Lesley Benzie
Originally from Aberdeen, Lesley Benzie has settled in Kirriemuir, following 25 years of working and raising a family in Glasgow. There her vernacular was both a novelty and an initial impetus for writing, resulting in publication in magazines/anthologies and her first collection, SEWN UP. Her second collection, FESSEN, launched in May 2020. and combines both English and Aberdonian. To hear the launch and get your copy go to
seahorsepublications.com
In this episode Lesley reads Burnin Bush, a poem inspired by recent events in Australia, but having resonance with present ongoing struggles for racial equality and the fight for action to tackle Climate Change.
Burnin Bush
In its twaa largest cities
the inhabitants choke
as if they aa hiv a 30 a day habit
an the reid-hot glow ignitin the sky
can still be seen
through the plumes o smoke
fae millions o acres
o burnin bush.
…………………………………………………………………………
But there’s nae a voice fae God
instructin him tae lead his people
tae safety.
…………………………………………………………………………
Instead, fae his sun bed in Hawaii
he evokes the sacred ‘Aussie spirit’
that has enabled them tae endure
through calamity an bush fires
such as these afore
………………………………………………………………………..
while he tries tae pour watter
on aa the evidence
that there has nivver been
bush fires such as these
…………………………………………………………………………
an denies the blueprint for land management,
dyed in the bones o the country’s first people
…………………………………………………………………………..
fa broucht fire fae the centre o the earth
far aa humans were cast in black, reid, yalla an fite
in harmony wi netter.
…………………………………………………………………………….
An despite sma pox an cruelty
like they hid nivver seen
……………………………………………………………………………
hiv preserved their ‘cultural fires’
in sanglines an walkaboots that began
60,000 years ago in the dreamtime.
……………………………………………………………………………
As if half asleep, he repeats
Now is not the time to talk about climate change.
…………………………………………………………………………….
For the kingmakkers o coal whisper
in his dreams aboot the billions o reasons
that he needs tae pit
his country’s economy an jobs first
………………………………………………………………………….
an ally himsel wi aa them fa allege
that it’s a conspiracy theory
concocted by the looney urban elites,
That we are aa in the same ark o this universe.
…………………………………………………………………………..
As each national leader competes
for their country tae be ‘First’
………………………………………………………………………..
tae consume aa the earth’s finite resources
tae fuel the lifestyle tae which
the God o free trade says
They are entitled
………………………………………………………………………..
while a source
o year-roon renewable energy
beats doon on their heids, empty
o conscience.
……………………………………………………………………….
For this time, it’s only a few tens o fowk fa hiv died
an tens o hundreds o hames that hiv burned.
…………………………………………………………………………..
Their atmosphere stingin wi the singed flesh an fur
o reid kangaroos, emus an koalas which are amon
the billion animals fried in the scorched trees
that money disnae grow on.
Lesley Benzie
Four countries that Lesley names as influences on her work
Podcast introductory and closing music from Rain, by Martin Stephenson and sung by Helen McCookerybook.
