Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Things on sticks

Some people seem to take a fair amount of trouble to attach things to sticks and carry them around when they're out and about. I've just seen a grimy looking tramp striding purposefully past Tesco's with a doll's head on a stick held out in front of him at arms length, like a talisman, or a trophy. The doll's head coordinated nicely with his own appearance, as both had long matted hair and grubby faces, but it seemed a strange possession for someone who lives rough. It gave him the appearance of a slightly deranged voodoo-satanic plastic doll worshipper.

I've seen another man on the bus a few times who looks like a witchdoctor, swathed in African fabrics and accessorised with bits of animal fur. He carries a long stick that he periodically taps on the floor of the bus, annoying the driver. He mutters to himself continuously, which is slightly unnerving, apart from a strange touch of domesticity in the form of a new wooden spoon tied to the end of the stick. That changes the effect slightly. My brother had his fortune told by a witchdoctor years ago when we lived abroad, but I think he had animal bones and a spear head attached to his stick, not an English wooden cooking utensil.

I'm sure these objects have got some significance for their owners. I know it's their whole appearance and the muttering as well, but carrying odd things on sticks certainly helps to clear their path on crowded buses and pavements. Everyone gets out of their way fairly rapidly. People scatter. Maybe something to bear in mind during the rush hour...

6 comments:

dickiebo said...

Are you sure that it wasn't a Welsh Love Spoon?

deb said...

Here on the island we have...
Crutch lady - she carries one.
Jacket man - winter and summer wears the same heavy winter jacket, even with shorts to the beach.
The blind man who can see - uses the white cane but turns his head to check for traffic, moves around objects before his cane touches them, etc. (honestly he might be partially sighted) and
Mr. Revlon - one of the heirs to the Revlon fortune, wears plastic garbage bags for outerwear, mismatched shoes......

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And I'll take this moment to add...have a very Merry Christmas, Claire

Roses said...

Nothing to do with sticks or Welsh Love Spoons (which are lovely) but:

Many blessings of the Winter Solstice to you and yours. May your Yule be filled with love, laughter and light.

Claire said...

Dickiebo - erm, what on earth is that???

Deb - very interesting sounding people! Sounds a bit Twin Peaks-ish... I hope you have a good Christmas too!

Roses - thank you, that's a lovely alternative festive greeting. Very nice indeed!

dickiebo said...

http://www.thelovespoongallery.com/

Claire said...

They're lovely, but I think the one I saw was most likely part of a multi-buy in a Poundshop.