After some delay; the next book in the LeedsBookClub Canongate Challenge was Dream Angus by Alexander McCall Smith. A huge fan of Alexander McCall Smith (Please read his wikipedia page - he is fascinating); I discovered the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency a few years ago and read about six books in the series over … Continue reading Canongate Book 5 – Dream a little dream of me…
Poetry
The Song of the Wandering Aengus – W.B. Yates
The Song of the Wandering Aengus W.B. Yates I WENT out to the hazel wood, Because a fire was in my head, And cut and peeled a hazel wand, And hooked a berry to a thread; And when white moths were on the wing,And moth-like stars were flickering out,I dropped the berry in a streamAnd … Continue reading The Song of the Wandering Aengus – W.B. Yates
Remember Remember
1742 Ditty Don't you Remember, The Fifth of November, 'Twas Gunpowder Treason Day, I let off my gun, And made'em all run. And Stole all their Bonfire away. Not a huge fan of Guy Fawkes myself (I'm all about Halloween and sweets!) but would like to wish everyone a very happy night! 1903 The … Continue reading Remember Remember
No Sanctuary by Seamus Heaney
No Sanctuary It’s Hallowe’en. The turnip-man’s lopped head Blazes at us through split bottle glass And fumes and swims up like a wrecker’s lantern. Death mask of harvest, mocker at All Souls With scorching smells, red dog’s eyes in the night－ We ring and stare into unhallowed light. From North, 1975 Many many moons ago, … Continue reading No Sanctuary by Seamus Heaney
Human Beings by Adrian Mitchell
Human Beings look at your hands your beautiful useful hands you're not an ape you're not a parrot you're not a slow loris or a smart missile you're human not british not american not israeli not palestinian you're human not catholic not … Continue reading Human Beings by Adrian Mitchell
Introduction to Poetry by Billy Collins
Introduction to Poetry I ask them to take a poem and hold it up to the light like a color slide or press an ear against its hive. I say drop a mouse into a poem and watch him probe his way out, or walk inside the poem's room and feel the walls for a … Continue reading Introduction to Poetry by Billy Collins
Cinderella – Roald Dahl
The primary reason I grew up knowing that life wasn't going to end up the way the Disney films suggested. Especially with regards to the princes!! Cinderella I guess you think you know this story. You don't. The real one's much more gory. The phoney one, the one you know, Was cooked up years and … Continue reading Cinderella – Roald Dahl
The Room by Mark Strand
The Room It is an old story, the way it happens sometimes in winter, sometimes not. The listener falls to sleep, the doors to the closets of his unhappiness open and into his room the misfortunes come -- death by daybreak, death by nightfall, their wooden wings bruising the air, their shadows the spilled milk … Continue reading The Room by Mark Strand
See you later alligator…
See you later, alligator. Bye-bye, butterfly. Not too soon, you big baboon. In a while, crocodile. Out the door, dinosaur. Give a hug, ladybug. Take care, polar bear. See you soon, raccoon. To your house, little mouse. In a blizzard, little lizard. In a shake, garter snake. Time to scoot, warty newt. Don't meander, salamander. … Continue reading See you later alligator…
Last Poem for Lent – Easter Sunday
Sunday Lent Poem 47 Please find below, the second of two poems sent to us by noted poet, playwright and author Alice Shapiro (@crackedpoems) Desire Alice Shapiro A friend is a second self --Aristotle The cries of Lois the dearth of shame the help of brothers the force of disdain the books of poets the … Continue reading Last Poem for Lent – Easter Sunday
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