Tag Archives: dalliance a collection of poetry and prose

What Constitutes a Tired Old Simile or Metaphor in Poetry

In a Youtube video, Zoe B discusses what makes a poem good. She argues that poetry does not need to be complex (indeed she states that it is being taught incorrectly in many schools). Somewhat controversially she labels Eliot as an “ass” for his poem “The Wasteland” which, she argues was deliberately made difficult in order that only academics could comprehend it’s meaning. Zoe does, however quote with approval the final stanza of Eliot’s “The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock” later on in her discussion of poetics.

This is an interesting and in places provocative view as to what constitutes poetry. Whilst I agree with some of Zoe’s points, I take issue with other aspects of her argument. For example she contends that comparing love to fire is old hat and that tired old comparisons of this nature should be avoided. In my opinion there is nothing new under the sun. It has, to some extent at least all been said before. That does not, however mean that writers of poetry should avoid comparing love to a fire or their lover to a flower. It is all about how language is used and the word fire or love are employed in the poem in question.

I must at this point declare an interest. One of my earlier poems is entitled “Fire” and runs as follows:

“I have felt the fire’s power;
It kindles brightly and sinks within the hour.
I have watched the embers dying fast;
Looked into the future and gazed into the past.
I have raked the ashes cold, felt the bleakness in my soul”.

Whether the above poem is any good is, of course a matter of opinion, which will depend on the views of those who read it. However if one deems it to be a mediocre or bad poem, this does not imply that any modern poems which draw a comparison between love, passion and fire are, automatically poor or mediocre compositions. It is, as I say above, all about how the use of the metaphor and/or simile is utilised in a given poem.

You can watch the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arE2yyQe1PY

“Fire” first appeared in Dalliance; a Collection of Poetry and Prose. It can also be found in my Selected Poems, which is available here, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WW8WXPP/.

You can find a video of me reading my poem Fire here, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtr7wJgnkqo

Dalliance; a Collection of Poetry and Prose

A Poem from “Dalliance”

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The mirror sees it all

The writings on the wall

To the girl he calls

She turns to him and falls

Gazing in the glass

She sees the truth at last

Hides it with a laugh

Would that she could break the glass.

“Mirror” can be found in my collection of poetry and prose “Dalliance”, which can be accessed here, https://www.amazon.com/Dalliance-collection-poetry-prose-Morris-ebook/dp/B00QQVJC7E/

At Dead of Night

Blast from the past!

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Back in 2015 I released ‘Dalliance; a collection of poetry and prose’ in Kindle and Paperback format. Whilst the Kindle version is still available, the Paperback version (pictured below) is out of print. The Paperback was published by an independent publisher, who have since gone out of business, hence the print book is perhaps, something of a collectors item!

As those of you who follow this blog will know, my ‘Selected Poems’ and ‘The Writer’s Pen’ are available in Kindle and Paperback format. I hope, in the not too distant future, to reissue ‘Dalliance’ in Paperback.

Dalliance is available here for the UK and here for the US.

Dalliance

‘In this world, where nothing really exists, I kiss your cold, dead lips. Meaningless dalliance in this land of the dead, no words spoken: there is nothing to be said. Emotions stifled, frozen in ice, held in deaths stone grip.’

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Ghosts

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As ghosts we pass,
Brittle as glass.
Nothing lasts.

(“Ghosts” can be found in “Dalliance; A Collection of Poetry and Prose”, which is available in the Amazon Kindle store and can be found here, https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00QQVJC7E/.

Looking Forward, Looking Back

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A little later than intended, here are my reflections on 2018, followed by my plans for 2019, as regards my writing.

In september 2018, I published a collection of 44 poems entitled “The Writer’s Pen and Other Poems” My book includes poems on a variety of topics including nature, the passing of time, mortality and politics.
“The Writer’s Pen” can be found here:

(for the UK e-book edition) and here

(for amazon.com e-book edition).
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1730814883/ (for the paperback edition)
And https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1730814883/ (for the paperback edition).

Later in the year, I was delighted to release the audio edition, which is narrated by the excellent Alex Lee and can be found here:
https://www.audible.com/pd/B07KPN5FCH (for amazon.com customers)
And http://www.audible.co.uk/pd/The-Writers-Pen-and-Other-Poems-Audiobook/B07KPPQ2K2 (for UK customers).

