Robin

The Common Cold

by Ogden Nash Go hang yourself, you old M.D.! You shall not sneer at me. Pick up your hat and stethoscope, Go wash your mouth with laundry soap; I contemplate a joy exquisite I’m not paying you for your visit. I did not call you to be told My malady is a common cold. ByContinue reading “The Common Cold”

Fun and games at the seaside

I settled into the Rhyl Journal offices quite quickly as the rest of the editorial team were a friendly bunch. Mind you the working move to Rhyl was very quickly followed by another move – except this was a very short trip. When NWN bought out the Journal the red-brick building on Russell Road housedContinue reading “Fun and games at the seaside”

Bridal Ballad

by Edgar Allan Poe The ring is on my hand, And the wreath is on my brow, Satins and jewels grand Are all at my command, And I am happy now. And my lord he loves me well; But, when first he breathed his vow, I felt my bosom swell — For the words rangContinue reading “Bridal Ballad”

Summer

by John Clare Come we to the summer, to the summer we will come, For the woods are full of bluebells and the hedges full of bloom, And the crow is on the oak a-building of her nest, And love is burning o in my true lover’s breast; She sits beneath the whitethorn a-plaiting ofContinue reading “Summer”

Getting back on the right track

Dear friends and readers – sorry that the blog part of this post has been somewhat erratic in recent weeks. I have been keeping up with the poetry each day because I believe it would be discourteous to leave a void for those who visit daily. This covid19 has been tragic for so many evenContinue reading “Getting back on the right track”

Litany in Time of Plague

by Thomas Nashe Adieu, farewell, life’s bliss; This world uncertain is; Fond are life’s lustful joys; Deathe proves them all but toys; None from his darts can fly; I am sick, I must die. Lord, have mercy on us! Rich men, trust not in wealth; Gold cannot buy you health; Physic himself must fade. AllContinue reading “Litany in Time of Plague”

And Death Shall Have No Dominion

by Dylan Thomas And death shall have no dominion. Dead men naked they shall be one With the man in the wind and the west moon; When their bones are picked clean and the clean bones gone, They shall have stars at elbow and foot; Though they shall go mad they shall be sane, ThoughContinue reading “And Death Shall Have No Dominion”

Poverty

by Thomas Traherne As in the house I sate, Alone and desolate, No creature but the fire and I, The chimney and the stool, I lift mine eye Up to the wall, And in the silent hall, Saw nothing mine, But some few cups and dishes shine, The table and the wooden stools Where peopleContinue reading “Poverty”

Start from scratch to stay in touch

In the early years, when a young journalist is still in training, where they first work can make a great deal of difference. I was raised in a large, busy, seaside town where my father was a businessman and one way or another I knew a good many of the people in Rhyl – theContinue reading “Start from scratch to stay in touch”

First Day at School

by Roger McGough A millionbillionwillion miles from home Waiting for the bell to go. (To go where?) Why are they all so big, other children? So noisy? So much at home they Must have been born in uniform Lived all their lives in playgrounds Spent the years inventing games That don’t let me in. GamesContinue reading “First Day at School”