Description:Q1183

Artists' book by David Rule. Jack’s fingers work to lever the lid off the tin of syrup; on buttons and buttonholes; around coins; and to express precision or looseness. Jack’s fingers explain the Great Fire of London: I was at a dinner party last night and they were talking about dividing up a dead woman’s things. I tucked my napkin in my collar and pulled out the corners to make it look like a kite. I am Poirot. Today I am hungry because I didn’t get to eat anything. Today I came to breakfast already wearing a napkin that covered my whole body. I looked like a ghost. I held a saucer and teacup for a bit and watched everyone talk about who faked the will. I am Poirot and I am thirsty because I forgot to drink my tea. Last night Zoë Wanamaker put some feathers on her head. I could see them across the dinner table but I couldn’t see her because there were waterlilies and candles in the way. I am Poirot. I like wine when it comes from a bottle wrapped in a napkin. I was wrapped in a napkin last night. I am Poirot. I made a joke about how nobody is cleverer than me and everybody laughed! Do you know what goes well with a napkin? A tiny fan! I used one at dinner. In Mesopotamia the tables are quite small, even for a big party. I smiled at a lot of people. Sometimes a kind little smile and sometimes a just screwing my face up smile. I am Poirot. There was a fish and someone said ‘Arabs don’t understand fish’ but I don’t think he was the murderer. At lunch today I became very jealous of my friend’s meal. I am on a special diet where I can only eat rice and jelly? He had a whole roast chicken and chips. I had a dark green drink the waiter said was nettle water. I am Poirot. My friend did not even wear a napkin. Today I ate with my best friend. I made little jokes about his love life which I think he liked. We ate surrounded by bowls of grapes. I had some white wine but could not drink it because the porter told me a young lady was asking to see me. I am Poirot and when the weather is nice I wear sand-coloured clothes. They match my napkins.Tonight I enjoyed my first toast! It was ‘to freedom’. I was at a round table with my new friends. We did not celebrate for long because an emotional woman came in. She picked up one of our glasses and threw it at a man and said he was no son of hers. I was so shocked that I pulled off my napkin and stood up. I am Poirot. I had some deep thoughts. I am told you can tell by my eyes. I ate breakfast this morning with a man who had lost his pearls. I talked about myself in the third person and looked out of the window. We each had a boiled egg but most of the table was for the spray carnations. I am Poirot and I am here on ‘vacances’. I know where his pearls are. The restaurant I had lunch in was very modern. They provided me with a pale blue napkin. I said that there is no such thing as an accident and the rest of the meal was a flashback. I am Poirot. When I was younger I had more hair and a woman gave me a nice brooch.Text source: http://www.davidrule.co.uk/.