L

 

[L]

 

L was a light which burned all the night

and lighted the gloom of a very dark room.

 

L was Lear who wrote without fear

inventing new words strictly for the birds.

 

L was for London all of a sudden

that in a fit said it’s best to flit.

 

L was landscapes, large romantic shapes

sympathetic, with parrots alphabetic.

 

L was laureate, to whit counter-laureate

his In Memoriam a pea-green gloriam.

 

L was for limerick, simple trick

that in a stroke makes a million jokes.

 

L was Liguria, curious curiouser

departed alone but by all, well-known. 

 

The image is Edward Lear’s watercolour of the red-sided parrot (Eclectus Roratus Polychloros) made circa 1830-32. More history about this painting is here: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/363843  

 

 

L (May)

Cartoonist hardly describes Leunig. His L-borders are hand drawn, reminder we are going into a human space, not a mechanical repetition. He once said, you cannot argue with a teapot. There is something in Leunig striving to disable people’s futile contest of wills. The symbol of peace is a dove, yet this cliché was replaced some time ago in Leunig by a duck. The duck waddled into view one May morning; now when it shows up you know it’s pointless arguing. Then there’s Michael’s sister, Mary. She’s the unexpected in the drawing’s narrative that upsets the applecart. Laugh out loud.   

L (February)

L is for Light, noun of agency that reveals all objects. Light on upper reaches of cloud, sheen of windows, over February leaves. Passengers alight, their hair combed and clean, at window height. Fine detail of fingers at opened book, special colours. Then it’s back to reading. M is for Mammon, word of awe. When Welby talks of “dethroning Mammon” is it just money? Wyclif translates Mammon riches. That’s good! Riches means wealth, but more, any possessions we might worship as a god. We see them laid out, a city of objects people could kill for, our game of thrones.

L (September)

 L was the Lip, upper and stiff. L was seen with a Prince Albert quiff. L lifted his game lobbing over square leg. For the square hole L was the square peg. L leapt up from Euphrates mud. L cracked cuneiform before the Flood. Became a club member

in September. L was Lace, a whalebone corset. L always put her best foot forward. L lined up for the Frontier. L locked in to tiffin and ginger beer. L longed for her lost America. L made do with downunder Australia. L lilted her way across the Empire. L laughed, lingered, expired.
 

L was the Lip, upper and stiff.

L was seen with a Prince Albert quiff.

L lifted his game lobbing over square leg.

For the square hole L was the square peg.

L leapt up from Euphrates mud.

L cracked cuneiform before the Flood.

Became a club member

In September.

L was Lace, a whalebone corset.

L always put her best foot forward.

L lined up for the Frontier.

L locked in to tiffin and ginger beer.

L longed for her lost America.

L made do with downunder Australia.

L lilted her way across the Empire.

L laughed, lingered, expired.