are working properly. And the Prime Minister of course. And- '
'The what?'
'The Prime Minister.'
'And what does this person do?'
Edward searched for a suitable answer. 'Well, everything really.'
The man looked astounded. He sat back in his chair as if physically knocked by the statement. 'Everything? So this person heals and tidies and teaches and shopkeeps and captures and entertains and builds?'
'Well, no. He just makes sure everything is being done.'
'But what does he do?'
Edward paused. 'I don't understand.'
'If nurses and doctors heal and teachers teach and police capture and so on and so on then what does the Prime Minister add to this?'
'Well, erm, he- ' Edward fumbled, tripping over his words. 'He just watches and- '
'Only watches?! Only watches while others work?'
'Well, he has responsibilities that we do not understand. He is in charge.'
'This man is in charge?' The man grabbed his head and shook it as if trying to force the information to make sense. 'The man who does nothing is in charge!'
Before Edward had a chance to respond, he was rescued by the halting of the train.
The man stood up. 'I shall get off here now, good man. Thank you so much for your informative ways.'
'Oh, very well then.' Edward said the next sentence without thinking, voicing his own disappointed tone. 'Same time on Monday?'
The man shook his head slowly. 'I'm afraid I will not see Monday, good man. I cannot survive long in this beautiful place. But I wanted to see it. I could not live without seeing the legendary Earth.'
The man stretched out his hand and Edward shook it sadly. It was ice cold.
'Goodbye,' said Edward. The man simply smiled his wide smile and exited the train, leaving Edward to face the journey home alone.
Edward's eyes narrowed. Both parties picked up speed, but Edward was faster. He flung himself down into the seat and defiantly rested his briefcase on his lap, straightening his tie and flashing the old woman a smug smile as she scuttled back to the pole on which she had previously rested. He could feel the heat of judgement from all of those squeezed in around him, but he didn't care. He'd had too long a day to care for such common courtesies.
The tube stopped at the next station. Edward passed the time by reading the billboard on the platform; trying to match the advertisement slogans to the brands. He quickly realized that he was unable to do so for any which were more recent than five years old. Oh dear. He had lost touch with things.
The large woman sat next to him stood up, and Edward finally felt able to exhale and release the final inches of his body mass. His old woman nemesis began her decent upon the seat, but was abruptly halted by a tall, thin and doughy eyed man who almost knocked her down as he fell into the cushioned spot. Finally, thought Edward, somebody ruder than him. He never thought he'd see the day.
Edward watched the man out of the corner of his eye. Of course, the unwritten law of the London Underground forbids direct eye contact, so Edward pretended to sift through the crumpled papers in his case.
After several moments, he felt the uncomfortable sensation that he was no longer the watcher, but the watched. He dared to turn his head to the right, and was met by the man's face so close to his own that they were practically rubbing noses.
'Hello,' said the man. his black hair was pushed back, glued to his pointed scalp. His eyes were dark, almost black, and wide with an unnervingly friendly curiosity. His thin mouth was spread in a wide smile. 'Hello. Hello,' he repeated, in just as high and enthusiastic a voice as he had used previously. Edward rubbed his nose. The man smelt of peppermint.
What was this man doing? This was certainly not permitted by tube etiquette. Direct conversing! He tried to ignore the man, falling deeper into his case. He played with his sandy hair, untied and retied his shoelace. But still the eyes were on him.
'Hello.' The voice cut through him, smacking him in the face like a frozen sausage.
'Yes, hello,' said Edward irritably without looking up. The eyes continued to watch so that eventually he had to turn towards the man, who was still watching.
'Nice to meet you. I'm an alien.'
Edward rolled his eyes. Oh, here we go. An underground nutter. Well, it was a Friday afternoon.
'Brilliant,' he said quickly.
'No, you're brilliant. Lovely man on a lovely train. How are you today?'
'Fine, thank you.'
'No, thank you.'
Edward sighed as obviously as he could muster. 'I'm sorry, did you want something in particular?'
The man's smile did not fade. 'Your world is very nice, but very strange. Please tell me about it. It is not like mine.'
Edward looked at his watch. Well, he supposed, it would be another twenty minutes before he reached his stop. This could be an entertaining way to pass it. He looked around quickly. The women on either side of them were both plugged into the iPods, whilst those on the other side of the carriage either could not hear, or had the common decency to pretend.
'Very well,' said Edward. 'What would you like to know?'
