I adore poetry and cannot remember a time when I didn’t. I suppose my parents must have read to me when I was very young, possibly nursery rhymes. It is amazing how many of those I know without actually remembering reading them myself. As I got older I was introduced to more “serious” poetry. TheContinue reading “A poet who speaks to all ages”
Category Archives: politics
Red ’til I’m dead and I’ll keep that banner flying all my life
That great creator of quotable quotes, A Non, is once alleged to have said “if you’re not a socialist at 20 you’ve got no heart, if you’re still one at 40 you’ve got no head.” I definitely have a heart (it belongs to my Muse but she lets me have a free rein with itContinue reading “Red ’til I’m dead and I’ll keep that banner flying all my life”
North South East West – which direction will be the best?
When you reach a point on your travels through life where the track diverges and none of the paths is a direct route to your objective you have to decide which way to go. The moment I discovered my Muse was mother to a six-month-old baby, with the strong possibility that Daddy was still around,Continue reading “North South East West – which direction will be the best?”
Dipping my toes in the murky waters of politics
When I returned to my desk on that mid-November Monday, following the funeral of my last grandparent, I was determined to throw myself into my work and become part of the Basildon community (although to do that fully I would need to wait until I was allocated a flat). Basildon was born out of theContinue reading “Dipping my toes in the murky waters of politics”
Not innocent but certainly naive
Looking back on my life I realise how naive I really was aged 22. I do mean naive because I certainly was not an innocent. My naivety was more a lack of information on issues that maybe I should have been more aware of. I had a lucky escape over South Africa because if IContinue reading “Not innocent but certainly naive”
The Masque of Anarchy
by Perry Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822) I As I lay in Italy There came a voice from over the Sea And with great power it forth led me To walk in the visions of Poesy. II I met Murder on the way – He had a mask like Castlereagh – Very smooth he looked, yet grim;Continue reading “The Masque of Anarchy”
Old TV drama recalls the passions of youth
Regarding my regrets – I did not have a sudden realisation that I regretted not learning Welsh. I was not even hit by a revelation that I am proud to be Welsh. Similar to many of my compatriots who are far from home (I have, of course been much farther than Hampshire) I am surroundedContinue reading “Old TV drama recalls the passions of youth”
Gwalia Deserta XV
The poem on which the folk song The Bells of Rhymney was based by Idris Davies (1905-1953) O what can you give me? Say the sad bells of Rhymney. Is there hope for the future? Cry the brown bells of Merthyr. Who made the mineowner? Say the black bells of Rhondda. And who robbed theContinue reading “Gwalia Deserta XV”
My mate the Marmite Man
There are people (including politicians) who are loved by some and hated by others. Yet the majority don’t care one way or the other. Jeremy Corbyn, as we know full well from the media hype, is not one of these. He is like Marmite – you love him or you hate him. Love is maybeContinue reading “My mate the Marmite Man”
It’s the little things in life that make you smile
There are times when you can feel down; or feel sorry for yourself; or just feel angry about something you can do nothing about. I’ve been through all three today and it took the smallest of incidents to cheer me up. It was the delivery of . . . Well let’s just wait a momentContinue reading “It’s the little things in life that make you smile”
Robin's Nest 