Before and After Eve

This collection of poems is inspired by personal journeys, the beauty of nature, and the mysteries of the unknown – inviting you to embark on your own imaginative voyage.

Among the featured works:

‘Friends of New Music Energy’ offers insight into the world of fellow musicians.

‘Traveller Friends and Countries’ explores the bonds of friendship across different places and cultures.

Altogether, this book presents 28 full poems to enjoy, each crafted to inspire, reflect, and resonate.

The Words That Gave Me Wings

Written between the ages of sixteen and eighteen, The Words That Gave Me Wings is a profoundly moving collection of poetry that encapsulates the tumultuous experience of blossoming into womanhood.

Divided into four chapters mirroring the life cycle of a butterfly: Egg, Larva, Pupa and Adult, the poems chronicle the poet’s own metamorphosis. Just as a caterpillar transforms into a magnificent butterfly, the act of writing allowed the poet to shed her skin, embrace her true self, and finally take flight.

This collection is a testament to the enduring power of self-expression and the beauty of vulnerability, reminding us that every lesson, love, tear and triumph is worthy of poetry. It is a must-read for anyone who admires a soul being poured onto a page, has faced criticism for ‘feeling too deeply’ or needs the courage to prioritise their own needs when they know it is time to return to themselves.

Surreality

I have been on a personal search for faith for many years, striving to better understand the meaning and relevance of religion, and, in doing so, perhaps find some comfort.

Alongside this, I am deeply interested in exploring the complexity of emotions, the conflicting ways they affect people, and their impact on mental health.

Using poetry in a raw, personal, and honest way, I have sought to delve into my own emotional states, often writing from deeply uncomfortable places.

This book is the result of that journey: a collection that takes the reader through moments of darkness and light.

By experimenting with formatting and the structure of some poems, I aim to emphasize their content, challenge the reader, and provoke thought and reflection.

Ultimately, these poems, whether taken individually or as a whole, are intended to be relatable, rewarding, and an uplifting literary experience.

Ramblings of a Free Man - Volume II

And so, we continue…

Is it into the sunset or the sunrise?

Travelling into my final years on this wonderful planet of ours, that question can arise more than twice a day.

Observing England, Wales, Scotland and again Mallorca during my newfound freedom reveals the mores, habits, contradictions and petty annoyances of the 2020s.

This essentially human interaction, combined with a deep love of people, places and the written word, drives a poetic response that continues to tumble out.

Each day can trigger an enlivening of deep-seated memories, many re-emerging that had been locked away during our busy working lives.

Appealing to all ages, anyone who has marvelled at the depth, complexity, commonality and diversity of our fellow humans can continue to accompany me on my journey.

Feel free to join me now or at any time.

These poems are a testament to that journey.

Poetic Odyssey

Robin was born in Cape Town in 2009. From an early age, it was clear she had an inquisitive mind and a deep love for animals. Whenever she saw an injured insect or animal, she would eagerly attempt to make a ‘potion’ to help. As a little girl, Robin developed a fascination with stones and, despite her shyness, would confidently discuss with adults how to identify different types of stones and their characteristics. Grounded and empathetic, Robin takes others’ feelings to heart and has always been a natural peacemaker.

Now a dynamic young poet, Robin’s love for words shines through in every verse she writes. With a kind heart and an old soul, her poetry is infused with wisdom and depth beyond her years, captivating readers with its beauty and sincerity. From a young age, Robin found solace in the power of words, using poetry to express her innermost thoughts and feelings.

Her first poetry book takes readers on a journey through the landscapes of her imagination, weaving vivid imagery and heartfelt emotion into a tapestry of words that resonate deeply with the soul. Each poem is a testament to Robin’s extraordinary ability to capture the essence of life in all its beauty and complexity, offering readers a glimpse into the world through her unique and tender perspective.

Poems and Notes

Poems and Notes is a short volume composed over many years, charting the emotional and intellectual evolution of the author through the most significant events of his life. His preface is a biography in brief and introduces the poetry of his maturity. There follows what remains of his apprentice work, to demonstrate the origins of his passions and preoccupations. The Notes conclude the volume, providing a background and commentary to his life, at the end of which the author finds a conclusion both to the work and to his own writing.

