Tag Archives: lost in the labyrinth of my mind

“I must return to this rented land”

3 Replies

Below is a recording of me reading my poem “The Path Through The Woods”.

“The Path Through The Woods” was inspired by the many walks I have taken, in company with my guide dogs, through the woods which form part of The Lawns, parkland situated in the Upper Norwood area of south-east London http://www.parksandgardens.org/places-and-people/site/8113?preview=1.

“The Path Through The Woods” can be found in “Lost In The Labyrinth Of My Mind” which is available from Amazon and can be found here https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AF5EPVY (US), and here https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01AF5EPVY (UK). You can also find “Lost” on Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28513305-lost-in-the-labyrinth-of-my-mind.

Time and tide wait for no man

Leave a reply

As far back as I can remember, I have had a fascination with time. The hypnotic swing of the pendulum on an old-fashioned clock and the steady tick tock of the mechanism, entrances me.

My interest in time can be seen in several of my poems, including this one which is simply entitled “Time”

“Time” can be found in “Lost In The Labyrinth Of My Mind” http://moyhill.com/lost/.

Poems For November 5th

Leave a reply

November 5th is Guy Fawkes or Bonfire Night here in the UK. Below are 2 of my poems with a fireworks/Bonfire Night element to them. The first is entitled “Catherine Wheel” and the second “The Dark”.

Both poems can be found in my collection, “Lost In The Labyrinth Of My Mind”, (http://moyhill.com/lost/).

—

Sometimes I feel
Like a Catherine wheel,
My words as sparks,
Lighting the dark.
But who in December
Remembers
The fifth of November?

—

Closing my curtain
I shut out the night
And the fireworks
Celebrating something
But precisely what
I am uncertain.
While beyond my drapes
The dark
Patiently waits …

“The Old Clock On The Stairs” By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Leave a reply

I am, as those of you who follow this blog will know, interested in clocks and what they represent (I.E. Old Father Time himself, with his sickle chopping up seconds).

Yesterday I happened across Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “The Old Clock On The Stairs” (https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44643/the-old-clock-on-the-stairs). In his poem Longfellow describes a clock that ticks away in a mansion. Time passes never to return and the people observed by this timepiece are now dead or gone elsewhere leaving the clock telling time in the empty house.

My own work contains several poems which deal with the passing of time, including one simply entitled “Time” which runs thus:

“The reaper moves

In time with the pendulum.

No rush

Or fuss

He has plenty of time.

My patient friend

whose tick portends

my inevitable end.

You rest in state

on my bookcase.

Tick tock

I can not stop

time’s sithe.

None can survive

his cut.

Though in a cupboard my clock be shut

death can not be put

aside

The sickle chops

And the heart will, one day, stop”.
(“Time” can be found in “Lost in the Labyrinth Of My Mind”, which is available from Moyhill Publishing (http://moyhill.com/lost/) and Amazon (https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01AF5EPVY).

My latest collection of poetry, “My Old Clock I Wind” is also available from Moyhill Publishing and can be found here (http://moyhill.com/clock/). “My Old Clock” can also be downloaded in the Amazon Kindle store (https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0735JBVBG).

The Cane Explained

4 Replies

The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has produced a short film, explaining how sight impaired people navigate using the white cane.

Prior to getting my first guide dog, Nixon (no jokes about Watergate please), I used a white cane to navigate. I well remember people not paying attention to what was going on around them and tripping over my cane.

Admittedly, when I was in the process of learning to navigate using a cane, some of the tripping stemmed from my imperfect utilisation of it. However, as my technique improved, the tripping incidents which did happen flowed from the lack of attention demonstrated by sighted people (I apologised none the less)!

I am now working with my fourth guide dog, Trigger so my use of the cane is extremely rare.

However, back in 2016 Trigger had several lumps removed (fortunately all where found to be benign). While he recovered (a period of some 2 weeks), I used my cane.

