I first started writing poetry because I am so useless at taking photos - there is a legendary collection of photos entitled "Paul's finger goes to Norway" starring ..yes you guessed it my index finger! I am a self-confessed people watcher and my poems reflect this. I write about the milestones of life, love, faith, doubt and odd things that make me laugh! I am proud to be a member of the Poetry Society. Best Before is on their members' Bookshelf: http://www.poetrysociety.org.uk/content/membership/membks
All poems appearing here are copyright and cannot be reproduced without permission
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Most credit/debit cards accepted through Paypal.
During the process there is an option for you to request a message or signed copy.
If you wish to order more than 20 copies, please message me re postage.
Scroll down if you would like to listen to audio tracks of some of the poems.
From the back cover of Best Before.....thanks Miranda & Nick!
Our nation has a love affair with the coast and we all have special memories of our times spent there. Capturing these sounds, smells and sights in a concise and colourful way is a real art. Paul 's words instantly conjure up memorable images in my mind of hours spent rock-pooling and many a walk past a dog walker with an averted gaze...
Miranda Krestovnikoff – Presenter BBC’s Coast
Miranda Krestovnikoff – Presenter BBC’s Coast
“Paul breathes life into the ordinary - spotting the glories, absurdities and tragedies of life. His words shape a way of seeing that is fresh, stirring curiosity to look more deeply. Best before will not have a sell-by date.”
Nick Baines - Bishop, writer, broadcaster and blogger!
Nick Baines - Bishop, writer, broadcaster and blogger!
Colour Charts
Luxuriating in a deep bath in a distant land
I contemplate the beauty of the magnolia blooms
growing outside the window
on a tree as old as this futuristic 60’s house.
They fill the vast expanse of glass,
chalices of raspberry ripple ice cream,
black cherry marbling in virgin snow white yoghurt,
strawberry jam melting on hot rice pudding.
Creamy sweetness;
freshness and purity
blushing with the faint hint of arousal.
If I was them
I would hire a lawyer
and sue the paint firm
for defamation of character.
Munnerstadt May 2013
I contemplate the beauty of the magnolia blooms
growing outside the window
on a tree as old as this futuristic 60’s house.
They fill the vast expanse of glass,
chalices of raspberry ripple ice cream,
black cherry marbling in virgin snow white yoghurt,
strawberry jam melting on hot rice pudding.
Creamy sweetness;
freshness and purity
blushing with the faint hint of arousal.
If I was them
I would hire a lawyer
and sue the paint firm
for defamation of character.
Munnerstadt May 2013
Choose your attitude
This glass is neither half full nor half empty.
It is the glass in my hand today,
the one I can enjoy
or pour away.
I can sip and savour
or neck it,
downing it in one.
Make it last or drink it fast,
I am easy either way.
This is not ambivalence I am expressing,
simply a taste of reality,
a dose of common sense.
Life is seldom wholly good
rarely totally grim,
no point choking on my beer
for fear of what may come my way.
This glass is sufficient,
the one in my hand today,
the one I can enjoy
or choose to pour away.
April 2013
It is the glass in my hand today,
the one I can enjoy
or pour away.
I can sip and savour
or neck it,
downing it in one.
Make it last or drink it fast,
I am easy either way.
This is not ambivalence I am expressing,
simply a taste of reality,
a dose of common sense.
Life is seldom wholly good
rarely totally grim,
no point choking on my beer
for fear of what may come my way.
This glass is sufficient,
the one in my hand today,
the one I can enjoy
or choose to pour away.
April 2013
A Girl called Regret
You are my path not taken, my road less travelled.
You are my Sliding Doors, my untouched Plan A.
You inhabit a parallel universe, another life.
You’re my just supposing, my for argument’s sake.
You are on the edge of my imaginings,
beyond my wildest dreams.
You are all these things because
you were their “I wouldn’t if I were you,”
their “She’s trouble that one!
You cannot be serious, you’re having a laugh.”
Their “Too hot to handle,
too feisty by half”.
Hindsight may be a wonderful thing
but time’s not always a healer.
If I had my life over again
I like to think I’d ignore them,
let my heart over-rule my brain
to make you my carpe diem.
April 2013
You are my Sliding Doors, my untouched Plan A.
You inhabit a parallel universe, another life.
You’re my just supposing, my for argument’s sake.
You are on the edge of my imaginings,
beyond my wildest dreams.
You are all these things because
you were their “I wouldn’t if I were you,”
their “She’s trouble that one!
You cannot be serious, you’re having a laugh.”
