I am delighted to be the first guest writer on Ink and Quill,the blog of Jennifer Calvert. For my guest article please visit the following link, http://jennifercalvertwriter.com/2016/02/27/first-guest-writer-on-ink-and-quill-k-morris/. Please also check out Jennifer’s writings which can be found here, http://jennifercalvertwriter.com/.
The brook
Has dried up
And the barren shore
Calls to the desolate moor.
Once the water ran pure
While children frolicked on the shore.
But the sun has gone
And time moved on.
A golden age of delight?
The night
Is always there
For those who care
To stare
At the distant horizon.
The dark
Is forever rising
In the below post references to sharing do not include copying content (unless, of course you have the content owner’s permission to do so). By sharing I mean utilising options such as Twitter and the WordPress reblogging facility.
—
Your blog is full of great content but no one is sharing it. That is wholly inexplicable, right? Well in some cases you may be unlucky and, if you fall into this category I wish you the very best of luck in future for there is nothing more frustrating than one’s content being ignored.
Most blogs and/or sites have buttons allowing content to be easily shared. For example my blog (newauthoronline.com) allows sharing via a number of channels including Twitter, Facebook and, of course reblogging. I have, however come across blogs lacking any facility to share content. In such instances the person wishing to share has no option other than to copy the link into a post on their own site and share in this manner. This can be time consuming and in many instances can lead to a blogger who would otherwise have shared content deciding not to do so.
It is, of course a matter for site owners to determine what sharing buttons (if any) appear on their site. However the absence of easy options to share can (and often does) prevent informative and/or entertaining content from being shared. Shares can equal new readers so by not utilising sharing buttons site owners are limiting the growth of their site’’s readership.
Kevin
A review of “Mobility Matters: Stepping Out In Faith ” (http://doublevisionblog.com/2016/02/24/book-review-mobility-matters-stepping-out-in-faith/).
As a visually impaired guide dog owner, I was interested to read this review of a book regarding one lady’s experience of mobility training, using a long white cane. Prior to getting my first guide dog, Drew I used a long white cane and have happy memories of it getting stuck in cracks between the pavement or bent into the shape of a banana following a close encounter with a lamp post or tree (oh happy days)!
Yesterday I fell into conversation with a colleague who asked how visually impaired people, who are not guide dog users cope as regards mobility. I was surprised by the question as the majority of those who are partially sighted or blind do not, in fact use guide dogs but utilise (as in the case of the above) a long white cane. In my view its vital that guide dog owners should possess the capacity to use a cane as the dog may become ill or, on rare occasions it may not be possible (or advisable) to use their four legged friend. For example several months ago my present guide dog, Trigger had several benign lumps removed which meant he was not able to work for 10 days. During this period I worked from home and utilised my white cane when out and about.
Kevin
A poem by the 19th century American poet, Emily Dickinson.
—
There is no frigate like a book
To take us lands away,
Nor any coursers like a page
Of prancing poetry.
This traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of toll;
How frugal is the chariot
That bears a human soul!
A report drawn up for the All Parliamentary Group on Prostitution recommends that UK citizens who pay for sex abroad should be prosecuted for doing so. It also recommends the UK Parliament legislate to make paying for sex a criminal offence while leaving sex workers free to work. This is predicated on the belief that prostitutes are vulnerable and should not be criminalised, while those who pay for sex are exploiters and, as drivers of demand should be subject to criminal sanctions. Most sex workers believe that criminilising clients will make their lives less safe. For the article please visit http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/love-sex/sex-industry/sex-tourists-who-pay-for-prostitutes-abroad-should-face-prosecution-in-uk-a6888351.html
“Nymph, I wonder where you are going
Your hair
In the midnight air
Blowing.
Your face is a mask
Dare I ask
What be your task?
The gate’s hinges squeak
And the owl speaks,
“She may do as she will
For good or ill.
The light is on in yonder place.
Oh her face
Such passing grace”.
—
“Man why so pale of face?
Why pace
You so
To and fro?
Your eyes fixed on the clock
Straining to hear the gentle knock.
Your sweat
Carries the scent of regret.
The owl winks,
“Methinks
Some things are better left unsaid
As mere conjectures in the head.
Do they ill or well.
Be it heaven or hell
I will not tell”.
I was delighted to receive the braille edition of my book, “Lost In The Labyrinth Of My Mind” in yesterday’s mail. As I wrote in my post of 19 January (http://newauthoronline.com/2016/01/19/touching-words/), “While I am a huge fan of ebooks there is, in my opinion no substitute for their physical counterparts”.
The braille edition of “Lost In The Labyrinth” joins the accessible version of my first collection of poetry, “Dalliance” and is comfortably ensconced next to it on my bookshelves.
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) have done a good job of work, with the poems being nicely set out on the page. Unfortunately 2 of my poems, “Under The Stars” and “Wind Chimes” have been misrendered with separate titles being assigned to integral parts of both poems (I.E. the coherence of the poetry is interrupted by words which form part of the poems being incorrectly assigned as titles for separate (non-existent) poems). As the poet, I know how the poems should read. However, if RNIB add “Lost In The Labyrinth Of My Mind” to it’s catalogue, others may be confused by what has happened. Consequently I have notified RNIB of the errors which will, I hope be corrected.
The misrendering of 2 of my poems underlines for me the importance of proof reading prior to a book going on sale and/or into libraries. Painstaking checking and re-checking (whether of braille or print books) is important as badly presented publications can create a poor impression of the author in the reader’s mind.
(“Lost In The Labyrinth Of My Mind” is available as an ebook in the Amazon Kindle store and can be found here, http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01AF5EPVY?keywords=Lost%20in%20the%20labyrinth%20of%20my%20mind&qid=1452670393&ref_=sr_1_1&s=digital-text&sr=1-1. I am currently working to produce a print edition which will, I hope be available in mid to late March 2016).
Kevin
When I pass away
My books will stay.
Who can say
Whether readers will delve
Through dusty shelves
And discovering my book
Take a look
Into my soul.
The whole
Me
Now free.
No longer able to care
About those who stare
At what I wrote
In earnest or joke.
What is this desire
That my words light a fire
In hearts I will not know?
I am lust
Dust
And scribbles on a page.
‘ No great matter, when I am mouldering in the grave.
I am not brave
And grope
For hope
In the here and now.
For the plough
Will not disturb my sleep
Nor will I weep
In the solitary grave.
The purpose of this post is to ask for your help in choosing a book cover for the print edition of my recently published collection of poetry, “Lost In The Labyrinth Of My Mind”,
To this end I would appreciate it if you could please vote for your favourite cover (numbered on bottom left of each cover). It would assist me if you could add comments explaining your choice.
The following poem, “Lost”, provides a flavour of the poems to be found in the book and will, I hope aid you in choosing a book cover:
Lost
My thoughts lost on the damp air
Going who knows where.
The sodden grass
I pass.
Where children play
But not today.
No ball
Or bird call.
Only the rain’s incessant fall.
Many thanks for your help.
Kevin
K Morris - Poet 