Blood and Other Substances

Gold cherry
Poem of the week

By Philip Sidney

Wed, 31 Jan 2018
  • 4937 reads
17 comments
 

My brother took a DNA test -
wrote me the chain of expected stuff:
british-isles-france-germany-scandanavia-south-asia-italy-iberia-sub-saharan-africa

bullshit - I didn’t say - blood has no borders
held my tongue about the scammer in a white coat
googling clients - churning-out-identikits-from names-addresses-pics-on-face-space

his post-script: 4% Neanderthal
froze my words.

Under a white light -
in the bathroom mirror-
Neanderthal flickers 
its ancient flame behind my eyes -

she’s calling me

long distance.

Certificate 12
Poem

Comments

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

This is really different Philip, I like the way you've arranged it. I do wonder about those DNA tests, are they simply confirming our humanity? Although a few of us are still fighting the urge to gnaw on bones.

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

I also like the arrangement, and I love the ending.. or should I say the beginning? Very visual!

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

I would love to find out I'm part Neanderthal.  Have you read Doris Lessing's The Fifth Child?  Perhaps not quite as Neanderthal as that.  

I echo what others say - beautifully arranged and it works really well.  

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thank you all for reading - I'm pleased to know I'm not completely human, if these things are anything to believed. I'm a veggie but have a yen for caves...

I've not read The Fifth Child - it sounds wonderful, if harrowing, I'll give it a go.

Thank you for the cherries. smiley

Submitted by catherine poarch on

I really liked this, I find the DNA idea fascinating and I am also cynical - I remember Jane Lapotaire on the Wogan show years ago saying (because she was adopted) - 'blood is not thicker than water' and I agree with that. Nurture over nature. But Neandethal - wow! I loved the last line, '...long distance'.

 

Submitted by fatboy74 on

Congratulations, this is our Facebook/Twitter pick of the day. Please like and share if you enjoy it too.

 

Submitted by fatboy74 on

Wonderful stuff. 

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thank you so much!  Very happy about the pick. smiley

Submitted by london_calling79 on

Turns from chatty to clinical. Stops you in your tracks at the exact moment the Neanderthal enters. Wonderful form.

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks LC : )

Submitted by Ray Schaufeld on

Back in the 70s there was a chart hit Neanderthal Man. Can't remember band but the lyrics were uncomplicated. Like your poem.

Submitted by celticman on

blood has no borders - but your body. 

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

This beautifully crafted piece, with its haunting finish, is our Poem of the Week.  Congratulations!

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Well done on this Philip. Fascinating piece. Who knows what burns inside us and whether there weren't any few neonatal misplacements down the years?

Parson Thru

Submitted by Di_Hard on

I share your fascination with the Neanderthal gene thing, and your poem brings out the mystery and excitement of this so well. But why is it we are so interested in being Neanderthal? When I found out Europeans share Neanderthal genes it was like finding out I was part elf or something. Do we believe it was the more interesting species that died out? Like, were they telepathic because they did not have sapiens language skills?

 

Submitted by MJG on

The slight superiority at the start when you consider blood without borders and then the recognition of a border-line within, that unthinking part of the brain that is suddenly revealed in a glimpse.

 

Submitted by Denzella on

Hello Philip,

I had to read it a couple of times before I got it, or think I got it but that is probably because I'm more Neanderthal than sapiens.  Certainly got me thinking though.  Very clever piece.

Moya