Iris Colomb‘s practice explores different relationships between visual and spoken forms of text through projects often involving experimental translation and poetic book-objects. She has given individual, collaborative and interactive performances across the UK, as well as in Austria, Romania, and France. Iris’ pamphlet ‘I'm Shocked’ come out with Bad Betty Press in 2018, her chapbook ‘just promise you won’t write’ was published by Gang Press in 2019, and her artist books have been collected by the National Poetry Library as well as Chelsea College of Art’s Special Collection. Her poems have also appeared in magazines such as Para·text, Poetry Wales, Tentacular and Datableed, as well as in a number of UK anthologies. Iris is Co-Editor of HVTN Press, where she just launched an artist-book imprint called ‘Interruptions’, and a founding member of the interdisciplinary collective 'No Such Thing'.
Fracture
before you start
switch off the main power
isolate the circuit
remove the circuit fuse
and put it in your pocket
the fix takes only a minute
switch off the breaker
and lock it if you can
to avoid accidental replacement
check the circuit is dead
before you start
you won't be able to tell
from the design of the rose
instead you'll need to count
the cables entering
the fix takes only a minute
as long as you can get
to the void from above
you can move a light
to wherever you need it
the fix takes only a minute
get a socket tester
to check all finished work
to confirm whether circuits
are dead and safe to work on
before you start
if in any doubt
avoid accidental replacement
your first task is to find
what circuit type you have
before you start
as long as you can get
to check all finished work
instead you’ll need to count
from the design of the rose
the fix takes only a minute
to confirm whether circuits
remove the circuit fuse
isolate the circuit
check the circuit is dead
before you start
if in any doubt
and lock it if you can
instead you’ll need to count
and put it in your pocket
the fix takes only a — Shu
as long as you can get
from the design of the rose
to the void from above
you won’t be able to tell
before you start
Chute
with power switched off
and breaker removed
Chute — comment
instead you'll need to
count the cables entering
before you start
if in any doubt
Casse — comment
or wherever required
Casse — comment identifier
remove the power
lock it if you can
the fix takes only a minute
you can move a light
Fuite — comment localiser
to the void from above
Chute — comment rassembler
Suspension/ Piège
the fix takes only a
Tension — comment protéger
Suspension — comment prévenir
Resistance — comment résoudre
if in any doubt
Défaillance / Fracture
put it in your pocket
before you
Différence — comment vérifier
Déficience — comment déjouer
Défaillance — comment agir
Confusion / Obsolescence / Piège
instead you'll need to count
the fix takes
Faiblesse — comment controller
Confusion — comment isoler
Obsolescence — comment réagir
Rupture / Fracture / Casse / Eclat
you won’t be able to tell
before
Piège — comment résister
Rupture — comment remplacer
Fracture — comment combler
as long as you can move
Fuite — comment comprendre
Isolation / Piège
the fix takes only a
Eclat — comment trouver
This poem was first published as a recorded piece in Datableed issue #7, sound recording and design by Andrey Novikov.
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