‘Soaring, Soaring Higher And Higher’
This is a poem where you take flight into realms metaphysical — just sit back and enjoy the ride. It is the first poem from a book called: Soaring Higher.
“Soaring, Soaring Higher And Higher
Soaring, soaring higher and higher
From here I can see for mile upon mile
Far over the seas to the horizon
Come with me and stay a while…”
The music that precedes the narration is Edvard Grieg’s Morning Mood.
For a sample of the audio, click: Soaring, Soaring Higher And Higher (verse 1, audio)
‘The Sky, The Sky’
There is so much you can see in the sky; have a look and let your imagination run free! This poem is in a mono-rhythmic style with an element of comedy.
“The Sky, The Sky
The sky, the sky in all its many shades of blue
Spectacled scientists tell us it has to be this hue
Much praise, I think, to them is certainly due…”
The music that accompanies this poem is J. S. Bach’s Minuet in G.
And here is the first verse: The Sky, The Sky
(For more details go to the ‘Books’ page.)
‘GOD CREATES’
This is a poem with a secret life:
10 verses
4 lines per verse
2 words per line (except last line)
3 syllables per line (except the sixth verse were there are 2 syllables for each of the 4 lines)
I’m sure these figures mean something to someone!
“GOD CREATES
God creates
Heaven, sky
Beasts below
Feathered fly…”
The music is G. F. Handel’s majestic Sarabande: GOD CREATES
‘What Is There In All Creation…?’
This poem is about the sky, and is written in the ABBA rhyming form. It also has four verses. Much of its content came from research.
“What Is There In All Creation…?
What is there in all creation that can compare to the sky?
She, at times, can be quite calm as well as electrifying
Also sometimes conveys sadness and happiness — quite confusing
This is because she is pure and 3 times very high…”
Interesting facts about the music:
Before narration — J. S. Bach, Prelude 1 from the 48 Preludes and Fugues (C Major)
After narration — Charles Gounod, Ave Maria, based on the J. S. Bach, Prelude 1 (melody in F Major overlays the prelude in C Major).
Here is the first verse: What Is There In All Creation…?
‘I Have A Nikon Camera’
This is a poem based on my adventures in the world of photography. Although ‘Nikon’ appears in the title, other cameras are available. And, goes without saying, any similarities to my personality are purely coincidental!
“I Have A Nikon Camera
I have a Nikon camera
That captures photons new
The light sensitive sensor
Is sharp, accurate and true…“
The music is the Bourrée from Violin Partita No. 1 by J. S. Bach, played on the piano on this occasion.
For a flavour of what it is all about, click: I Have A Nikon Camera
‘Pennsylvania’
In 2017 I was staying in Ambleside, Cumbria. As the accommodation in the B & B was called the Pennsylvanian Suite, there was also reading information about this American State available. So, naturally one evening I wrote this poem.
“In 2017 I was sojourning in Ambleside. The American style B & B was named Compston House. I happened to be in the Pennsylvanian Suite which was well facilitated and included sufficient reading material — including information about Pennsylvania. From these facts and figures I extracted the following rhyming verse. (The second and third in the trilogy are ‘Wrynose Pass’ and ‘Cumbria’ respectfully.)
Pennsylvania
(The Keystone State)
With a population @ 12, 000,000
And total area over 46k square miles
Pennsylvania is really quite large
With many couples walking down the aisles…”
The first piece of music that came to mind has strong American overtones: Dvorák’s Theme from the ‘New World’.
And here is a sample: Pennsylvania
‘Wrynose Pass’
This poem is about a long, winding road journey with nothing but the cloak of night for company.
The scene:
The Lake District. It is sunset. I had just arrived at an isolated tarn miles and miles from civilisation. After leaving the car, I continue on foot. On the rocky, uneven path to capture the lake (about 1 km) my phone bleeps — it’s a welcome text message from _ _ _. Very odd. Is that a chill going down my back? There is something about the atmospherics here…! Anyway, after the photography I return to the car and set the SatNav. The night draws in…
“Wrynose Pass”
“I’m on my way back to my lodgings
Not long, I hope, ‘till I’m safely back
I set the SatNav and follow its commands
It’s getting darker and will soon be pitch black…”
The introductory music is a fantastical piece by Beethoven, aka the Moonlight Sonata.
