Bob Dylan - A Friend of Mine

As promised, the first specially commissioned article on Bob Dylan, Bob Dylan - A Friend of Mine, is now available via my articles index. Or you can go directly to Dylan here.

Roy

Unashamedly romantic, this one - written the day my now wife first told me she loved me.

Undying Love:

I pondered on undying love -
a foolish thing to ponder on,
since we are not immortal, nor
can know what's left when we are gone.

So pondered on immortal life
and such impossibilities:
We may be made immortal by
our talents and abilities.

And then remarked, in idle chat,
while dreaming of us, hand in glove,
your talents may be manifold -
your greatest is undying love.

Roy

A Country Road - David Hockney vs Edna O'Brien

Last November I came across an article about David Hockney's recent paintings, one week after an article about Edna O'Brien's latest novel. The image of this poem comes from a Hockney painting, the first line is taken from O'Brien's novel.

"A country road, tarred very blue"
the writer said, and I believed,
for had I not last week conceived
a country road like that? When you

can think about the tarmac lane
in terms of colours it won't hold:
the greens of summer leaves, the gold,
the yellow flowers, what remains?

The sky, its saturated height,
which spills and stains this artist's eye,
so even darkened lanes that lie
in shadow splash the bluest light.

Roy

Poet in Slightly Insulting Poem Shock! (Robert Crampton Unlikely to Sue...)

Now the weather has finally turned more seasonal, I've decided to hark back to last year's long, long summer by repeating a mildly insulting poem I sent to Robert Crampton of The Times last September. Controversial or what?

Dear Robert, Cap'n Bob or whatever,

Trapped in the cathedral garden by a procession of churchmen whose long costumes suggested a propensity for embarassment over their ankles, let alone knees, I did feel somewhat underdressed on Saturday. Still, I brazened it out and the new Dean presumably didn't recognise me fully dressed at the reception on Sunday.

Or he was too polite to mention it.

Still, I'm with you Bob:

A gentle breeze around the knees
must surely guard against disease?
though colder winds the autumn sends
may chill a person's odds and ends,
there's something in the playful way
you wear your short pants every day -
so resolute, determined to
avoid the longer trousers, you
rebellious free spirit! But
I wonder if it's more than that -
analogous, perhaps in truth,
to clinging to your fading youth?

But on this Bob, I'm there with you -
I wear mine 'til October, too.

Roy

More Free Well Versed Articles

I've uploaded some more articles onto my Well Versed main site today. You'll find them at www.wellversed.co.uk/articles.html

As promised, I've covered money-saving (and life-saving) car maintenance, some brief advice on writing for business and two book reviews, including Duncan Bannatyne's fascinating biography, 'Anyone Can Do It.' Read it and believe!

There's lots more to come from Well Versed in due course, particularly on the subjects of business and business writing, and I'll keep you informed about that and other developments right here.

Roy Everitt, writing for results

I used to love watching my son playing football, even when his team mostly lost. There was something about the endeavour that I found admirable. Now the feeling is more nostalgic!

On Seeing Small Boys Playing

Interesting, I best recall
the frantic failings when,
chasing the indifferent ball,
you lost again.

Less successes, if at all,
although we shared it then.
By then the game began to pall,
played by nearly-men.

I saw you there
and thought to call.
I looked
and thought again.

Roy

Endangered Wolves to Wheelchair Appeals

The latest addition to the Well Versed family was born yesterday, when I uploaded the first ten articles from my archives onto www.wellversed.co.uk/articles.htmlThere will be more to follow in the next few days, but already the subjects range from rare Ethiopean wolves to an audacious appeal to mobilise the world's disabled, from selling your home to marketing yourself, and include both running and revealing my age.

Subjects to come include business writing and car maintenance...

Enjoy reading, and feel free to reproduce them (subject to the usual conditions).

Roy

This could hardly be less Dylanesque, but it's a favourite oldie of mine; a pure fantasy with obvious Shakespeare references. But I think I also recognise a very weak echo of TS Eliot, of which I was only vaguely conscious at the time. I suspect he would not have approved!

Walk With Me:

Then come to woods and meadows green
or white - this is a winter scene.
To Arden forest, ardent heart,
Wil. Shakespeare then could play a part...

In Warwickshire's great forest then,
we will go walking once again,
and there upon the frosty bough
spy mistletoe - of that I vow.

So let us go on this fine morn
to where the mistletoe is borne,
upon the broad crab apple tree
that carries it so easily,

and chance upon midwinter scene
from long ago, with nought between
but winter tales and stories told,
of mysteries and maidens bold.

For in those days of long ago,
all then believed the mistletoe
would capture he who kissed her then,
and never to depart again.

Now little mistletoe is found
the human heart is not so bound.
Forever is a foreign word;
fidelity so rarely heard.

Still, I and you will better do:
were I to pledge my heart to you,
and you to pledge your own to me -
this pair might share eternity.

Roy

Bob Dylan - The Songwriter/Poet

Most of those of us who like to call ourselves poets and lyricists also have an appreciation of the masters and mistresses of verse who make it all look so easy. To compare ouselves with them is probably a mistake, but to take the opportunity to study, admire, and especially enjoy their work is another thing entirely.

You may have already visited my Beatles directory and now I've added a directory for Dylan fans far and wide. There, you'll find links to all the Bob Dylan information and resources the most avid fan could wish for.

Click here or on the link to the left for Bob and all his works.

Poetry and Art

Here's a poem I wrote a couple of months ago, inspired by the imaginative paintings of Jaimie Wolf, a very talented artist with her own blog. As you will see, this one came out as a sonnet.

Imagine the picture, if you can: a zebra entering a strange, hi-tech city, perhaps looking for a way to feed her children, perhaps a pioneer... Or, better still, visit Jaimie's blog.

You'll find several more of my poems there, amongst the comments.

Sacrifice

This city had no mayor 'til you came,
all broken-down with colours at your back,
so now there's no concession with your aim -
you cannot give the robes of office back.

Your foals will wait behind as you advance
across the glassy path devoid of gold.
You keep your eyes averted lest a glance
avow to you the story you were told -

these colours are for others, not for you,
the quite unbanded species. Whereas they
are here to do whatever they will do
that's all unknown to you until today,

and shall remain unknowable, my mare -
fair cities can be anything but fair.

Roy