Bowsprit Summer Heat

Featured Poem

Bowsprit Summer Heat poem was not written in the great heat days in July this year; it was written a couple of years ago on an extremely hot day. This poem is one of a short series of poems I have about Oak trees.

I have tried to capture the oppressive heat and the stillness, the fact that any movement is an effort.  I have tried to do this with the sparseness of the language and the tight couplets.  The mood is broken, however, by a child who seizes an opportunity.

So, the poem is about innocence and freedom.

I wonder if the language is too sparse?  Have I sacrificed flow in the poem to achieve the stillness?

Reading

I have read an amazing book by Norman Baker, What Do You do?  It outlines the many ways we are ripped of by our monarchy.  If you read it you will either love it or hate it depending on your viewpoint.  I’m now reading Unlawful Killing, this is a marvellous book by High Court Judge, Wendy Joseph.  She has based these case studies on the many cases that have come before her.  Her aim is to bring greater understanding to the public about how courts work.  It is a real eye-opener and hard to put down.

Writing

I have spent much of this month working through my music play.  I have been fine editing the dialogue and lyrics – a task I really enjoy.  I have also endeavoured to ensure there is a ‘final’ version of the lyrics, reflecting the work Tom, the composer, and I have done as we have moved along.

This is preparation for Tom and I spending 5 days together working through the script.  We shall be top and tailing songs, and, together, fine tuning lyrics.  I am really looking forward to this time together.