Do not forsake me, My Darling. (High Noon)

Indulging myself as it is the Christmas Season and knowing I've said it before but this is probably the best western ever made and and one of the best films. Shot in real time and black and white it scooped four Academy Awards including the best actor for Gary Cooper and a trailer really doesn't do it justice, or any single clip from the film. There are more than a few on youtube. The stills above go some way to capturing just what it is that makes this a great film as they are beautifully framed, but without the dialogue, I don't know? Every image was part of a much greater scene and the sum was much greater than the parts. No other film captures that lazy Sunday morning feeling where you are just waiting and here it is played out in a town that turns its back on a marshal who made it safe for them in the first place. Katy Durado almost steals it at times and some of the best lines in the film are hers. When she is on camera...wow! And not forgetting the beautiful Grace Kelly.  But the image of Will Kane walking down the empty streets is a cinema classic.

"An admission paid in

As the credits begin

Will Kane walking down Hadleyville

And the train coming in"

Frank Murphy.
(From "The Hell I Will's Fine") 

With thanks to youtube and the guy for posting!

O Holy Night - Incredible child singer 7 yrs old - plz "Share"

A song for Christmas. This girl can sing!! With thanks to youtube and Rhema.

The Year That Was!

A Happy Christmas and New Year !!

Dangan Church Summerhill 

So another year draws to a close and what to make of it? Many visits to the blog to read through other sites and to see what goes out there. Got a present of Harold Bloom's "The Best Poems Of The English Language" last year or was it the year before and leafing through the pages I'm convinced that all the best poets are dead a long time now. The age of the conversation piece has arrived. A sort of looking glass world without Alice or anyone that looks that good. Sally called! Still I like poems to be short or shortish and even the old ones tended to go on a bit, the haiku being a reminder that you can take things a little too far. A contradiction in terms or an offer you couldn't refuse. Join the movement, or as Liam Clancy once remarked "Pass it around and we'll all get stoned" Austerity now! Where was I, the year? The Small Impact Writers' Group brought out a splendid calendar to end the year and not forgetting their poetry and short story competition for Valentine's Day. Boyne Berries 10 which came out in the Autumn and is the Literary Magazine of The Boyne Writers Group was a special celebratory issue and was beautifully produced. The Meath Writers' Circle has more than a few new members and we'll have to start listing the names. Issue badges! Competition wise and publishing a few things here or there and there are still a few copies of that video for those who were included and not present at the last meeting. That said time to sign off! A Happy Christmas and New Year to all!! 

Soundbites

Soundbites.

Book Cover

The LMFM Listeners Anthology is an eclectic mix of both short stories and poetry spread over four categories, the adult and for those who are under sixteen. Sometimes it  was difficult to tell, especially in the short story sections The winner of the under sixteens would have been a contender anywhere and in any competition and was a very harrowing tale of abuse and bullying. There is a lot of stuff in this book and it deserves more than a once through, but time as they say is short and much to read. The trouble with poetry is that you need to spend more than a few minutes with each of them and maybe one or two a week is enough. This book though would make a nice Christmas present to be read around the Christmas fire, for those who still have a fire. Published by the Universal Publishing  Group and retails at €15 Euro.

www.theuniversalpublishinggroup.com 

  

      

The War Prayer

Michael Sheils read this piece at the Armistice Day poetry reading in the Navan Library and I have to admit that I hadn't heard of it before. It was written by Mark Twain in 1904 but not published during his lifetime due to pressure from his family and friends. Sourcing from wikipedia he is said to have replied to a query as to whether it should be published, "No, I have told the whole truth in that, and only dead men can tell the truth in this world. It can be published after I am dead." Here Willie Nelson presents his own take and as they say in Ireland (No better man). Michael Sheils has other poems up from the day, just click on the link~sherriffromnavan~ over to the right. Other source is from wikipedia.

"Windtalkers" War Poems (4)

"Windtalkers"

Meath Writers' Circle Dec 2012

Windtalkers the 2002 film starring Nicolas Cage may or may not be an accurate portrayal of the role played by the Navajo code talkers in WW2 but it was certainly a savage reminder of the depravity of war. It featured on Channel Five last night and told the story of two Navajos who were employed by the American military to transmit messages under fire during the capture of Saipan. A film that is not for the faint hearted but worth watching in case the recruiting sergeant ever ends up on your door, the code itself though was never broken. After the marching bands and the music the whole thing is best left alone. I remember a war film (can't remember the name of it) starring Peter Falk and Robert Mitchum in which Mitchum's character is asked why do men do this and he replied because they like it! Or it was something along those lines! 

Forgotten

Why, but for

A few medals

And the coping stone

Of a wall surrendered

And the churchyards

Overgrown.

And a quiet carriage

The umbrellas rolled

Drumming our fingers

In the morning

Cold.

Frank Murphy.

The Meath Writers' Circle Poetry Selection DVD.

Poetry Selection DVD.

The Meath Writers' Circle DVD is a collection of 16 tracks recorded over the year at the Castle Hotel in Trim and includes just about everyone who attended the meetings at one time or another. There are still a few copies left over from the final get together last Thursday night and if you are one of those who was recorded during the year and didn't get a copy just leave a message and I'll get back to you, or give Tommy a buzz! Alternatively see you at the next meeting! Anyway I just about made it back myself in the end (fog in channel and the lack of signposts) and in time to hear Sean read of our four legged friends! More about "Soundbites" when I've had a chance to go through it. Finally, some very good tracks on that video! 

    

LMFM Poetry and Short Story Awards.

"Soundbites"

Joan Wilson

Magdalena Greszta

Yanky Fachler

Mai Holton and Marie MacSweeney

The Moorlands Café in West Street Drogheda was the venue for last night's LMFM Poetry and Short Story awards. A creative writing competition that attracted more than 250 entries the MC for the occasion was Gerry Kelly of the lunch time radio slot, though ably assisted by Mona Daly who co-ordinated the event and Yanky Fachler of The Book Producers. The judging panel was chaired by May Toale and also included Tommy Murray of The Meath Writers' Circle though credited to the "others" on the back cover. The Anthology itself contains more than a few whose names would be familiar including Caroline Carey Fin, Sinead Mac Devitt, James Conway, Marie MacSweeney, Mai Holton , Patrick A Gavin and a few others whose names should be familiar. One of Tommy's students from the Library "Sarah Macshane" was a runner-up in the under 16 poetry section. Congratulations to all including myself! In the Francis Ledwidge another local writer who was highly commended was Mary Jo Gibbons and Peter Goulding came in second overall.  Dipping into the "Phizzfest" collection Peter has a poem in there as well. Now for the winners of the above!

Adult Short Stories: Joint Winners
Treading Water (Marie MacSweeney)
Scorned (Mai Holten)

Adult Poetry: Winner
Anubis ( Joan Wilson).

Under 16 Short Story: Winner.
A Day In My Life (Laura Bailey)

Under 16 Poetry: Winner.
Snow Man Spirit (Hannah Niciaragain)

Note: The Soundbites Anthology is available online or in the local shops! LMFM for details!