When The Beatles released ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’/Penny Lane, the idea was that they would write an album about Liverpool and their childhoods. I’ve often gone nostalgically back to my childhood, and here are two examples. ‘1964’ is a poem that was read beautifully by Johnny Morris* in a ‘posh Liverpudlian accent’ during a poetry evening …
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Double ‘A’ Side Singles
In 2016, I wrote a collection called ‘Moonsville’ when I wanted to get gothic, Victorian darkness in! After having watched a documentary on Mary Shelley and Lord Byron. The whole collection had a darkness to it cos I liked a fact that in the documentary it said that there had been a summer of darkness …
Double ‘A’ Side Singles
Both of these poems come from how much of what I write is influenced by pop music. I love The Who and my cat Moony is named after Keith Moon, so no complaints about his character cos he’s as crazy as the drummer! I wrote this first poem twenty years ago. and was written from …
Double ‘A’ Side Singles
This first is about dying from cancer. I wrote it for a guy called Richard in 2000. I didn’t know him that well but I was struck by the fact that at 40 he was dying from cancer. I smoke so always that nagging feeling that this could one day happen. The Great Disappearing Man …
Parents’ Evening
Once quietly brilliant.Now brilliantly quiet.‘While amateurs fit characters to plotsprofessionals fit plots to characters’. There’s something going on.Something going right or wrong?This term’s work has been erratic.Long-term may stick. Is everything ok at home?Seems distant at times and a long way away.Just like a cat that wants to roamwhile flattening down 100 blades of grass …
e.g. 16th October
when someone dieson a day and a date that day and that date is every day for those living who wait.
person x
this is the gathering of the massesfor person x all aloneshouting out above beeping mastermind passesfetching a stick licking dog n bone. person x love at first sightlifelong vision towards real lovehope hap happy happenswhen hand in a million fits the glove stand out behind anonymousride the bus hiding from the bus seatsperson x don’t …
Numbers
The club is ok. I’m feeling it distantly.If you have my contact numberscould u forward them on to me?Thanks. The no feeling club is called ‘Numbers’ Feeling a buzz is what gets us on our knees.Feeling the birds and the bees.That message you sent was so rash.You hated it but I’d give it a bash.
Mythomaniac
I’m a mythomaniac.I’ve got no empathy with facts.I make up things to not crack.I’ve got a devil’s tongue on my shoulder for pacts. I’m a mythomaniac.I’ve got a shallow grave for yakety yak.I make up things for what I lack.I’ve got an angel on my shoulder to wing it with my quack. I’m a mythomaniac.I’m …
Pebble Beach
Pebbles under a towelmake sun-bathers scowl.Pebbles rolling in and outwith wind and wave clout. Pebbles prop up beach umbrellas.A slalom course of shady dwellers.Pebbles as miniature mountains to mount.Pebbles washed up like bodies to count. Hot under foot, pebbles drydull and grey under the sky.Grab a handful from the shore;Shiny-wet for a minute or more.
A Pretty Kettle of Poetry 