Group: HFF - HAPPY FENCE FRIDAY

The Restraint of Beasts

“Oh give me land, lots of land under starry skies above…” Bing Crosby.

When is a picture of a fence just a fence?
Do fences make us happy?
Which is the Fence of the Week?
Are fences where we exchange hostages?
Think of the Fence Photograph, the tradition,
the classic fence by Strand, Ormerod and Co.
Does the pure white fence exist?
Is the shadow of a fence enough?

May we give, may we take?
Should we mend or separate?
Is a bird on the fence worth two at the gate?
Is it our first or our last defence?
Is there such a thing as a Fence for Life?
Does a fence cross our centre?

There is a fence going up all over Europe,
across the Middle East, as far as the Rio Grande.
Should we make it longer and higher?
One Fence to rule them all, one Fence
to find them, one Fence to bring them all
and in the darkness bind them.
.
KEEP OUT. RESTRICTED ACCESS.

Elegant twists and spirals, razor wire
shimmering in the morning light.
Behind that fence will things be done
in our names? Will we be responsible?
Are we proud of our own dear fence:
this emerald, sea-girt Chanel,
this fence built by nature for herself,
this Sceptered Isle to hide our shame in?

The quest for the perfect fence continues,
the ideal of containment and true content.
The Secure Fence Act (2006) for instance.
Is yours electrified, longer, higher?
Is the Stealth Fence with us yet?
Are we proud of our rhythmic fences?
Can we settle back, snooze, feel reassured?

Is it the fault of the trespasser?
Can you imagine the fear of the barbed wire,
cutting the links, falling bleeding through?
Are we not brothers? Are these not children?
Are we not free to say?
Think of these fences, stand before them,
question them.

Steve Bucknell. 10.11.2015.