The next meeting of our group in Trim Library is on Thursday the 4th of July at 6.15 pm ending at approximately 8.15 pm. There is no set theme or prompt for the occasion so whatever you choose to read is just fine. Last month's gathering was very interesting and the meeting was perhaps one of the best ever in some of the material covered. Everyone is welcome to attend so whether you're a poet or short story writer or just want to sit in and listen then you're more than welcome. Hope to see you there. FM.
Kris Kristofferson ~ Sunday Morning Coming Down (1970)
This was posted by 'biggestfan' so all credits to him and with thanks but also to Kris Kristofferson who wrote and recorded the piece. A day late and more than a dollar short it was his birthday yesterday. He was born on the 22nd of June 1936 so there's been a lot of Sunday mornings. Described as one of the greatest singer - songwriters of the past century; you can add poet to that. He has starred in many fine films as well. So many credits but you'll have to look them up. If I had to choose he's there with the very best. Journey over to Youtube to read the comments.
Something for the Sunday morning that's in it and if you happen to be in Dublin all the better, but if you're in some distant part of the world and have never been or remember it there's a nice walk through Trinity or used to be, also of course there's that walk through Leopold Bloom's excursions, a place or places I've never been and probably never will. Stately pluck indeed and no mention of the revolver this morning but enjoy the day! Loaded by 'visitdublin' and with thanks.
Reading through his marvelous book 'Thirty Two Words for Field' and having watched him guest on 'The Tommy Tiernan Show' on RTE a while back, I went looking for a Meath connection and settled on the above. There is plenty out there. Transcripts of the video are available on the Youtube channel and a visit to see the other material is a must. Described by Caitríona Balfe on the book-cover as "The book I never knew I needed" I couldn't think of a better description. The book will change your understanding of the Irish language. Now for the video and with thanks to Meath County Library for loading. From two years ago.
On June the 6th 1944 Allied forces stormed the beaches at Normandy and I was looking for a poem or such to mark the occasion. There are any number of great poems out there about the First World War but I couldn't find one that I thought was great about the 'Second'. They are out there and I know of at least one but it is not accessible for loading to the blog so I settled for the recording above.
Written as a poem by a school teacher from Hamburg in 1915 (Hans Liep) it is described on Youtube as the 20th century's finest soldier's song. There are many versions out there and the recording that is perhaps best known to the public is by Marlene Dietrich but for those who were involved in the North Africa campaign (or the Mediterranean) that voice from Radio Belgrade is the one they remembered best.
I remember reading a book about the campaign and how both the Allied and Axis forces would tune in at 10 pm every night until it was 'suggested' to the Allied forces that they should not! But they still did. The backstory about the song and the other versions are considerable and how accurate my information is you'll have to check out. Loaded by provoqio and with thanks.
The next meeting of our group is on this Thursday night coming the 6th of June in Trim Library and all are welcome to attend. The session begins at 6.15 pm and runs until 8.15 pm with a theme on 'Summer' but anything you wish to read will be fine whether poetry or prose either written by yourself or by somebody of choice. Or just drop in for the conversation. We'd be delighted to see you there. All the best. FM.