Tag: Poetry

THE NINE LIVES OF AN IRISH WRITER

Michael Walsh was born during the Liverpool Blitz in which thousands died and half the domestic properties were destroyed, Michael’s childhood was marred by extreme deprivation. He and his childhood friends collected and sold bottles, clothes and horse manure. Coke (coal) filled handcarts were used to purchase domestic fuel.

Sex in the Gritty

We are all familiar with the terms, slap an’ tickle, hanky-panky or a little bit of how’s your father? Such colourful expressions amusingly suggest that we are more comfortable with alternatives to the taboo three-letter word.

Birds have Wings Humans have Books

I enjoyed reaching a milestone birthday; many don’t make it this far. My family was gathered around me, which was good as I would otherwise have had much to reflect upon. My classmates lived a life that later generations can only read about. Our generation was born to parents born before the House of Windsor (1917).

ARE MARRIAGES MADE IN HEAVEN

Michael Walsh’s poem, The Garden Bower, evoked a story from a North American reader who writes: I have had these conversations since the last ten years with my husband Bert, who died so tragically. His soul left his body in 2009 when he signalled me by illuminating my office with the most radiant warm glow. When I looked outside there was a beautiful red cardinal bird sitting on the giant spruce tree in my back garden.

HOW TO LOOK LIKE A MILLIONAIRE

A popular truism is that you are known by the company you keep’.  I pondered this when walking with my companion we attracted pitying glances. Whilst I was reasonably attired my companion looked like a down and out. Wearing ill-fitting jeans and a jumper that had seen better days my friend was also in desperate need of a shave and haircut.

FOR THE LOVE OF CARMEN

In a letter dated October 1866, French composer Georges Bizet (1838 – 1875) went straight to the point of opera: ‘As a musician, I tell you that if you were to suppress adultery, fanaticism, crime, evil, the supernatural, there would no longer be the means for writing one note.’

ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD

Would anyone be inspired to write books, compose music, or paint pictures if there was no one to enjoy them? Yes, I think they would. It is my belief that each of us is given a gift although many go through life without discovering their unknown ability; a great pity.

There are many special kinds of women

There are some extraordinary women. The extraordinary is to be discovered on the inside of women. They are the women who feel, those who think deeply and passionately. Their inner world is so vast, it seems that this scope has no bottom. Their speech is beautiful as if reading a wonderful book, listening to Chopin, looking at Botticelli’s paintings… – filling up their hearts and intellect.