A Little Success in The Poetry Shed

Zingy things are indeed happening! Not only are our garden trees and shrubs blossoming, glorious yellow daffodils standing tall and regally blooming in our garden, but I have had a poem accepted for publication in The Poetry Shed, scheduled for April, thanks to Abegail Morley.

It was also such a joy to meet fellow poets at the Shortlands Poetry Circle meeting last week, where the Russian poet Yvgeny Yevtushenko and Polish poet Wislawa Szymborska were on the menu. Only a few days later Yvgeny Yevteshenko sadly died. It was good to become reaquainted with his work after many years. R.I.P. dear poet. I was thrilled to have my poem from the Yorkshire Anthology, The Barnsley Boundary Walk - Over Woodhouse read out by poet Isabel Bermudez, it was a proud moment.

There doesn't seem to be much going on with regard to the poetry scene in Barnsley at the moment, shame about that. Still I always have Ian MacMillan to fall back on with his quirky radio 3 show, The Verb, Friday nights at 10p.m. and his entertaining tweets.

I have approached a publisher with my novel and waiting to hear what they have to say. Meanwhile I am reading and writing as much as I can.

Wortley Top Forge

The lovely spring weather in and around Barnsley has meant my walking boots have been given an airing. David and I walked to Wortley over lush green fields and down the estate road. It took us about an hour and a half but we were meandering, appreciating the countryside, and speculating on how it would have been in days gone by. We had a lovely cuppa in a cafe at Wortley and then walked back. The walk back was quicker so we could be in time to watch Time Team on the telly. I've seen most episodes before but it's a programme I love.

And, to make my week Jo and Jack came up from London for an overnight stay. Jade and Star our granddaughters from Worsbrough Dale, together with mum Tracy, joined us for a family tea, and we had a great get together. It prompted a clean up of the house, including windows, and a tidy up of the garden. Job done!

And now it's lunchtime so I'm off. Talk again soon,

Have a good week everyone, the sun is going to shine, so enjoy it.

Love and hugs,

Jane x

Anthology of Yorkshire Poetry

Well, lovely people, Spring has sprung, and with it I feel my strength coming back after months of ill health. Not only that but I am thrilled to bits to have a poem in the Anthology of Yorkshire Poety, published by Valley Press. Click the link and see for yourselves, I am in the midst of exulted company, Carol Ann Duffy, our Poet Laureate to name drop just one. This has been great for my moral, which I have to say has been at an all time low. So, it is onwards and upwards from here.

As to the onwards and upwards I have been working on my second novel, which after dozens of re-writes over a number of years I now consider to be finished. Yeah!

   

Watch this space for updates on my poetry too.

A few weeks ago Simon Armitage came to Barnsley to give a talk about his work. It was one event I could not miss, and what a splendid evening of poetry it was. Of course I am in love with Simon Armitage, and can't understand anyone who isn't.

The other activity that has consumed me of late is 'heir hunting,' and to that end David and I have been trailing various graveyards around Barnsley looking for trace of my relatives. Well we have been very successful. Only two or three miles away from where we live is Elsecar, and there we found the grave of my Great, Great Grandmother and Grandfather, Ellen and Joseph Royston. In the same graveyard, that of Holy Trinity Church, is my Great, Great, Great, Grandmother and Grandfather, Sarah and George Royston, plus children they had, one of which, Walter Royston, is named on the grave as having died in Canada. So looks like I may have relations over there too. In Monk Bretton we found the grave of my Great Grandmother and Granddad, Annie Elizabeth and Arthur Clarke. 

So now I really do feel that I have returned to my gene pool.

I have to say, I did shed a tear. It is a strange feeling meeting the past in this way.

I now know that I come from at least four generations of Barnsley coal miners.

No silver spoon as yet!

I am now going to practice my pitch for my poetry which I will put before publishers in the near future.

I hope all is well with you, and that you are feeling the wonderful effect of Spring too.

I promise to write again soon to keep you up to date with my life around Barnsley, and beyond.

Love and hugs,

Jane x

CHRISTMAS ANGELS

In the middle of all my Christmas upsidedown-ness, I had an urge to write a little Christmas Carol. 

Here it is:

Christmas Angels

Angels who walk in the bright star lit skies

Working for Jesus in heavenly guise

Ready to help all wherever the cry

Ready to comfort: to be by our side

Angels, this Christmas, be ever in our thoughts

Visit the lonely, the sick; the distraught

Let God’s warm love be eternal support

Alleluia, Alleluia

Angels who sing in celestial light

Bringing the message of joy infinite

Wrap your wings round us our hearts to ignite

Guide us, astound us; protect us from night

Let us unite and rejoice with the Angels

Whether in garb of plain cloth or of sable

Let us remember a child in a stable

Alleluia, Alleluia

Angels who walk in the bright star lit skies

Working for Jesus in heavenly guise

Ready to help all wherever the cry

Ready to comfort; to be by our side

And here is the music. My theory is not spot on I know, but I think you will be able to follow it okay.

Xmas Carol op.1

Hello Christmas 2016