Unseasonal Weather: a #Poem

On 27/02/2019 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Nature, Poetry

With thanks to ClimateReanalyzer.org Unseasonal Weather But one month of the year complete and the next is almost done Where is the wet the chill the flakes of seasonal snow fun whitening brightening delighting children who would slide and glide down frozen slopes in noisy joy We have that burning globe above ubiquitous it seems …

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Love Matters: a #Poem

On 13/02/201914/02/2019 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Poetry, Romance16 Comments

Today is Valentine's Day, but Valerie and I have always ignored such niceties. At the risk of seeming overly romantic; every day is our special day. And this is for my lovely wife. Love Matters You are she who speaks me truth never harsh or hurtful ever your heart is your guide and leads the …

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Yum,Yum, Grub in My Tum! #Poetry

On 06/02/201906/02/2019 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Poetry, Progress3 Comments

Here’s a daft poem I wrote as light satire about the pretentiousness of certain eateries. You know, those places that seem to believe that food is more important than so many other aspects of life; the food porn-brokers, the food snobs, the food worshippers. I’ve presented this in the form of a menu card, just …

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I Will Laugh. A #Poem

On 30/01/2019 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Poetry2 Comments

Here’s another poem for you. And a quick sketch to go with it. Something to confirm my intentions to be positive this year. I Will Laugh If I seek enjoyment in this world of misery am I then pretending blindness to the facts or do I defend myself against those negatives combining to defeat our …

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Cocktails with a Dead Man, by Joe Albanese: #BookReview.

On 27/01/201927/01/2019 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Literature, Poetry, Reading, Review

106 pages Poetry This is a mix of the intensely personal, regarding love and its outcomes; the general as it relates to writers a group; and life in many of its guises. Poetry, and the reader’s response to it, is always personal. So, my review here can reflect only my experience of reading the collection …

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A #Poem on a Social Evil.

On 23/01/2019 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Poetry3 Comments

An illustrative poem for your amusement. Pyramid Selling I who squat atop the all too ready fools who mass beneath my banner of false promises my lies my cheats deceits my tales of easy wealth made in a trice or quicker soon grow powerful and rich at their expense Please feel free to comment and …

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A Protest Poem.

On 21/01/201921/01/2019 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, opinion, Poetry, politics6 Comments

Picture reproduced courtesy of Creative Commons Licence by kind permission of Donkeyhotey Are You Proud of Your Record to Date Mrs May? Are you proud of your record to date Mrs May Are you proud of the men in your club Do they fill every day with delight at their pranks Do they make every …

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Capturing the Creative Craving

On 16/01/201922/01/2019 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Photography, Poetry, Progress8 Comments

Children at the edge of the North Sea, Hornsea, East Yorkshire, England. This year I'm determined to concentrate on my creative needs. I write and I take photographs. I also love making pictures with pencil, pen, and paint, though those skills I've yet to hone. So, these Wednesday posts will display my efforts in this …

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What Next?

On 23/08/201823/08/2018 By stuartakenIn Creative Writer, Fiction, Poetry, Progress2 Comments

Best laid plans… I woke last Thursday intent on starting a new short story. My usual method is to gather two or three characters, get to know them, select a theme or two, and begin writing, allowing the story to unfold. It’s worked in the past, so, although I haven’t done it for a couple …

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love of the monster, by AM Roselli, Reviewed.

On 09/05/201709/05/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Literature, Poetry, Reading, Review, Uncategorized

Poetry can be sublime, complex, evocative, tantalising, inspiring, provoking, sensual, thoughtful, engaging and many other things. AM Roselli’s poems manage to fit all these qualities. I first encountered AM’s remarkable poetry and artwork via her website, anntogether.com, to which I was directed by another friend online. I was engaged at once. This is a woman …

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Against the Night, by P M F Johnson, Reviewed.

On 12/12/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Poetry, Review

Poetry is more difficult to review than novels or nonfiction. For me it is, anyway. As a writer of prose, often puzzled by the brevity and density of poetry, I feel less qualified to comment on technical aspects. What I can do, however, is describe how the poems made me feel, what I experienced as …

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The Red Room, by Joan Barbara Simon, Reviewed.

On 10/03/201630/07/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Literature, Poetry, Reading, Review

I have never read anything like this. Now, there’s a statement. But what does it mean? This book is subtitled, ‘a portfolio’ and that’s a good description of the range of contents. First, let me advise potential readers that this is material for adults. Those who seek gentle reassurance in romance and the sweet murmurings …

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Navigating Nightmare Ecstasy, by The Junk Talk Poet, Reviewed.

On 05/02/201630/07/2017 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Literature, Poetry, Reading, Review

I’m cautious about reviewing poetry: it’s an esoteric art form with echoes of the world of the contemporary arts. In other words, a field full of the pretentious attempting to bamboozle the unwary, and too often succeeding. It differs from the world of visual art in the amount of cash thrown at it, of course, …

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