Il-i-ad That Lad

… Long ago in a far distant and different – though maybe not so – world, 1,250BCE, yet-to-be Greeks tried to retake that world’s most beautiful woman, Helen of Troy, ‘the face that launched a 1,000 ships’ (actually 1,034). She’d been seduced/abducted by Paris, the Trojan prince. If she existed she may have been an excuse for colonial conquest, like the non-existent ‘weapons of mass destruction’ of Iraq 2003, as Troy was a key trading centre. Or the war may have been due to widespread famine, thus mass migration in the Med.
This innovative take on Homer’s ancient epic Iliad uses a stream-of-consciousness style within a traditional ten-syllable rhyming structure. There are very graphic descriptions of one of our bloodiest wars, but also magic, as the god(desse)s interweave throughout, dispensing miracles for their favourites, nobbling rivals. Zeus, on Mount Olympus, plays chess master, pulling the strings, alongside Fate. And there are wonderful similes from the natural world.
Given new resonance by the continuing war in Ukraine, Troy’s timeless lessons are unfortunately likely to become more, not less, relevant with increasing competition for shrinking resources, and now that the crises of global heating and nuclear Armageddon threaten practically all life on the planet. The futility of war and destruction has always been humankind’s Achilles Heel! The ancient Greek earth-mother goddess GAIA has largely become (G)reed, (A)rrogance), (I)gnorance, (A)ggression. The power-brokers of our brave new world are descendants of those peoples past – do we have enough of whatever wisdom they had to survive?
If you like Greek mythology or history-fantasy or similar, you’ll love this modern twist on a tale of long ago…

If Cows Could Fly

Ever seen a flying cow, a horse that knits, or an eel that rides a bike? Well, welcome in to a world where your fantasy and imagination can bring them all to life.

This set of humorous poems, mainly concerning the strange things animals may get up to, are suitably illustrated by the author's whimsical drawings.

I'll Draw an Iris on my Heart and send it to You

The thing about poetry is, that
She has but the simplest of rules.
She does not have to rhyme,
Nor be written in clear lines.
She doesn’t even need true letters,
All she has to do, is move the spirit, break the heart and mend an injured soul.

Helene J. Storm

I Turned a Corner Once

I Turned a Corner Once is a collection of poems that explore the experiences and relationships of the author over the course of fifty years. From their youth in a small coastal town in Cornwall in the 1950s, to hippy collectives and their career as an airline pilot, the poems in this book cover a wide range of themes including romance, humor, and the unknown consequences of our actions. Through it all, the author learns to embrace change and instinctively "turn the corner" towards new experiences. This book is a deeply personal and introspective look at the journey of self-discovery.

Humour of a Housewife

Do you ever feel like your husband’s antics have pushed you to the brink of madness? If so, you’ll find comfort in Humour of a Housewife, a collection of witty poems that hilariously capture the trials and tribulations of daily life. From navigating the chaos of kids to the misadventures of a less-than-perfect spouse, these poems offer a humorous take on the ups and downs of being a housewife. So pour yourself a glass of wine, sit back, and let the laughter begin!

Humanity

Many of the difficulties we face in life are within ourselves. It is the constant war within that exhausts so many people. If we are to make our way to higher ground, we must come to terms with the many weaknesses of the human condition. Arrogance, that sense of superiority, greed, and envy are just a few. We must reach out beyond these things to the soul of the being if we are to have any hope of finding who we are. If we make contact, we will find a spiritual space where we can thrive, where we can expand our horizons, come to terms with, except that we are just one part of nature journeying through the greater scheme of things. To accept is to be at one. It is not easy, in many ways, we are groping in the dark, not sure what we want, not sure that we want to find it. This is where humanity is stationed. For what it is worth, I believe we are part of something greater. Something beyond our human comprehension. That is what this collection of poetry is about. Reaching out to that something; that something other.

How the Soul Writes

In How the Soul Writes Sebastian Melmoth explores a myriad of themes—human emotions and relationships, home and the natural world, loss and bereavement, objects of everyday life and the joy of family life—with resonant elegance and honesty.

This collection of short poems written in the aftermath of his mother’s death insightfully capture the working of the human mind with raw emotions and conveys a message of hope with much conviction. Melmoth illuminates the mundanities of life through philosophical ruminations, employing powerful metaphors and evocative figurative language. His musings and character, along with the beauty of imagery, prompt one to combat despair and sustain hope.

How Not To Write Poetry

“Random events of my life put into rhyme.
A collection of moments and what I was feeling.
A glimpse of the crazy that is my mind.
Love, loss and some the characters that left an impression.”
BILLY BUD FRASER

Horizon

'There are only trees on this winter scene
Their upward pointing leafless twigs are
Shrill with the calm of loveliness,
And the Sun laughs down, baleful, with a bleary smile.'

A book of poetry with imagery and concepts polished over a lifetime of intellectual inquiry. At 58 years old, it is Cavendish’s first collection of poetry and represents the start of his career rather than the end.

Hope and Despair – A Collection of Poems

Violence, a pandemic and climate change had led to continued human suffering in the recent decades. Turbulence all around the world has hit everyone on the planet, from those who were alive at the time of the trenches of WW1, to those born in ‘Coronavirus’ times. One young mind deeply disturbed by the current events resorted to writing poetry to express his feelings about the worsening current world situation. Sohan started writing about human suffering from the age of seven, after which poetry became his medium of expression of his feelings, his frustration at the past, his worries about the present, and his fears of the future. Enter a teenager’s mind full of random thoughts, printed in black and white, on topics ranging from past wars to current climate affairs, from things as deep as the mental suffering faced in lockdown to the simple beauty in a painting in this anthology Hope and Despair – A Collection of Poems.

Hobbo on Life

In this first in a series of humorous poetry collections by Hobbo, he takes a quirky look at the absurdities and foibles of life from a Yorkshireman’s point of view. Sometimes he takes a walk in someone else’s shoes and occasionally he is assisted by his black Labrador Dauphy, who has his own perspective to add, Hobbo will brighten your day, shorten your journey and leave your fellow passengers wondering what you are chuckling about.

Beware though, Hobbo on Life delivers a sting in the tail now and then. What starts as a giggle, may take a sudden turn and leave you pondering the real meaning of life. 

If you are browsing for a serious book of traditional poetry, or a literary masterpiece to help you look intellectual, then put this little gem down and search elsewhere. If you want a laugh, something to talk about with your friends, and an easy read that will lighten your mood for the rest of the day, you have found it. Happy reading. Enjoy!

Heterogeneous Poems 2

This second volume of Raymond Hunt’s Heterogeneous Poems gives us poetic postcards celebrating the many parts of the world he has visited over the decades, from the Andes mountains of South America to the Great Wall of China, alongside evocative snapshots of Raymond’s beloved English countryside.
Once you delve into this delightful assortment of verse, you will be sure to find something to make you smile, or think – or maybe a bit of both.