Tag Archives: My old clock I wind and other poems

“Shadows” Revisited

On 3 December 2016, I wrote “Shadows” https://newauthoronline.com/2017/10/03/shadows-3/. My poem was prompted by the play of shadows created by the winter sun upon the walls of my study.

Today (Sunday 3 December 2017), it is (as was the case one year ago) a cold day. There are, however no shadows playing upon the walls of my study.

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“Shadows” appears in my latest collection of poetry, “My Old Clock I Wind”, which is available from Moyhill Publishing, and Amazon.

“My Old Clock I Wind” is also available in braille from the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).

To order “My Old Clock” in braille please contact RNIB on 0303 123 9999 or buy online at http://shop.rnib.org.uk/.

When contacting RNIB please quote order number 25870603

Alternatively please visit the library’s catalogue, and enter the search term, “my old clock I wind and other poems”, hit search and my book should be displayed.

Schopenhauer

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While on the way to the shops yesterday, I met an acquaintance. As one does in such situations, we passed the time of day. During our conversation my companion thanked me for the print copy of my collection of poetry, “My Old Clock I Wind”, that I had given him. He had he said read it 3 times and intended to read it again. My poetry was, in his view bleak and reminded him of Schopenhauer.

I must confess to never having read Shopenhauer, but the words of my acquaintance kindled in me a desire to read up on the philosopher. For anyone interested in learning more about Arthur Schopenhauer I recommend the above article as a good starting point.

As to whether my poetry does, in any sense chime with the ideas expressed by the German philosopher, I feel unable to comment other than to state unequivocally that I repudiate in the strongest possible terms the anti-Semitic views attributed to Shopenhauer.

Anti-semitism is vile and led to the extermination of approximately 6 million Jews (men, women and children). Sadly there remain those on the far-right of politics who continue to propagate the lie that there was no “Final Solution”. Such denials are dangerous and those who propagate them contribute to the curse of anti-semitism.

Kevin

The Clocks Have Gone Back

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At 2 am today (Sunday 29 October), the clocks went back one hour. This does, of course mean that I get an extra hour in bed. However, during the week it means that I leave in the dark for work and return home in the darkness (lucky old me)!

The clocks going back reminded me of my poem “The Clocks Have Gone Back”, which is reproduced below. Incidentally, in today’s technology dominated society, I only had to adjust the ancient battery operated talking alarm clock (purchased many years ago from the Royal National Institute of Blind People) and the chiming timepiece that sits on the bookcase in my living room (the latter features on the front cover of my collection of poetry, “My Old Clock I Wind”).

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The clocks have gone back and the weather is cold.
The bold
Venture outdoors.
The temperature underscores
That winter is here
And the year
Is nearing it’s close.

Fingers and toes
Freeze.
There is no breeze,
Only the chill air to please
Senses the all encompassing heat
Would defeat

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

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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).

“My Old Clock I Wind” audio download

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In my post of 13 August, (https://newauthoronline.com/2017/08/13/my-old-clock-i-wind-will-soon-be-available-as-an-audio-download/), I said that my collection of poetry, “My Old Clock I Wind” was in the process of being recorded.

I am pleased to announce that I have now received the completed recording.

Once approved by me “My Old Clock I Wind” will be available to purchase as an audio download from audible.co.uk and audible.com. I will, of course post links here once “My Old Clock” goes live.

In the meantime, “My Old Clock” can be purchased, in ebook and paperback formats from the publisher, http://moyhill.com/clock/, or from Amazon, (ebook only), https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0735JBVBG.

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“I can hear the wind laughing outside
At our human pride.
The Tide
Of time moves on
And we are gone
With the wind
That will rescind
All
These scribbles on the wall”.

(“Wind” is copyright K Morris and can be found in “My Old Clock I Wind”).

Shadows

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On such a day, when the winter sun
Casts my shadow upon yonder wall,
It is difficult to recall
That all
This will, one day, be done.

In future, will some other one, sitting here and seeing their shadow fall
Upon this self-same wall,
Know that they may not forestall
The night
Where dancing shadows are forever lost from sight.

—
(Written on 3 December 2016, while sitting in my study).

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(Note: “Shadows” can be found in my latest collection of poetry, “My Old Clock I Wind”, which is available from Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0735JBVBG and from Moyhill Publishing, http://moyhill.com/clock/).

Competition to win a signed copy of “My Old Clock I Wind” by K Morris

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I am giving away 1 free, signed copy of my collection of poetry, “My Old Clock I Wind”.

In order to be in with a chance of winning, please answer the following question, which novel begins as follows ”1801—-I have just returned from a visit to my landlord—the solitary neighbour that I shall be troubled with”.

The Rules

1. Please email your answers to me at newauthoronline (at) gmail dot com.
2. Please put “Competition” in the subject line of your message.
3. Please do not leave your answer in the comments below, as everyone will be able to read it!
4. The first person to email me with the correct answer wins a signed copy of “My Old Clock I Wind”.
5. The winner will be informed by email.
6. You may enter irrespective of your country of residence.

The book

To read reviews of “My Old Clock I Wind” and an extract, please visit http://moyhill.com/clock/.

Getting your self-published books into libraries

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A useful article on how to get self-published books into libraries.

I know from my own experience, that approaching libraries directly is a productive means of getting your work onto their shelves.

I was delighted when Liverpool Central Library, wrote to confirm that they had added 2 copies of my collection of poetry, “My Old Clock I Wind”, (http://moyhill.com/clock/), to their shelves.

As a result of me contacting Swansea University (my former place of study), they kindly accepted my donation of one copy of “My Old Clock”.

Consequently, from my own experience I can say that getting your self-published books into libraries is perfectly possible.

Reminder of Book Launch

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Just a quick reminder that I shall be celebrating the publication of my collection of poetry, “My Old Clock I Wind” (http://moyhill.com/clock/), in the Railway Bell, at 6:30 pm today (5th July).

If you are in the vicinity of Gipsy Hill/Crystal Palace, you would, of course be very welcome to come along.

For details of the venue please visit, http://www.rampubcompany.co.uk/visit-pubs/railway-bell.

Kevin

Launch of poetry newsletter by World Poetry Reading Series

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The World Poetry Reading series offers opportunities for poets to showcase their work and hosts a regular show, on Vancouver Co-op Radio, which broadcasts every Thursday.

The World Poetry Reading Series has just published its first newsletter.

To visit the newsletters page please go to http://worldpoetry.ca/?page_id=11939, and to read the Spring edition please click here, http://worldpoetry.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2017-05-18-Newsletter-Issue1-Spring.pdf.

To find out more about the World Poetry Reading Series Café and hear podcasts of previous shows, please go to http://www.coopradio.org/content/world-poetry-cafe-2.

I was privileged to appear on Vancouver Co-op Radio to discuss my collection of poetry, “My Old Clock I Wind” and read several of my poems.

To listen to a podcast of my interview please visit, http://worldpoetry.ca/?p=11765.

“My Old Clock I Wind” is available in paperback and ebook formats from Moyhill Publishing, http://moyhill.com/clock/ and as a download in the Amazon Kindle store, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0735JBVBG.