I am extremely proud of my third and fairly recently published book, Reviews of Life in Verse. I am very pleased with the previous two books as well, for without the success of those the third would not have existed, and so it’s publication in October 2015, made a trio of my poetry books to be published in only two years.
Apart from that relatively short time for a “newbie” author to the publication scene, it has marked a recognition of me in many ways around the Eastbourne area after I was interviewed live on BBC Radio Sussex and Surrey and I was later awarded a weekly poetry slot on local DGH Radio. Several of my poems have been printed in the local papers alongside articles on me, reporting my involvements in many local initiatives, charities and the poetry circuit too.
I have had poems featured in a premier national poetry societies three annual consecutively published books after I reached their finals of over 2,000 entries. This achievement has added to my credibility, so all in all it has been quite a satisfying two years for me! More importantly all this is an amazing publicity vehicle for promoting the excellent charity Help for Heroes, that I support, donate to and fundraise for, which pleases me considerably.
So back to my third book, Reviews of Life in Verse, that follows a now set pattern of having four sections, Romance, Humour, Reflection and Tragedy. My publisher, My Voice Publishing, remarks on the back of the book that I as The Psychy Poet due to my career in psychiatry, will have a nugget of wisdom for everyone in the book with which people can identify with from the mixed themes on life and its experiences. The publisher adds that with wicked humour and nodding reflection on life, death and the tragedies we encounter, the poems are an encapsulation of our experiences featured by seduction, human failings,mischievous teddy bears, naughty elephants and terrorism. Quite a mixed bag of themes to entertain readers.
Without further ado I will present four poems from the book starting with a “reflective” poem that is on the back cover entitle Forward Gear, that I think clearly speaks for itself.
Forward Gear
The years on you keep rolling by
Whatever your health, or state of mind,
And there is nothing you can change
So best leave time past behind.
Though some lessons can be learned
From previous mistakes made,
For however much they affect you
At your own feet they were laid.
So move forward with new joy
And all sad regrets you must ban,
Whilst not rueing what you can’t do
Just give thanks for what you can!
On then to a bit of “Romance section” and a poem I called Feeling Special that recounts feelings perhaps we have all felt when first falling in love with someone and getting those magnificent first tingling moments of wonder?
Feeling Special
When we’re together I am somewhere
But lost and nowhere when I’m alone,
For with you I can skip and cartwheel
Though if apart my heart’s a stone!
So secretly I’ll be your personal ghost
All around, watching with my stare,
I am the out breath, when in you breathe
And I’m the wind that blows your hair.
Thus note the trembling at your sleeve
And feel the itch you cannot scratch,
Because I’m the warm light that shines
Like darkness lit by a match!
When we’re together I am somewhere
But lost and nowhere when I’m alone,
For with you I can skip and cartwheel
Though if apart my heart’s a stone!
Should you feel sensation at your blouse
Or some finite movement at your skirt,
And heartbeats move to unfelt rhythm
It’s just me protecting you from hurt.
Be not afraid when you see a shadow
Or feel a touch, moth like at the ear,
It’s just my presence come to love you
And ensure safe passages you steer!
So have no fear of the world around you
Even lightning strikes from above,
For you’re safe within an armour
Fashioned by my spirits love.
To keep the mixed themes going I now delve into the “Humour” section for a poem called Booze and Two’s that has been much commented and complimented on in positive feedback, probably due to the fact that most of us have seen, experienced or remembered this poems scenarios.
Booze and Two’s
It is written that alcohol increases desire
But reduces performance too,
This can be proved on most weekends
When the drunkards roll into view.
Inhibitions and balance both fade
The harder they drink and revel,
With love in the air and emotions high
And skirts raised to panties level,
On young ladies mostly so serene
And always shy of the sexy scrum.
But with lots of drink inside them now
They’re more than keen to flash their bum!
Blokes also will feel the effect
As more alcohol lowers their wit.
They think they’re great lovers and Romeo’s
But in truth most are not even fit.
Though that doesn’t stop them at all
Trying to show off all their might,
With them struggling to just stand up
Let alone trying to fight!
Yes alcohol can always take it’s toll
Making a fool out of me and you,
For I’ve never been to bed with an ugly girl
But woken up with quite a few.
Yes, well moving rapidly on I will go to the last offering in this article on my book, and this poem may demonstrate why I support and donate to the charity Help for Heroes. Having a son go off to a war zone does focus your mind somewhat, along with immense relief at a safe, uninjured return!
That “Footsteps” is very powerful I make no apology, but offer it as a recognition and thanks for the bravery of others.
Footsteps
He is a man of constant sorrow
And no pleasure can he derive,
So he really cannot care less
If he should die now, or survive.
The world he loved has broken
And shattered into many parts,
So the grief he is enduring
Would shred the stoutest hearts.
The career he loved is now over
For you have to be fully fit,
And not pain filled and crippled
Struggling to get along with it.
An unlucky placed size ten boot
On bland ground that looked fine,
Took the life he knew in seconds
With that cruel exploding mine!
It was what these heroes feared
An undiscovered explosive device,
That could rip off skin and limbs
Or cause the supreme sacrifice.
So just how do they do this job?
If wrong moves can be your end
They say you just get on and do it
With your comrades and best friend.
Now our man of constant sorrow
Begins to get on with his life,
With support of all his family
And care from a loving wife,
Who tends his hurt and fears
Like those buried deep inside.
So slowly he starts to fight back
And regain his stubborn pride.
Of course he gets help and aid
Along whatever way he goes,
From excellent support teams
That gives help to our heroes.
Thus now he has a strong lifeline
Helping his family without fuss,
So we should all help him also
Giving thanks, it’s him not us!
Now in conclusion I thank you for reading this article on my third and latest book, adding that should you be kind enough to buy it, (details at bottom) and thus support Help for Heroes, I will not be too conceited if I say that I am confident you will enjoy it and almost certainly identify with much of it!
Cheers, Laurie
All three of my books :–
Poetic Views of Life
MORE Poetic Views of Life &
Reviews of Life in Verse
Will ensure my donation to the excellent charity I support, promote and donate to, that being Help for Heroes and my books only priced £4. 99p each are all on sale at Amazon, or from me at …………….. lw1800@hotmail.co.uk
I also have a Facebook page “The Psychy Poet Laurie Wilkinson”