Poems and Notes is concerned above all with understanding and making sense of the author’s experience, of reconciling circumstance and creating, if possible, something memorable and beautiful from even his most difficult times.

Cover: Detail from After the Storm, c.1700, Willem van de Velde the Younger and Studio. Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington.

Poems and Notes

Poems and Notes is a short volume composed over many years, charting the emotional and intellectual evolution of the author through the most significant events of his life. His preface is a biography in brief and introduces the poetry of his maturity. There follows what remains of his apprentice work, to demonstrate the origins of his passions and preoccupations. The Notes conclude the volume, providing a background and commentary to his life, at the end of which the author finds a conclusion both to the work and to his own writing.

Poems and Notes is concerned above all with understanding and making sense of the author’s experience, of reconciling circumstance and creating, if possible, something memorable and beautiful from even his most difficult times.

Cover: Detail from After the Storm, c.1700, Willem van de Velde the Younger and Studio. Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington.

Compendium of Poetry

To read a blurb is quite absurd for a poetry book like this:

Adventure galore, ironical score, drama and a lover’s bliss,

Words from the heart, a legitimate start, regrets and agony too.

Reflections abound, lost siblings found, only to mention a few.

Remembering the past, dreams that last, not to be missed for quids,

Cleaning the pool, using the tools, and don’t forget the kids!

Lament for My Hometown

Childhood experiences growing up leaves an indelible print on your soul.
How much has to be lost or taken before it stops being home?

Coal mines and disasters,
Simple lives and laughter.
A miner’s daughter remembers
A different time in rhyme.

Thunder and Lightning…

From the beaches of Dunkirk to the jungles of Burma, the Second World War became a theatre that immortalized the savagery of war. For every organization involved – and there were many – courage and discipline were paramount.

Within these pages are represented the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, British Army, Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF), Bletchley Park, Home Guard, and Land Army, among others. Organized into sections, each poem conveys the harrowing experiences of war.

Two sections specifically recognize the ‘courage beyond endurance’ of the SAS and SOE. Captured, tortured, and executed, these special agents ventured deep into enemy territory for the sake of democracy.

The section on the Holocaust portrays the terror of the thousands of Jewish people slaughtered by an enemy committed to ethnic cleansing. Each poem captures the trauma inflicted upon men, women, and children, none more poignantly than ‘The Faceless.’

Later in the book, a section commemorates the remarkable flying skills of the Russian women known as the ‘Night Witches,’ who defended and attacked German targets.

With the help of many Allies, World War II ended, leaving countless lives lost, numerous lives forever changed, and the enduring hope that history serves as a lesson for humanity.

D.A.N.'s Little Book of Everyday Poetry Stories

This second book by D. A. Nicholson is structured similarly to his first, D.A.N.’s Little Book of War Poetry, published by Austin Macauley in summer 2022: each poem attempts to tell a single, self-contained story. 

The first poem in the book, for instance, tells the story of Mike Tyson (‘The Champ’), and the book contains many others that celebrate such figures as the late Queen, the famous English steeplejack Fred Dibnah and, of course, our own ‘Captain Tom’, who captured everyone’s heart back in the dark days of Covid. 

Interspersed with these tributes to well-known personalities are more domestic poems, some clearly autobiographical, some written from other people’s perspectives.

The author hopes the reader enjoys this book as much as he did writing it.

When My Soul Wanders

I want to share with the world this treasure I found when I freed my soul. I explored the valleys and found places I never knew were there. I searched the surface of the earth, went around the mountains and into their depths. I saw wonders and magic beyond my dreams. I was enriched and fulfilled. I had never seen such majesty. I hope every soul can have this experience, so they can grow in spirit and improve their lives by realizing that they can let their minds wander too. That if they open their hearts and minds as they read the different scenes in this book, they will discover a world of wealth within themselves. They will soon realize that they too can travel to places of wonder and magic beyond their imagination. May my words entertain and be profound to inspire positive changes to many as they go beyond what was once considered ‘impossible’.