Tuesday 23 January 2007

Death doesn't scare me any more

At first glance, you may think it is depressing, but this poem is about hope. I think it is incredible that I was able to look ahead with hope at this point of  my life, having gone through what I had.

Death doesn't scare me any more
I already know what hell is
And heaven may not be so good
But it'll be better than this

So this is life
Out of the hell of heroin
Suspended somewhere between then and now
Until I start again

Start living, start giving,
Stop lying, stop crying,
No more hate or despair
No lifeless body swinging in the air

Dreams coming back to life
Plans pulled out of the dust
'Cause when you want and need a future
You have to free the feelings you suppressed

I'm tired of their stares
And of all the sly, knowing grins
I'm sick of those dead eyes in my mirror
And bones barely veiled by my skin

But you have to cry before you can laugh
And you have to wade thro' the mire and stench
Before you can see the sparrows and smile ...
It just takes a little while.

Written on March 21, 1986, Friday, 8:58 pm. I was 20 years old.

Bajaj Pulsar: Definitely Male (Chauvinist Pigs)

The back page of India Today, January 1, 2007. Must have been an expensive ad to place. One would think SOMEONE would have noticed that this ad is sexist. Clearly not. The headline:

LED TAIL LAMP:
A HOT REAR-END EVEN WHEN YOU'RE RIDING ALONE.

Yes, yes, I know it's about the fancy tail lamp and gosh, such a clever play on words. But the double meaning IS sexist. No one reading this ad is going to assume that the hot rear-end might be dear old dad's or Venky from next door (even if you ARE bum chums). So a big boo and hiss to Bajaj who instead of "inspiring confidence" is just reinforcing sexist stereotypes and objectivising women.

And Ogilvy & Mather - I'm shocked! David Ogilvy was one of my heroes. I hope he's turning in his grave over this. Obviously you guys have forgotten his immortal quote, because clearly anyone who's impressed by this ad can be summed up in the opposite: The customer is an idiot.(For those of you who don't know that quote, it's "The customer is not an idiot. She's your wife.")

Why not write to Bajaj and tell them what you think of this ad? You can catch them at www.mypulsar.com