Garry Gillard > writing > poems
O Sphinx who sits serenely there
Upon your four-square block of stone,
Like monument of hero rare,
So proud, aloof and so alone:
I wonder what you think of now,
As rising there before your eyes
You see it 'mongst the dust, and lour.
A monster in your fore-court lies!
Like Rome, 'twas not built in a day,
This structure cruel, of brick and glass.
Though built so strong 'tis not to stay
And won't be here when aeons pass;
For Rome fell too. But you'll be here,
At least in word if not in deed,
For Grecian bards of far-off year
Created you and bade us heed.
This was published in 1959, in the Perth Modern School magazine called The Sphinx. I thought someone should write a poem apostrophising the 'entity' named in the title of the magazine ('entity' was a new word to me that year). It was a very familiar object, and concept, as we used to eat our lunch near the statue every day. I should perhaps also explain that the first new buildings were being constructed in 1959, and that is what the statue was contemplating, in my imagination. As far as I can remember, the statue was oriented originally to the east, so it was 'looking at' the construction.
Of course the poem is crap, but I was only 15 years old, and was a product of the writing to which I'd been exposed, and also filled with a desire to be (or be seen as) A Poet. In the interests of Complete Disclosure, I suppose I have to say that the poem was published as having been written by 'Gee-Gee'. It was the only time I hid behind my initials written in that particularly crass way, tho I dislike my name, and only latterly started using its usual form.
The editor of the School magazine in 1959 was my good friend Lois Achimovich, who won the English exhibition that year (meaning that she was the best student in the state on the basis of her Leaving English examination paper). I submitted the poem with 'lower' so spelt. Lois 'corrected' it to 'lour'. Both Oxford and Chambers dictionaries prefer 'lour' to 'lower', but both words are still listed. I was offended that a mere editor would correct the spelling of a poet. I've nearly got over it.
Garry Gillard | New: 15 November, 2011 | Now: 20 March, 2023