Reviews of Life in Verse

12510237 reviews of life in verse coverI 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”

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