Click here for the first verse: Wrynose Pass
‘Cumbria’
This poem is a whistle-stop tour of Cumbria in the North West of England. All the places mentioned in the verses were part of my itinerary. As The Lakes were Wordsworth’s country, I felt inspired to write. Two other poems were also written here: Pennsylvania and Wrynose Pass (see above).
“Cumbria”
“I’m writing from Lakeland’s Ambleside
This holiday is making me tired
Lots to see, lots to do
(Quite comfortable at Hotel Vale View)
Lots more to do, lots more to see
Kodak is making a fortune from me!…”
The music that is before the narration is: Farewell To Stromness by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies.
And here is a sample: Cumbria
(For more Information go to the ‘Books’ page.)
‘Gone Fishing’
This poem came into being as a result of a theme that was set by a poetry group in Croydon, Surrey. The theme was sport, and I hadn’t a clue what to write until I was engaged in a mindless activity at home. So, during unfruitful mind activity, fishing surfaced. As I wasn’t too familiar about fishing, I visited a local angling shop to find out more… and the rest is history!
“Gone Fishing”
“It’s 3:15 am and I’ve just packed my lunch and kit
The predictive seaweed looks clammy as I check it
The shipping forecast confirms, rain is on the way
And hovering around minus two for most of the day…”
Naturally, ‘The Trout’ by Schubert leads up to the narration.
For the fist verse, click: Gone Fishing
‘Saying, Swaying in the Breeze’
It was a windy May afternoon when I was walking down the garden path. I happened to notice, it seemed for the first time, an array of beautiful flowers in bloom. Maybe it was their swaying that caught my attention. Anyway, I stopped for a closer look and saw bumble-bees indiscriminately landing on them; one, then the other. To capture this nature in action, I made a video recording with my phone.
The following morning this scene, with words, was going round my head, and before breakfast the poem was complete.
The music I paired with the poem, Beethoven’s Pathétique Sonata, echoes the back and forth movement of the flowers. For added imagination, one could imagine dancing ladies instead of flowers.
“Swaying, Swaying in the Breeze”
“Swaying, swaying in the breeze
Dancing, dancing beneath tall tree
Moving another way in slight air
So handsome, so pretty, so fair
Hues and shades, rare and fine
What invention, what design…”
Click here for: Swaying, Swaying in the Breeze
‘The Garden of Eden’
This rhyming poem is based on the Biblical events that took place in the Garden of Eden — and includes a reading of the future. When writing these verses, care was taken to adhere to the fidelity and the sequence of events as given in the Bible.
The music that goes with this poem is the Elizabethan Serenade by Ronald Binge. It is light and grandiose with such positive, live giving vigour.
“The Garden of Eden”
“God created the garden of Eden
A pure unspoiled paradise
An ordered beautiful landscape
That could grow and increase in size…”
For the first verse of this poem, click: The Garden of Eden
‘This is the Month’
Facts around the writing of this poem:
In the Spring of 1990 I set about writing a poem about Easter with the intention of having it published in a journal that would be available at that time. When the poem was eventually finished, it was without ‘Eastertide’ in the title. Although I had virtually no church attendance since childhood, I found myself including elements of the Easter story.
Then, before summer was in full swing, some Christians started to befriend me. They were from a local church canvassing the area. I was eventually invited to a Sunday morning meeting and someone named Colin Spurdle was due to pick me up. However, for a good reason he forgot and said he would come the following week. That Sunday came and I was so eager to go that I decided to go by myself. I have now been attending the same church for thirty years, plus.
During my years at this church, the poem was redrafted, extended and finally finished.
“This Is The Month — Eastertide”
“This is the month
When they say that it rains and pours
Down come the showers
From heaven’s open doors…”
I hope you enjoy this extract: “This Is The Month — Eastertide”
Splashes of Ink 