Calton Hill September 12th after seeing work by Kristina Norman, and a response from Harry Weeks
A monument
or anything really
of gilded plaster
on Calton Hill
will speak to lost
community
“Love thy neighbour?
How half of us don't trust
the people next door...
and Londoners are the least
friendly” It’ll read
on a plaque
stick cut flowers
in the ground
in serried ranks
only to get tidied away
it will make everyone feel
much better
In 35 years time
the government of the day
makes an unpopular decision
claiming
the monument must be relocated
no longer serving its stated purpose
as perfect backdrop
for photography
old as it is
it will instead be stored
in the monumental
memorial monument
cemetery
There once yearly
it’ll have its day
the older generation
will visit and exercise their right
One year after this
with dynamite
the city decides
to level the hill
flat
hallowed ground
interestingly revealed
to have been hollow
from the outset
plaster of paris
a giant maquette
1/4 scale
for a secret plan
for Edinburgh to erase
its shame
and raise the entire city
on its very own
(Playfair designed)
Mount Olympus
The left over ground
as agreed
is left open
undeveloped
a great weal of grit
where
people congregate
-something about it
an incident of past excess
left as total vacant shame
-means
for picnics
or long conversation
with tins of beer
and designs on overthrow
or whatever
-it is ok