Having fallen out of practice I had several bumps and scrapes as a consequence of my imperfect technique. I was, however soon back in the saddle and my acquaintance with telegraph poles and other obstacles became a distant memory.

For RNIB’s film on the cane please visit http://rnib.org.uk/cane-explained.

—

My collection of poetry, “Lost in the Labyrinth of My Mind” is available, as a braille book from RNIB https://newauthoronline.com/2017/07/21/lost-in-the-labyrinth-of-my-mind-is-available-to-purchase-in-braille-from-rnib/. “Lost” can also be obtained, in print and ebook formats from Moyhill http://moyhill.com/lost/.

I am working with RNIB to make my recently published collection of poetry, “My Old Clock I Wind” available in braille. Once “My Old Clock” has been added to RNIB’s shelves, an announcement will appear here.

In the meantime “My Old Clock” can be purchased, in ebook and paperback formats from Moyhill http://moyhill.com/clock/.

“Lost in the Labyrinth of My Mind” is available to purchase, in braille from RNIB

15 Replies

I am pleased to report that my collection of poetry, “Lost in the Labyrinth of My Mind” is available to purchase, as a braille book, from the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and can be found by clicking HERE.

Enter “morris kevin. lost in the labyrinth of my mind“, into the search field and click on search.

My book should then be displayed.

Alternatively “Lost in the Labyrinth of My Mind” can be ordered by emailing them directly at: library@rnib.org.uk, or by calling them on 0303 123 9999.

When contacting RNIB please quote order number 25686204.

“Lost” was originally brailled in 2016 (and I was provided with my own copy at this juncture), however it has only now been added to RNIB’s catalogue, meaning that it can be purchased by any braille user who wishes to do so.

“Lost in the Labyrinth of My Mind” is also available in print, from Moyhill Publishing, http://moyhill.com/lost/, and as an ebook in the Amazon Kindle store, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AF5EPVY

Now you see it, now you don’t

2 Replies

The internet is a place of impermanence. Now you see content, now you don’t.
In 2016 I was privileged to be interviewed by Tom Cannon of Croydon Radio, regarding my collection of poetry “Lost in the Labyrinth of My Mind”. A podcast of my interview subsequently appeared on Croydon Radio’s website and I linked to it as a permanent record of the event. Sadly anyone who visits Croydon Radio’s website today will receive the following message
“Croydon Radio has now closed. Thanks for listening.

Fortunately my interview still exists and can be found on my publisher’s website, http://moyhill.com/lost/assets/km-interview-croydon-radio-2016-04-09-16-00-53-edited-64k.mp3. However there will, I am sure be many others who did not obtain edited copies of their podcasts, who’s broadcasts are forever lost.
Authors and other creatives put considerable time and effort into obtaining radio interviews and it is a feather in one’s cap when a broadcaster agrees to interview you. However, as demonstrated above nothing is forever. Consequently (if you possibly can) its well worth obtaining your own copy of that interview of which you are so proud as it may not be where you think it should be (on the broadcaster’s website).

My Forthcoming Collection of Poetry (An Update)

9 Replies

I have now received the proof-read manuscript of my forthcoming collection of poetry, “My Old Clock I Wind And Other Poems”.

So what inspired the title of my collection?

On the bookcase in my living room sits a Ting-Tang clock which dates, I believe from the early 1900’s.

The clock inspired the first poem in my collection (and the title of the book) and is entitled, appropriately enough “My Old Clock I Wind”.

As I wound my faithful old time piece I felt acutely aware of time passing. The pendulum swings and another second is, forever lost.

Next Tuesday (4 April) my friend, Jeff will take a photograph of my clock, which will adorn the front cover of “My Old Clock”.

The photograph and the manuscript will then wing it’s way to my publisher who will produce both an electronic and print version of the book, (I plan to use Moyhill who published my collection of poetry, “Lost in the Labyrinth of My Mind”, http://moyhill.com/lost/.

Kevin