Their “Too hot to handle,
too feisty by half”.
Hindsight may be a wonderful thing
but time’s not always a healer.
If I had my life over again
I like to think I’d ignore them,
let my heart over-rule my brain
to make you my carpe diem.
April 2013
Poetry Unplugged @ The Poetry Place London 9.4.13
"Poetry Unplugged Now 10 years old, this is London's premier poetry open mic night. Every Tuesday, sign up between 6-7pm. The event starts at 7:30pm. Hosted by Niall O'Sullivan.
"Then a first-time reader is announced, the host hollers: "Next up, a Poetry Unplugged virgin!" and a roar of approval spreads throughout the intimate audience, a cheer louder than anyone would rightfully expect to emanate from 50 people." David Bryant, Morning Star "
So being in London for an interview and poetry read at Premier Radio I thought I would give it a go. The event is expertly managed and hosted by Niall O'Sullivan who blends authority with wit! Cut-off times for signing up and for performing are enforced strictly but with a lightness of touch. It means you have to get your timing right or you will be stopped in full flow - a good discipline for performers. 33 people performed or read and yet it finished at just gone 10pm. It seems like a knowledgeable and appreciative audience with a wide range of ages and styles represented. I flopped into bed in Southbourne at 1.30am tired but encouraged - the sacrifices we make for our art!
"Then a first-time reader is announced, the host hollers: "Next up, a Poetry Unplugged virgin!" and a roar of approval spreads throughout the intimate audience, a cheer louder than anyone would rightfully expect to emanate from 50 people." David Bryant, Morning Star "
So being in London for an interview and poetry read at Premier Radio I thought I would give it a go. The event is expertly managed and hosted by Niall O'Sullivan who blends authority with wit! Cut-off times for signing up and for performing are enforced strictly but with a lightness of touch. It means you have to get your timing right or you will be stopped in full flow - a good discipline for performers. 33 people performed or read and yet it finished at just gone 10pm. It seems like a knowledgeable and appreciative audience with a wide range of ages and styles represented. I flopped into bed in Southbourne at 1.30am tired but encouraged - the sacrifices we make for our art!
Experiment in Collaboration - Train of Thought
Towards the end of 2012 I read my poem 11.22 Bournemouth to Waterloo at an event at The Grove Studio, Southbourne. Friend and fellow poet Steve Biddle read his poem Train of Thought which describes the same journey in the opposite direction. We thought it might be fun to try and combine the two in some way in performance.
In March 2013 we got together with Matt "Piano Man" Black in Hangover Hill Studios. Matt did a superb job editing. You can hear the result below.
We poets can sometimes get possessive and precious over our lyrical babies. For Steve and I the project meant putting our poems on the table, watching and listening while they were chopped up and re-ordered (e.g. my title is used later in the piece!) to produce something new. We were pleased with the result and look forward to performing it live over the summer. That will give it another flavour.
Hope you enjoy it.
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2F%23insight-studios%2Ftrain-of-thought-by-paul&h=7AQFO6TFE
In March 2013 we got together with Matt "Piano Man" Black in Hangover Hill Studios. Matt did a superb job editing. You can hear the result below.
We poets can sometimes get possessive and precious over our lyrical babies. For Steve and I the project meant putting our poems on the table, watching and listening while they were chopped up and re-ordered (e.g. my title is used later in the piece!) to produce something new. We were pleased with the result and look forward to performing it live over the summer. That will give it another flavour.
Hope you enjoy it.
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2F%23insight-studios%2Ftrain-of-thought-by-paul&h=7AQFO6TFE
Recording poems in studios in Milton Keynes
On 16th of November I spent some time in the Midsummer Boulevard studio in Milton Keynes recording thirteen poems, most of which are from Best Before plus a couple of more recent ones. Great to be in a state of the art studio and to have Joshua Toby Harris doing the production honours. Have a listen for your self - see below.
Click on play below to hear recorded poems
Best Before The Rockpoolers
Awake my soul Nkosi Sikelel iAfrika
School Photo (NB NOT in Best Before) |
Window Shopping with Miss World |
Where the beech leaves fall |
Manopausal Brain |
Freeway Poets @The Winchester, Bournemouth
Freeway Poets pay tribute to UK troops. At the beginning of the January event a group of us were given the chance to read postcards and notes written by UK troops serving in Afghanistan. The material is part of an exhibition touring the country and in Bournemouth Russell-Coates museum till March. Additionally I read my poem "All at once it was silent" as part of the tribute. See the youtube clip here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFk9Yh9vRqI&sns=fb