Author Archives: Robin

Strange Meeting

by Wilfred Owen It seemed that out of battle I escaped Down some profound dull tunnel, long since scooped Through granites which titanic wars had groined. Yet also there encumbered sleepers groaned, Too fast in thought or death to be bestirred. Then, as I probed them, one sprang up, and stared With piteous recognition inContinue reading “Strange Meeting”

The Kiss

by Edith Nesbit The snow is white on wood and wold, The wind is in the firs, So dead my heart is with the cold, No pulse within it stirs, Even to see your face, my dear, Your face that was sun; There is no spring this bitter year, And summer’s dreams are done. TheContinue reading “The Kiss”

All roads don’t lead to Rome – most of them end up at the seaside

Do you have a special place you love which is not real? I don’t mean like Billy Liar with his imaginary country of Ambrosia where he is the benevolent, but brave, leader, guiding both his country’s development and armed forces. I mean the sort of place Peter Pan would call a “happy place” where youContinue reading “All roads don’t lead to Rome – most of them end up at the seaside”

Us Two

by A. A. Milne Wherever I am, there’s always Pooh, There’s always Pooh and Me. Whatever I do, he wants to do, “Where are you going today?” says Pooh: “Well, that’s very odd ‘cos I was too. “Let’s go together,” says Pooh, says he. “Let’s go together,” says Pooh. “What’s twice eleven?” I said toContinue reading “Us Two”

Tiny Warrior

by Sharmagne Leland St. John Nikolai 1982-1983 You never saw the spring my love Or the red-tailed hawk circling high above On feathered wings my love You only knew the snow You never saw the prairie grasses bend and blow And undulate like the shimmering indigo sea You never saw me Your eyes were closedContinue reading “Tiny Warrior”

Fox-Hunting

by Rudyard Kipling The Fox Meditates When Samson set my brush afire, To spoil the Timnites barley, I made my point for Leicestershire And left Philistia early. Through Gath and Rankesborough Gorse I fled, And took the Copslow Road, sir! And was a Gentleman in Red When all the Quorn wore woad, sir! When RomeContinue reading “Fox-Hunting”

Lucifer and his little devils take a load off the editor’s shoulders

In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was spelt E-D-I-T-O-R. Since the news sheets of the 17th century metamorphosed into the newspapers of the 19th and 20th centuries the editor, who might once have been reporter, typesetter and even printer all in one, grew to become the final arbiter regarding what appeared inContinue reading “Lucifer and his little devils take a load off the editor’s shoulders”

To An Absent Lover

by Helen Hunt Jackson That so much change should come when thou dost go, Is mystery that I cannot ravel quite. The very house seems dark as when the light Of lamps goes out. Each wonted thing doth grow So altered, that I wander to and fro Bewildered by the most familiar sight, And feelContinue reading “To An Absent Lover”

The Miner

by Henrik Ibsen translated by Fydell Edmund Garrett Beetling rock, with roar and smoke Break before my hammer-stroke! Deeper I must thrust and lower Till I hear the ring of ore. From the mountain’s unplumbed night, Deep amid the gold-veins bright, Diamonds lure me, rubies beckon, Treasure-hoard that none may reckon. There is peace withinContinue reading “The Miner”