'Everyone in your world is very beautiful. So beautiful. How is it that everyone is so beautiful and healthy?'
Edward thought for a moment, remembering a fat man he had once seen eating a burger off the floor outside McDonald's at four in the morning. Beautiful?
Edward almost didn't answer, but he could not resist the opportunity to impart knowledge. He would play along. 'Well, I suppose it's because we have hospitals, which are buildings where people look after you when you're ill. So if people are ill, then hopefully they're in a hospital. So everyone outside the hospital is healthy.'
'Really? You speak the truth?' The man was amazed.
'To an extent, yes.'
'And who heals in these hospitals? Who are these angels?'
'They're called doctors. Oh, and nurses. Can't forget the nurses, they do all the nitty gritty. It's all thanks to the NHS really, though that's a controversial topic, what with all the recent hullaballoo regarding the welfare state.'
The man stared at him blankly, furrowing his eyebrows. 'Hullababoo? Nitty gritsy? I do not understand.'
Edward blushed. 'Never mind.'
The man smiled again. 'Yes, never mind. Everyone in your world is so clever. Why are you so clever? How do you learn so many things?'
Edward sat up a little straighter. He had always prided himself on his intelligence. 'Well, from books mostly. Libraries and the such. And school.'
'School?'
'Yes. It's a building where you are taught things as a child. A building for learning, if you will.'
The eyes grew wider. 'That sounds magical.'
'It's not really,' said Edward, the memory of having his head flushed down the loo by Roger Fredson rushing back to him.
'And who teaches these things in these places?'
'Teachers, funnily enough. That's what they're called. They're adults who make it their job to teach things that they know to children. Mathematics, literature, historical events, science and so on.'
'Wow. Angels. All angels. What other jobs can angels of your world do?'
Edward mumbled to show his skepticism at the titling of every human being as an angelic force to be reckoned with. It wouldn't be the first word he would use to describe the McDonald's burger man.
He counted off absentmindedly on his fingers. 'Well, there's cleaners and binmen who keep things tidy. Drivers who take people places in cars, buses or trains like this one.' The man looked around as if only just noticing his surroundings. Edward continued. 'Then there's shopkeepers who make sure people can buy what they want to buy. Office workers who make sure useful companies remain intact. Farmers who make sure people have food to eat- '
'And what do you do?'
'Oh. I'm a lawyer.' Out of habit, Edward prepared himself for a dose of scrutiny.
'And what is that?'
'Well, if someone does something bad, then the police capture them and then it's my job to prove that they did in fact do the bad thing, so that they can be punished for it.'
The man screeched with joy. 'But that is a very fantastic thing! What a good good man you are!'
Edward laughed sheepishly. 'Thank you, that's not the whole story but, to an effect, yes, very good.'
'What else, what else?'
'Erm, well there's writers and actors who keep people entertained. And plumbers and builders and electricians who make sure everyone's houses are working properly. And the Prime Minister of course. And- '
'The what?'
'The Prime Minister.'
'And what does this person do?'
Edward searched for a suitable answer. 'Well, everything really.'
The man looked astounded. He sat back in his chair as if physically knocked by the statement. 'Everything? So this person heals and tidies and teaches and shopkeeps and captures and entertains and builds?'
'Well, no. He just makes sure everything is being done.'
'But what does he do?'
Edward paused. 'I don't understand.'
'If nurses and doctors heal and teachers teach and police capture and so on and so on then what does the Prime Minister add to this?'
'Well, erm, he- ' Edward fumbled, tripping over his words. 'He just watches and- '
'Only watches?! Only watches while others work?'
'Well, he has responsibilities that we do not understand. He is in charge.'
'This man is in charge?' The man grabbed his head and shook it as if trying to force the information to make sense. 'The man who does nothing is in charge!'
Before Edward had a chance to respond, he was rescued by the halting of the train.
The man stood up. 'I shall get off here now, good man. Thank you so much for your informative ways.'
'Oh, very well then.' Edward said the next sentence without thinking, voicing his own disappointed tone. 'Same time on Monday?'
The man shook his head slowly. 'I'm afraid I will not see Monday, good man. I cannot survive long in this beautiful place. But I wanted to see it. I could not live without seeing the legendary Earth.'
The man stretched out his hand and Edward shook it sadly. It was ice cold.
'Goodbye,' said Edward. The man simply smiled his wide smile and exited the train, leaving Edward to face the journey home alone.
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