Prior to the release of “The Writer’s Pen” I was delighted to appear on Vancouver Co-Op Radio’s The World Poetry Reading Series, during which I read from my (then) forthcoming collection and discussed my poetry. You can find a podcast of my interview here, http://worldpoetry.ca/?p=13500.

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Looking forward, in 2015 I published “Dalliance: A Collection of Poetry and Prose” as an e-book, https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00QQVJC7E/. While a paperback edition was published, the company who produced it is no longer in business and “Dalliance” is, therefore only available in Kindle format. In 2019 this will be rectified by the publication of a Print on Demand (POD) edition, which will be available to purchase from Amazon. Once the paperback is available a note will appear on this website.

2019 will also see the publication of a selection of some of my humorous verses. Again, please watch this space.

Kevin

10 Of The Best Poems About Fire

Short Story

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Most of you will know me as a poet. I have, however also published a number of short stories, one of which, “Run For Your Life” is reproduced below. Please note that “Run For Your Life” contains strong language. If you are offended by such language you may wish to skip the below.

“Run For Your Life” can be found in “Dalliance; A Collection Of Poetry And Prose”, https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00QQVJC7E.

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Wanker flirting with that barmaid like that. He says that he was just having a laugh but I’m sick of it. Everytime we go out it’s the same

“Oh its just a laugh Lucy. Just chill out, get a life”.

“I’ll get a life without you” I told him as I threw my vodka and coke in his face. He was furious but give him his due he didn’t retaliate. He’s a womanising arsehole but he has never been violent.

Its dark walking home. Still its only 20 minutes from the pub to my flat. He’d better not think of coming back there, tosser! Shit its raining. I’ll be drenched. I new that I should have called a cab but I was so het up, not thinking straight.

That blokes been following me for the past few minutes. Don’t panic Lucy it’s a coincidence. He just happens to be going in the same direction as you.

I can’t see his face. That hat pulled down almost hiding his eyes, I don’t like it. Christ he’s walking fast, almost running. Keep calm he just wants to get home out of the rain the same as you. But he’s running straight at you. Fuck the alley’s empty just this weirdo and me. Scream, call for help. But he hasn’t done anything, he’s only running. Shout anyway it will scare him away.

“Help, help someone please help”.

There are no houses around here. No one can hear me. I shouldn’t have gone down this short cut, It saves 5 minutes but its taken me away from the main street. Oh Christ why didn’t I call a cab. Please, please god help me. He’s running now. I can here him calling for me to stop. You must be fucking joking mate I’m not stopping for you! I can’t run in these heels. Off they come. I haven’t been to the gym for ages. God I’m so out of condition I’m wheezing like an old man. My chest’s killing me and I’ve a stitch in my right side. Must rest. Can’t rest he’ll catch you. Must stop for a moment. I can’t. Oh fuck he’s still gaining on me I wish I’d kept going to the gym with the girls. Please, please no he’s almost on top of me. Run, Run Lucy, must get away. I can see the street lights up ahead. Just one more spurt and your back in civilisation.

He’s waving. What the hell does he expect me to do, I’m not stopping! Oh Christ he’s caught up with me. He’s got something in his hand and he’s pointing it at me. God is it a gun? Why me?

“You left this on the bar. God lady you where in a hurry. I thought I’d never catch up with you. This is your mobile isn’t it?”

Results Of The Competition To Win A Print Copy Of “Lost In The Labyrinth Of My Mind”

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On 12 March I offered readers the chance to win a free signed copy of my collection of poetry, “Lost in the Labyrinth of My Mind”, (http://newauthoronline.com/2016/03/12/your-chance-to-win-a-free-copy-of-lost-in-the-labyrinth-of-my-mind/). In order to win, readers where asked to name my first collection of poetry. I am delighted to announce that Annette (https://annetterochelleaben.wordpress.com/), correctly identified “Dalliance” (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QQVJC7E/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_cmZ5wb0VVDXW8) as being the work in question. Congratulations to Annette, who wins a signed copy of “Lost in the Labyrinth of My Mind”.