Notes on Dreamed LettersWhilst at Mexborough Grammar, I already had many drinking friends who - despite being younger than me but in the year above - became better friends and were joined by others. Some among us exchanged artistic and literary items - and musical things too. You just did, you were mates. How simple all that was. I wish I still had some of the things I was given - in this case notes and letters.
I was oblivious to the fact that some students were of literary bent and that I could make a real career etc. I'm oblivious to most things but note in fine detail peculiar, irrelevant things. There was a fabulous circular party invite that read in a spiral - many such things were visual. I recall vaguely that mine were bumptious tales that went no-where, nonsense rhymes, that sort of thing. I can recall one:Picadilly wore a tienot too low and not too highGronk
There were other mates - some became neighbours in the house where my bedsit was. I made them just by being around, anyway, we'd get stoned at the weekends and make stupid rhymes and stuff up. In fact, we did it straight and all the time. "A bog's as good as a sink to a blind plummer". It was a cult thing that I took with me on my travels. Cornwall, Portsmouth - everyone picked up on it and had their own.
We'd all write to one another - I got mail addressed to Alex, Nether Edge, Never Mind - and it got through. How DID that posty know? Back to Mexborough. I was something other, living on my own, independantly. The bedsit was almost a must see destination. All kinds of esoteric matter was discussed, and it probably filled my mind at night. I had this thing where I'd awake paralised - absolutely nothing, not even a blink. I learned to relax and concentrate on slow recovery. It only happened on my back - but anyway, it fueled all kinds of off-beat thought. I don't recall writing poetry precisely then - but I must have had it lieing around - as a friend typed some up.
Much of this stuff probably got trashed when the squat I lived in (Brimingham) got demolished. I just get occasional flashes these days, and I try to recapture those moments - not out of any 'oh to be young' drool. Simply to explore the open-mindedness of it all. So if this makes no sense - you've nailed it.
