His Holiness, the XIV Dalai Lama is currently visiting Nottingham, UK. Whilst only having opportunity to experience the opening weekend’s talks, I was driven to much contemplation. In celebration of His Holiness’ visit to the UK, I’m working quickly to get my 1992, Tibet-inspired collection of spoken poetry and music, Winds of Karma, re-released with
I Ernst’s ample pagan horns Transumute sunlight into blocks of lead Pierce the pure cobalt horizon With dread, forbidden longing. Cats, cats Everywhere cats On the rooftops of Paris Larger than life, That’s how the grafitti writers Wanted them Bold and beautiful Perhaps making urban skylines Bright again. They creep into the lives of contemporary
Dusk is riding the London Eye Dropping into the Thames, Rising upon the Embankment Wearing the night-black body Of a crouching, lazy Sphinx. In secret illumination The obelisk beacon is lit Black light pouring its hieroglyphics Unseen across the rippling waters. Fallen leaves, A desert floor of golden heat Reaches out Beneath the feet Of
photo credit: fat dad Parchment leaves curled in regiments Await a Kaiser’s reach, Ignore the feet of children Kicking into oblivion Their warlord, London-bred natures. Where the boys tread An eddy born of cobweb wind Raises the elementals Brings faeries from their woodland beds To fling secret, invisible threads Of wild-eyed enchantments, Hope and featherd
photo credit: YoHandy The weather was my last Connection to you; Blown inside-out, I’m lost, Wet-through In the torrents Of watered-down passion Pulled to the starry heights of everything-will-be-all right clouds I gather up my thoughts, Wrapping them tight inside like an approaching storm-front Unable To subside, Unable To ride out the weather. The weather
Following on from last week’s warping of the Blake classic “The Tiger”, I had the opportunity to set the theme this time myself, as Jerusalem. I knew it would be troublesome for people to get to grips with. It’s very easy as a writer to only write about subjects you enjoy yourself or not know
photo credit: Copleys This week’s exercise was a little more unusual that most. The brief was to take a favourite poem and then rewrite it, replacing nouns with diffferent nouns, verbs with different verbs etc. Everyone seemed to share the consensus that it is a very difficult task which consumes time rapidly. Of course this
photo credit: ianmcburnie The theme for this week is “tango” – quite limited it would seem. Searching for background information on the word I was happy to see that there was a Japanese reference. I was then able to draw upon my experiences of travelling across Japan to write the poem. The critique it received
Since becoming involved with a local writers’ group I’ve noticed my poetic sense re-awaken and the tendency to see things in poetic vision increase. I had forgotten that sensation of concentration that seeks through word and rhythm to take you to another place. Its seems to enhance everyday experience to the point where you’re able
