Towards Better Democracy

The studio had decided to make
A highly ambitious film set in Rome
To be set in the fortieth year of our Lord,
Jesus Christ, in the full Hollywood tradition,
In a back lot. Lavish sets, authentic costumes,
the whole nine yards,.
Or is it ten?

The world’s Most Famous Director was showing his World
Famous, for penny pinching, Producer the first rushes,

“Why can’t I understand what they are saying, Stan?”

“You asked for the film to be fully authentic, Doug.
I had the scriptwriter write the dialogue in Latin.
That’s what you’re hearing.”

“And what are we supposed to do? Run subtitles?”

“It always seems stupid to me. Bunch of Romans,
Dressed in togas, running around, speaking English.”

“But I can’t understand a bloody word they’re saying, Stan.
And I studied Latin at school.”

“You did! I didn’t know you were educated.”

“Cut it out, Stan! What am I supposed to tell Finance?”

“Well, you said that the film is for a truly international audience.
It’ll have to dubbed anyway.”

“And how the hell are the Cannes Jury to know what country to vote for
The film for? That’s worth an awful lot of money, you know.”

“I know, I know. I want the award. They’ll be impressed, Doug.”

“For a world class director, Stan, you sure talk a load of crap sometimes.
Suppose we had set the film in China, would you have had the cast speak
Chinese?”

“Well they own us, don’t they, Doug. Besides, largest captive audience in the
world.”

“Good job you weren’t born in Roman times. You’d have made a terrible
rhetorician.”

“Huh?

Doug rolls his eyes, but at the back of them run a row of dollar signs
like the match of fruit on a one armed bandit.

“Have the scriptwriter rewrite the script in Chinese.”

“But the film is set in Rome, Doug.”

“We’ll have to dub it anyway, Stan. That’s what you said.
And you know, Stan, you’re right. Having Romans running around
in togas speaking English is stupid. Running around in togas speaking
Chinese is better. More authentic.”

Doug toddles off the set whistling, leaving Stan wondering what to do with
the rushes.

Malcolm D B Munro
Saturday 29 July, 2017
Written and originally posted: 4 April, 2016

Filed under: Arts, Media, Music, poetry, songs, stories

Bringing back into plain air.

Readership on a blog constantly refreshes and prior posts can lie neglected at the bottom only accessible to search engines. Of my present audience, I don’t know if there is a taste for poetry.

Perhaps my poetry will improve for previously it lacked for me conviction in many cases. The best, I think, express my passions. Some amuse and others light and why should they not too air see.

So, in plain terms, I will be reviving those I think lie at the top of the heap.

Those of you who groan, “Oh, don’t give up the music”, I say, “I can’t, I love it so much”.

Malcolm D B Munro
Saturday 29 July, 2017

Filed under: Arts, Media, Music, poetry, songs, stories

The happy horses of heaven
Who winged their way through the starry skies
Far. far above the cares and woes of this world

The horses of heaven, winged bright
On the darkest of night
Exuding dramtic light

The horses of heaven
Diamonds sparkling from their hooves
Red roses and a multitue of flowers from their ears
sprout

The horses of heaven
Ridden by angels whose trumpets sound
And echo throughout eternity

The horses of heaven
That speed through the universe
In the twinkling of an eye

To arrive on your doorstep
One bright sunny morning
To tell you all of your dreams have come true

Ah, yes
Yes, yes
The happy horses of heaven
A sight to behold
Up where dancing and laughter hold
Where merriment never ceases

Life lived far beyond the reach of this planet bold
Where old men and old women go, some before their time,
To die and live in peace and happiness
Joined by their kinship and loved ones
To live there happily ever after

Alongside the horses of heaven

Malcolm D B Munro
Saturday 29 July, 2017 0200 CST

Filed under: Arts, Media, Music, poetry, songs, stories