The Barclaycard Mercury Prize has had its shortlist announced yesterday, and Eyewear is pleased to see a few of its faves in contention: Paul Weller's Wake Up The Nation and The xx's xx album. Also particularly good are The Foals and Laura Marling. Strong field. I predict The xx will win. They're one of the most striking and refreshing bands of the last decade in the UK.
A poem for my mother, July 15 When she was dying And I was in a different country I dreamt I was there with her Flying over the ocean very quickly, And arriving in the room like a dream And I was a dream, but the meaning was more Than a dream has – it was a moving over time And land, over water, to get love across Fast enough, to be there, before she died, To lean over the small, huddled figure, In the dark, and without bothering her Even with apologies, and be a kiss in the air, A dream of a kiss, or even less, the thought of one, And when I woke, none of this had happened, She was still far distant, and we had not spoken.
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