Forecast 2023!

 Forecast 2023!

I swear another age
Of this reason
Will see the end
Of us.

The soothsayers
Will be there
On the last night
Clutching a copy
Of Dead Certainty.

The proofs outweighing
The process they condemned.

While the arbiters
Of right and wrong
Tie
Their purse strings
Around our neck
On the promise 
Of a new order.
Witch hunting.

And all you can hope for
Is that they'll burn
Themselves out
And you don't get caught
On the wrong side.

Frank Murphy.

* I wrote it once upon a time for another year but sure what's changed!  

Cathal Bui Poetry Competition 2023!

Cathal Bui Poetry Competition 2023

Deadline: 17 Mar 2023

Cathal Bui Poetry Competition 2023 - Free entry

1 Please paste your unpublished poem in the email and send to:  

  belcoopoet@gmail.com

2 Maximum lines 20

3 Closing date 17 March 2023

4 Winners announced at Belcoo Hedge school - 15 July 2023

Awards: Patrick Harte plaque and:
1st £100
2nd £60 
3rd £40

 * One for your notepad and definitely worth an entry!

Elvis Presley - Where No One Stands Alone (Official Music Video)

Elvis and Lisa Marie ~ Where No One Stands Alone. (Something for Christmas)

This song was written by Thomas Mosie Lister who was an American singer and Baptist minister and was released by 'The Statesmen Quartet in 1955. Elvis released it on his 1967 album ~ How Great Thou Art ~ in 1967 and his daughter Lisa Marie recorded a duet, mixing it with her father's vocals in 2018. Something to knock your socks off on Christmas morning. An Elvis Presley Official Music Video and with thanks to Youtube. Go to for the comments.

Something for Christmas!

 Something for Christmas!

Gift Wrapped

Decanting the cut glass
Decided that on the third Thursday
Of every month
That there would be a witch-hunt.

Had it from a reliable source,
Populist columns.
The new brooms
Flying off the shelves
And there was no telling
Where'd they end up
Get a grip.

No use flying off the handle.
Enjoy the downtime.
At least you'd have some 
Peace for a spell.
The dreamy fudge.
Hazelnuts swelling
Into raspberry 
Heaven.

And the crunch of almond,
Orange sensations where you could
Eat your heart out.
Truffles washed down
On the coffee
Crescent.

And the ole Black Magic!

Frank Murphy

Joan Baez : Carrickfergus, Bratislava 1989.

Joan Baez ~ Carrickfergus, Bratislava 1989!

This version was brought to my attention this morning by Sean Reilly and although there are many versions out there I was unaware Joan had given it a go. I have an old LP (Vanguard 1960) from back in the sixties where she sings a number of folk songs and the sleeve notes, which are comprehensive to say the least, describe her as being of Mexican-Irish parentage and as having a "soprano voice with no break from the lowest to the highest register, a choir-boy's pure projection linked with an intense vibrato, a clear diction and surpassing ability to grasp the communicative essence of every song, whether it be folk or composed, ballad or lyric - (Notes by Maynard Solomon) and those are just a sample of the notes. That LP is probably a collector's item. I wonder if she recorded any other Irish ballads. Must look up! Loaded by 'silentype1911' and with thanks. Go to Youtube to read the comments.

Poetry Night ~ Scurlogstown!

Poetry Night ~ Jack Quinn's Scurlogstown!

Our poetry night ~ 'Magazine Promotion' in Jack Quinn's of Scurlogstown on Thursday night was our last get-together for 2022 and we won't meet again until next February, so I hope everyone enjoys the Christmas festivities. It was a very mixed year in that we lost some of our valuable members due to sickness and other issues, so not so sure what 2023 will bring. There was a very good turn out for the event with plenty of poetry read, stories told and even a few songs. Also a few more magazines sold. Just a big thank you to everyone who came and contributed in any way and to the staff at Jack Quinn's for the food laid on and the use of their comfortable surroundings in the Lounge.

The Last Internationale | Deportees (Woody Guthrie)

The Last Internationale ~ Deportees (Woody Guthrie)

I remember buying an LP back in the sixties by Julie Felix and this recording by Woody Guthrie was on it and that wasn't yesterday and if my memory serves me well! There are very many recordings of this one out there but this also tells a more complete story and is probably the best. We haven't treated migrant workers very well ourselves but then as they say, the market the market. Loaded by 'The Last Internationale and with thanks. Go to Youtube for the comments.