September the Diva – a dramatic seasonal poem
September the Diva was the first poem of mine to be accepted for publication since my student days. It won a prize too!
Poem
This sub-category of Articulations collects all my posts of poems.
The short summer night – a translation
The short summer night, a translation of Norwegian Aslaug L Lygre’s poem Vi skal ikkje sova bort sumarnatta, and a bit of context.
A Villanelle for Ulla
A Villanelle for my mother-in-law Ulla Gustafssson who died from advanced Alzheimer’s disease on 9th April 2020
The Pickpockets’ Ballad
The Pickpockets’ Ballad – a poem in the style of a ballad from the 17th or 18th century. Two pickpockets have a good day, till they meet a ghost.
Fouad the Suave Zouave – a poem
A poem in six verses that originally appeared on Twitter. Apologies to van Gogh for borrowing and butchering his zouave portrait.
Not singing or winning so much
Not singing or winning so much. Lots of ups and downs lately and I’m feeling depressed so here’s a poem or lyric based on “Tubthumper” by Chumbawamba.
What is your earliest memory? This is mine.
This is my earliest memory – a memory of my father – together with a poem I’ve put it into. What is your earliest memory?
In memorium Lou Reed
In memorium Lou Reed (1942-2013) – a pencil drawing of Lou Reed’s time ravaged face over Andy Warhole’s poster of him as a young man.
Atropos and Mnemosyne – a poem about memory loss
His same question, my same answer, again and again. Atropos and Mnemosyne, a poem.
Porphyrophobia – afraid of purple?
Porphyrophobia: a person with an irrational fear of the colour purple. Irrational fears of certain skin colours lie at the root of so much evil. But purple?