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Category Archives: Musings
Happy birthday, Morten Harket (for tomorrow. Just getting in there early)
Here’s a poem for all you Virgos. I have lost a slipper found marbles a pick Lego blocks I mean gold Lego arms and legs and heads and a very nice chap from Bangkok He lets me stroke his engines … Continue reading
My top five tips on #personalsafety #staysafe
My Top Five Tips on Personal Safety Following the report that a rapist has been caught in Derby, but bearing in mind that a member of Ripley Running Club has been assaulted on Cromford Canal, here are my top personal safety … Continue reading
Posted in Musings
Tagged internet dating, jogging, nights out, personal safety, running, sexual assault
2 Comments
Guilty #internationalwomensday #amwriting
Guilty Feel guilty for Lent Feel guilty for the war Pack your bags, have a tab And get drowned in it all. Feel guilty for sunrise Feel guilty for cloud You’re a mother, like no other Don’t be quiet, … Continue reading
Are you being influenced? #amediting
I recently opened a box that had been moving between lofts, and found myself a present, a book of poetry written down from 1993 to 1995, a flowery hardback book with fountain-pen entries, signed just in case. Now, at the … Continue reading
Posted in Musings, poetry, Uncategorized
Tagged Creative writing, creative writing degree, Hugo Williams, influences, poetry, trains
3 Comments
Too Many Stars Have Gone Out This Year #amwriting #music #recordstoreday2016
I went to a record store yesterday and bought my dad the latest David Bowie recording on CD. I didn’t think to buy the latest Prince album as well. I had previously bought the Bowie from a well known online … Continue reading
Posted in Musings, writing
Tagged Brother Beyond, David Bowie, MARRS, Michael Jackson, Prince, recordstoreday, shoplocal
3 Comments
My poem about the Chibok schoolgirls. #amediting #bringbackourgirls
Yesterday I was reading the paper and a story caught my eye. It was about the 276 schoolgirls who were abducted by Boko Haram terrorists in Northern Nigeria two years ago. I thought I had read that many of these … Continue reading
Posted in Musings, secret history, Uncategorized, WeWillRememberThem
Tagged violence against women
2 Comments
The theme of this International Women’s Day: Remember but Don’t Give Up!
I am pretty sure the unofficial theme of International Women’s Day 2016 is don’t give up. After all, we have got so far. Pity we have so much further to go. As this is a writing blog, I’m sharing a poem … Continue reading
Posted in Musings, poetry, secret history, WeWillRememberThem
Tagged gasworks, Lancashire, layards to catch meddlars, lipstick, poetry
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Legal deposit is forever
I have the phrase ‘legal deposit is for ever’ on my mind, but then wonder who on earth I think I am for even hoping that my writing will last. As Lorde says, ‘only bad people like to see their … Continue reading
Posted in Derbyshire Ripley, Musings, prose, Uncategorized
Tagged Andrew Motion, copywriter, Creative writing, Lorde, poetry, UEA
1 Comment
Looking around for something to perform at a performance poetry workshop… ‘Not Waving but Driving’ after Stevie Smith
Not Waving but Driving Everyone saw boyracer’s car But his stereo still pounded ‘There’s nothing like the open road I’m not showing off, just driving’ ‘What a tosser, he was always around the market And now he’s dead His … Continue reading
Posted in Derbyshire Ripley, juvenilia, Musings, poetry
4 Comments
A picture of Dora, my great grandma, with two children. And confirmation great grandad was a Seaforth Highlander – and a tunneller
So here we have a picture of Dora, with the two girls she had before the war. Her husband, Joseph, died at the age of 42 of lung cancer and rheumatoid arthritis leaving his wife and eight children in Clay … Continue reading
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