Iron: Man

Cherry

By Pat G

Wed, 08 Jun 2016
  • 2893 reads
9 comments
 

 

Our iron man has no bone

yet stands tumescent -

a shamed flasher

cast out on the fringe

of our central square.

 He has no arms or legs; 

a giant rusting nobody

who ignores passers-by

and wonders why

he is there at all.

Our iron man presses

against a vulgar belly,

but is hollow and dead;

no eyes, or ears, or balls.

an oxidising priapism

full of stale air. 

 

 

('Iron: Man', Antony Gormley, Victoria Square, Birmingham)

Certificate 18
Poetry Monthly

Comments

Submitted by VeraClark on

Really eerie with such sinister undertones.

 

Submitted by Pat G on

Thank you for the comments Vera.

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

ignores passers-by and wonders why he was put there at all. How many 'sculptures' may feel that about themselvse!

I read that it is supposed to represent 'the traditional skills of Birmingham and the Black Country practised during the Industrial Revolution' but I find that difficult to see, except that it is made from iron.

full of stale air seemed to bring it down to earth. I don't know if the sexual undertones were implying it a seeming embarrassing attacker on the city? Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Pat G on

Thanks Rhiannon. I really appreciate the thoughtful feedback.

Submitted by Pat G on

Thank you for the cherries.

Submitted by Starfish Girl on

As  a Brummie I have seen The Iron Man many times and now I suppose don't see it at all when I pass. I'm sad that it is supposed to represent Birmingham which has so much more than its industry.

But an interesting take in your poem.

Lindy

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Something melancholic here, a relic cast among us.  I like his tough rustiness and how he awkwardly stands in the way, he makes me think of Ted Hughes's Iron Man.  You've got me thinking of all of that stale old air inside.  Great art choice.

Submitted by Pat G on

More interesting than the statue of Queen Victoria at the centre of the square.

Submitted by Pat G on

Thanks for the comments.   He's been there since 1993.  He's got a nice rust coating now, but no vedigris.