PATSY FUTATSUGI
Playing Carrom
With the Purple Poets
05.01.2009


Imagine the scene
with all the talking and laughing
and whooping when it hits home

Food being cooked to hand round
Greasy fingers
Wonderful aroma!

Playing Carrom is like Pool
without a cue
Flicking Fingers to Thumb

And it hurts

Especially when you lose.

to see Patsy read
‘Playing Carrom With The Purple Poets’
on YouTube, please click here

PATSY FUTATSUGI
THAT IN-BETWEEN TIME (DREAM)
2005 National Poetry Day
THEME: DREAMS
second draft 29.09.2007


I should write down my dreams
Colour is always in my mind
Music too.

Time and pictures tumbling through time

When I wake
I feel wow
What's going on?

You know that in-between time
That in-between time
between sleeping and waking

You only remember when you wake.

PATSY FUTATSUGI
DREAMS
first draft 13.09.2007
for 2007 National Poetry Day


I should write down my dreams
Colour is always in my mind
Music Too.
Time and pictures tumbling

When I wake
I feel wow
What's going on?



Patsy Futatsugi first performed this poem on National Poetry Day 2007 (04.10.2007)
in Henry Woolf's workshop for London Workshop Poets "How to Read A Poem."
(The Crypt, Munster Square, West Euston, London.

First Draft: ARTISTS AGAINST RACISM


PATSY FUTATSUGI
THE PEOPLE ARE WE DIFFERENT
22.03.2007


The People -- are we different?

Do we have to be so scared
Of different races
Different colours
Why is this so?

What started it all?
Was it the governments
Of the world
Who wanted to divide us.

So much has happened way back
That we can't
Believe the pain is caused
And put the mankind back.



Patsy Futatsugi is a founding member
of the Workshop Purple Poets

PATSY FUTATSUGI
End of Spring Season (a haiku)
08.02.2007

pink blossom petal
falling down into the ground
end of spring season



Patsy Futatsugi first performed this poem with the Purple Poets
at the H-pod Cumberland Market Square
on International Language Day  February 22, 2007.



to see Patsy read
‘Spring Haiku’
on YouTube, please click here

PATSY FUTATSUGI
After The War
22.07.2006

My mother worked in a sweet shop
And every Friday she brought me
My special treat. Fuller's Chocolates .

Round with bits of purple and red
Square nougat, sugared almonds
Walnuts covered in Dark and Milk
Chocolate. They were just there
Every Friday when she was paid.

One Friday my mother forgot
I remember screaming
Kicking and crying
"Where's my bloody chocolates"
And being put to bed without supper.

The next Friday she came home
With more glossy, shiny,
Gooey chocolates.
Glossy, shiny, creamy,
Milky, syrupy-sweet

Smearing on the hands and face
Of a five year old

Melting in my mouth.

Patsy Futatsugi first performed this poem with the Purple Poets
at the Cumberland Market Festival, Cumberland Market,
at 2 p.m. on the Main Stage on July 29, 2006.


to see Patsy read
‘After The War (The Chocolate Poem)’
on YouTube, please click here

PATSY FUTATSUGI
Postcard Perfect
04.06.2006
CAMDEN GREEN FAIR 2006



Years ago in Morroco
I saw women
Drawing water from the well

It looked wonderful
To see young girls
Old women, children

Dressed in their beautiful clothes
Gracefully carrying water
On their heads every day

This year we have a drought
And a hose pipe ban and
I am the one carrying water

My arms ache with the load
It isn't so
picture perfect.




Patsy Futatsugi first performed this poem with the Purple Poets
at the Camden Green Fair , Regent's Park, London, England 04.06.2006


to see Patsy read
‘Postcard Perfect’
on YouTube, please click here







PATSY FUTATSUGI
Saint George or the Dragon:
St. George's Day, 2006
06.04.2006

It was a task and of course I was scared.
I was the demon slayer
I lie awake at night feeling the hot flames
hearing the cries: Fire; Fire; Fire

This old fable has always been easy.
Handsome George
On a beautiful horse
Killing something ugly

Keeping the world safe.
No one wonders what I will do
When there are no more
Monsters left to slay.

Always hoping this will be the last,
I go on killing;
Killing; killing
Breathing fire.



Patsy Futatsugi is a founding member
of the Workshop Purple Poets

PATSY FUTATSUGI
MOTHER'S DAY MAKES ME CRY
23.03.2006

When I'm asked about my mum
I get a lump in my throat
And I know the years of her going
Because my grandson
Was born the year of her death.


Patsy Futatsugi is a founding member
of the Workshop Purple Poets



PATSY FUTATSUGI
THE LADIES IN SAREES
2005 National Poetry Day
THEME: THE FUTURE


I want to see all those colours
Of the ladies' sarees
As they bathe in the sea
Sarees swirling around

I want to see old ladies collecting
Dung from sacred cows
To use to keep their floors clean
Wearing sarees brighter than any colour I've seen

I'll be seeing ladies in sarees swimming
I'll be seeing sacred cows
I'll be seeing lady builders building

I'll be wearing sarees too.


Patsy Futatsugi first performed this poem with the Purple Poets
at the National Poetry Day 2005 Celebration,
The Poetry Café, London, England 06.10.2005

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The Purple Poets  have co-produced projects
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