Carnival
Kate Delaney
The work leading up to and including a carnival in Bristol, 2004.
Transcript
My name is Katie. I work at acta. Sometimes I work with Alan
I work with light, but I think that is very heavy as I load lots of vans.
Sometimes I worry about my arms stretching.
Today is the Day.
I’ve been working away in all the schools forever.
My car’s been packed full of sparkling scrap and treasures.
All the kids know my name and shout “Katie” from the playground.
Put that stick down you’ll have someone’s eye out.
Little hands working so hard.
A boy from another class looking in with eyes on stalks.
If you have spilt the pot of glue pick it up don’t walk it in all over the carpet.
“Corr we made that!” I hear them say.
Why is there a flood in the toilets?
Today’s the day.
It’s an early start - lots of finishing off. The angel still need her wings.
The stars need lights to twinkle and the Roman chariot and white charger need long poles.
Today is the day
It’s growing dark and the streets are lined with expectant onlookers.
Lots of small and big faces arrive to collect their prize - the result of all their hard labours.
The strings of lights get connected,
And we’re starting out up the road.
A little piece of fallen heaven.
A beautiful parade of the unimaginable-come-true.
Today is the day.
I’d forgotten to eat and half way around I got so hungry I ate Alan’s half leftover sandwich he’d sat on,
And felt I could lay down and go to sleep in the street.
But it’s not over yet.
Only fireworks will stamp their seal on the end of this day.
But I may not have made it through without that half sat on sandwich.
