Poets who inspire me; David McLean

The second of today’s poets is David McLean here is a poet who summons the abyssal gaze of nihilistic existence into the very folds of each page. He explores the dark edges of humanity and the prospects of entropy his work can be dark, edgy and satisfying all at the same time. His work can be found here http://www.amazon.co.uk/nobody-wants-heaven-but-everybody/dp/1291432809/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380393988&sr=1-9&keywords=david+Mclean

 this is his latest work and well worth the purchase.

Poetry which inspires me; Women poets of Japan.

The first poet of the day isn’t exactly a poet rather a collection of Japanese poets. I remember first reading Japanese poetry when I was sixteen my father had this book Women Poets of Japan which combined the collections of poetry dating as far back as the Tokugawa period there was some lovely Freeform poetry as well as traditional structures including Haiku (haiku was prevalent during the Tokugawa period) and Tanka styles. http://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Women_Poets_of_Japan.html?id=0BMQwLapofkC&redir_esc=y

 I can no longer find my copy but at least it is still in print.

Poets who inspire me; Adrian Fox

Final poet for today is Adrian Fox I worked with Adrian on a project a few years back in Lurgan we put on a show in the local library his work is some of my favourite both his art and his writing. Adrian’s work can be found herehttp://laganpress.co/search?q=adrian+fox&type=ap and herehttps://sites.google.com/a/lapwingpublications.com/lapwing-store/adrian-fox and he also has a blog here http://www.adrianfox.org/

 

Poets who inspire me; Chris Murray

Next we ave another strong female Irish voice Chris Murray runs Poethead a poetry blog http://poethead.wordpress.com/

 her work has appeared in numerous magazines and other sources and has one book out through Lapwing Publicationshttps://sites.google.com/a/lapwingpublications.com/lapwing-store/christine-murrayand is expecting another out soon there is a preview herehttps://www.dropbox.com/s/llr4wotzdsdlrc8/Hooks%20by%20C.%20Murray.pdfthere is a strength within Chris’s work which reminds me in some ways of Kavanagh and Heaney. Well worth a read

Poets who inspire me; Michael Mc Aloran

Michael Mc Aloran. His poetry is a challenge to established norms and there is no such thing as a casual read. You dive into his books and you struggle with the tide of words the abattoir landscape almost reminds me of the music generated by decaying whale sinew the same sound which legend has it inspired Canola to make the first Harp. Every page is a journey of discovery and insight into a surreal landscape and when you put the book down you want to read more. His work can be found here http://www.paraphiliamagazine.com/oneirosbooks/all-steppedundone/ , here http://www.paraphiliamagazine.com/oneirosbooks/in-damage-seasons/ and herehttps://sites.google.com/a/lapwingpublications.com/lapwing-store/michael-mc-alora

poets who inspire me; Moyra Donaldson

I used to know Moyra back when she owned the Ark a farm near Conlig hers is a voice of today Moyra Donaldson’s her work speaks for itself and has been published by several poetry houses including Lapwing Publications and Lagan Press Kissing Ghost’s can be purchased herehttps://sites.google.com/a/lapwingpublications.com/lapwing-store/moyra-donaldsonand Miracle Fruit and The Horse’s Nest can be found herehttp://laganpress.co/authors/moyra-donaldson

Poets who inspire me; Padraig O’Snodaig

Padraig O’Snodaig the editor of (http://www.coisceim.ie/) is related to me on my grand fathers side he is a strong supporter of the Irish Language. His work has been published by Lapwing Publications and Lagan Press links to his work are here (https://sites.google.com/a/lapwingpublications.com/lapwing-store/o-snodaigh-fanning) and here (http://laganpress.co/authors/padraig-osnodaig)

 If you enjoy the language or even just want to read something special try these

Poets who inspire me; Janet Shepperson

Janet Shepperson yet another strong female voice well worth reading. Janet was also published by Lapwing Publications and Lagan Press her work can be found herehttps://sites.google.com/a/lapwingpublications.com/lapwing-store/janet-sheppersonand here http://laganpress.co/authors/jannet-shepperson

Poets that inspire me; Sabine Wichert

Poetess to check out back in the nineties I designed toe covers for virtually all of Lapwing Publication’s pamphlets. Met with and drew portraits of many poets from James Simmons, Ray Givans, Des O’Grady and Sabine Wichert this is the cover of her first book by Lapwing Publications called Miranda it is still available through the online service https://sites.google.com/a/lapwingpublications.com/lapwing-store/sabine-wichert on top of that Sabine has several other books of poetry out including Taganrog via Lagan press http://laganpress.co/authors/sabine-wichert

The New Eden

Today an angry God erased the world.

Each step my foot-fell sounded hollow and I created in small matters the world anew.

A shape sprang into form before my eyes and I christened it tree, soon joined by hedge, bush and magpies.

A narrow viewpoint cotton woolen thoughts the world hid from my senses.

I started from scratch, somewhere I heard feral kittens calling from the banks sound has no direction here.

Dew like a second skin coated my frame my teeth chattered in the gloom while squirrels threw chestnuts.

Soon creation was complete, I stood on the precipice and admired my work satisfied I basked in the morning sun.