I could not agree with you more.
My own thoughts this morning are a mirror of yours.
A good day for hope across the sea, let's hope it spreads.

"There's a crack in everything that's how the light gets in."

It's the hope that kills you Philip. And also it's the engine that keeps is all going.
Heaney is always appropriate at times like this.
"History says, don’t hope
On this side of the grave.
But then, once in a lifetime
The longed-for tidal wave
Of justice can rise up,
And hope and history rhyme."

How fantastic! Thank you so very much. Delighted to see you launch day arrive.

Hi Susan, please pardon me. I didn't get that and I've been off here a few days. Please DM or Whatsapp as I'm not certain which email address you may have sent to. Looking forward to speaking with you.

Thank you very much Paul. Likewise. What a great gathering. Such fine poet to be in company with.

Matt
@matthewmcsmith.bsky.social
kindly asked if i'd reshare these here as well.
It means so much when you read a poem and find that it has been remembered after several years.
Thank you Matt and Black Bough!

Diolch yn fawr iawn!

You can find the full downloads and much more here:
www.blackboughpoetry.com/publications

I got to read these two poems as kindly published in
@blackboughpoems
Issue 2 'Lux Aeterna' & 3 'yolk'.
paperneverrefusedink.com/2020/09/26/b...

thank you.

"...seized my
remnant life in a miracle
of decision between white-
collar hands and shook it
like a cheap watch in
my ear and threw it down
beside me on the earth floor
and rose to my feet."

I think this poem, where one sheds an inferiority complex and claims ones own identity is a remarkable work. It is fitting and in keeping with the theme for the Nigerian protagonist in my first book, and just maybe for my own journey as a writer.

On the inside cover, I hope to have the words of Chinua Achebe from his poem "Answer."

“I made of their shoulders
and heads bobbing up and down
a new ladder and leaned
it on their sweating flanks
and ascended into midair…”
- Chinua Achebe, “Answer.”

www.westafricanpilotnews.com/2020/02/22/p...

Is éisteoir iontach é.

Fadó fadó!

Found this is the back page. Who ever owned this before it ended up in my hands via Alan Prim Books (Bibliotherapy) in Youghal was at UD Leiria V Portimonense in August 2024. UD Leiria won 3-0 and all.
Moss & Charlie would deffo approve.
Kevin Barry would get a book out it.