I have now finished the first draft of THE MAN NEXT DOOR. Still quite a bit of work to do so I'm taking a break by writing a short poem, below, Hope you like. (no more to read after this)
KNOWING
Something tells me someone's out there
Taking care of me
Someone I might never know
And maybe never see.
Someone knows just how I feel
And what I'm going through
And someone cares enough to
know exactly what to do.
Who this is I do not know
They are so far and few
But someone with a wondrous gift
Helped me when I was blue.
Just when I was feeling down
My spirits sinking low
Someone popped round with a smile
Just to say hello.
A friendly face, a stranger's face
Someone just like you
Who cared enough to visit me and
Say how do you do.
How they knew that I was down
I couldn't really say.
That's why I think there's someone there
Who's watching night and day.
Two good reading evenings this week, firstly at the Three Mariners in Lancaster and then at the Mortal Man Hotel at Troutbeck Bridge. But I always have a dilemma. What should I read?
With only a three-minute slot, I am more or less forced to read poems from WORD PIE or HOTCHPOTCH. Such a short reading time can be frustrating when I have lots of shorts stories and chapters from my books. In fact I probably have enough material to fill several evenings all on my own.
My next gig is Saturday, at a special edition of Verbalise in a round tent in the grounds of Abbott Hall Art Gallery. Starts at 9pm. Still only fives minutes to read, so I am in a quandary once again. At the moment I'm thinking of a short chapter from FAR SIDE OF THE LAKE, but will I change my mind? Any thoughts, please let me know. Thanks. Julie
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When I went to perform at Verbalise (spoken word night at The Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal) yesterday evening, little did I realise what a den of iniquity I was entering. Apart from my own smutty offering (Who's Online? from WORD PIE), guest poet, Joy France from Manchester, unexpectedly provided volunteers with a strange 'drug.' At first I thought it was something that would bring the audience to rapturous applause (If only I could find something like that!) but, strangely enough, it was unconnected with her performance. It was a tablet that melted in the mouth and made everything taste sweet for about thirty minutes. Volunteers each let a tablet melt in the mouth and were then offered lemons and vinegar to taste. They found them so sweet that in some cases could not continue with the tasting. Strange and amazing. Very entertaining. Surprising what happens at a spoken word night.
Great jokes from droll performer, Gavin Wilshaw; and our host, Ann Wilson, kept us giggling with her nonsensical chatter. She has the gift of making everyone laugh, no matter what she says. Other regular performers, who always produce original and entertaining work, included Big Charlie Poet and John Scott.
I read a piece of flash fiction, and new poems, including the one following:
FRUSTRATIONS OF AN EMAILER
Good afternoon, I want to know
When my goods are packed to go.
Sorry, we cannot tell you that.
PLEASE DO NOT REPLY
Good afternoon, Can you say
If my order's on its way?
Sorry, we cannot tell you that.
PLEASE DO NOT REPLY
I wrote to you sometime ago
To send me tickets for a show.
Sorry, we don't know your name.
PLEASE DO NOT REPLY
Will you write and tell me soon
If my appointment is at noon?
Sorry, we cannot tell you that.
PLEASE DO NOT REPLY
The lot of you can go to hell.
I ain't got no more to tell.
I'm getting off this carousel.
Don't want a bloody thing you sell.
Another order I'll not send.
So don't pretend to be my friend.
Don't email me with tales of woe
You know where you can fucking go!
And by the way.
PLEASE DO NOT REPLY!!