November 30, 2014 | Ian Bland | Leave a comment The theme for this week’s JVG Radio Method poem is “Machines“.Thanks to Dave Evans for his excellent backing on the show To play this poem directly in your browser – just click the “play” button below:[audio:JVG_Poem20141130.mp3]MachinesIt began with a shard of bone A jagged stone A rock with a sharpened edge A simple wedge The first machineThen, the rock began to roll A gentle stroll A rolling stone A complete unknown No direction homeSlowly on, two million years Axes, knives, flint and spears Rounded stones to grind the meal Epiphany – we had the wheel!The pace picked up, no time to lose Levers, pulleys, axles, screws Winches, gears, barrows, cranes Catapults, sails and chainsCome the industrial revolution A golden age – forget pollutionSteam engine, Cotton Gin Power Loom, Straight Pin Spinning Jenny, Mechanical Reel Horseless Carriage, automobile Woollen Mills, canned food Locomotive, corkscrewSAssembly lines and submarines Cometh the hour cometh the machineButtons, handles, valves and knobs Give them all the dirty jobsMachines are here to do our bidding Mechanical slaves? Who are we kidding?Refined, faster, smarter, sleeker They grew stronger, we grew weakerTill finally, machines, ascendant We, their masters, now dependentThey cut our hair, clean our teeth Body art and pain reliefIron your shirt, press your suit Don’t forget your parachuteChop down trees, cut your keys Nip and tuck and oil and greaseThe bus, the car, the tram, the train On your bike, board your planeClothes pegs, piano hinges Safety pins and syringesZip your fly, lock the doors Fight our wars and keeps the scoresRecline your chair, close the gates Vacuum pools, wash the plates They even match us up for dates There’s nothing they can’t doPepper Grinder, Beach Umbrella Boat propeller, Auto Teller Around the block or interstellar Machines, machines, machinesPrint assignments, fry the chips Pacemakers, plastic hips Stents and intravenous drips We’re dead without machinesCut the lawn, pop your corn Ring your bell or blow your horn From the moment that we’re born Reliant on machinesThey Juice, Rout, Propel and Mash Crush, Destroy, Explode and Slash Staple, Sharpen, Freeze, Subtract Harvest, Weld, Record, CompactBind, Wind, Grind and Lay Weigh and Spray, X-Ray, Puree Fan, Slice, Blend, Toast Tan, Dice, Defend, RoastTransmit, Hammer, Harvest, Nail Mince, Filter, Copy, Flail Predict, Dig, Carry, Bake Siphon, Shred, Emboss, RakeSever, Plough, Time, Sweep Pump, Power, Trim, Reap Probe, Thresh, Ignite, Measure Paddle, Cook and Self PleasureLevel, Bevel, Prune and Mount Tune, Turn, Churn and CountLathe, Pave, Shave, Engrave Knit, Split and MicrowaveExtinguish, Weave, Lock, Sift Mould, Cool, Warn, Lift Load, Auger, Launch, Hull Feed, Package, Mix, CullReact, Transact, and Extract That’s a FactBeat, Trace, Screw, Polish Heat, Space, Brew, Demolish Cart, Scan, Bale, Print Chart, Can, Mail, TintHumidify, Select, Multiply, Collect Deny, Accept, Approve, Reject Survey, Grade, Play, Trade Shoot, Compute and ExecuteExplore, Blow, Saw, Sow, Draw, Mow, Bore, GrowVaporize, Anaesthetise, Entertain and Sanitise Detect, Drill, Protect, Chill Clip, Chip, Strip and KillDivide, Unite, Stop, Start Join Together, Tear ApartCommunicate, Calculate, Percolate, Generate Fabricate, Activate, Resuscitate, Validate Navigate, Stimulate, Terminate, AnnihilateMachines can do it allTake without guilt Give without joy Share without love Respond without thinking Heal without caring Obey without reason Dispense without compassion Govern without conscienceThose bastard machines Have become – Human Beings© Copyright 2014 Ian BlandAlso have a listen to the songs on the New Album “Angel In Reverse”Share this:TweetEmailMoreTelegram