Hurrah, today is poetry day in the UK.Where would our world be without poets?
I sometimes forget I’m a poet.
Waving hello to all poets the world over I’ll share here a poem I wrote years back for an artist friend and her family.
… notes on a messy old woman …
in her art the charcoal mining hills
are shadow lands holding gold
and white mountains of china clay
spark New Jerusalem in her heart
she draws Cornish Cliffs rising black
from pale sands – jutting like mythic
creatures into a calm cobalt sea 
beneath an impassive slate sky
she delights in the yellow of lemon
green of pear – shape of aubergine
textures of sunflower – curly kale
and the pink gleam on the skin
of fish – best caught on the day
each thing away from its home
…solitary objects …
alone in space – the pot – pan
cup – knife and fork she paints
like icons on white and says
… they speak for themselves …
when spring brings pungent earth 
she plants narcissus and hyacinth –
geranium and rose – tomatoes – mint
clematis – azalea and rose again
she bends low to weed her garden
but not to wash the kitchen floor
nor does she mind a grimy table
sink – bowl – glass or plate 
yet her home is bright with friends
walls are hung with paintings
shelves groan under books
colourful rugs blot out the dust
her stomach has hardened to bugs 
and if a thing cracks or falls apart
one of her five children will come
to fix the chair – shelf – clock – tap
the leaking roof or creaking door
… her strategy works …
all objects she observes revert
to the empty spaces between them
Ashen, 2004
You may wonder what has been happening since my last post, to which many of you kindly responded in relation to my dream and my desolate, confused state, which was heartening.
The post coincided with my publisher coming clean after I had faithfully waited three years for the production work on Course of Mirrors to begin. Still, I’m thankful – at least the path is clear. I decided not to approach any of the giants. I’m taking control. Having had lots of time to compare self-publishing set-ups, I’ve chosen one that’s most respected in the trade and also stores and distributes books.
I believe strongly in Course of Mirrors – the book will be launched in spring 2017. I’ll keep my online friends updated. Once my first novel is on the road, I may crowdfund for the sequel … and a collection of my poetry.
‘Faith is the evidence of things not seen.’ – W Hutchinson Murray
Sorry, the layout of this page turned messy 🙂
Course of Mirrors 