There's nothing like a live performance to re-focus energy however! I was lucky enough to get a slot at "The Waiting Room" a new venue for the arts in Colchester that I wish every success for the future. It's early days but there are good things planned. The evening itself was very enjoyable with several local performers including comedy, poets and musicians and no two alike so great variety as well! I would like to thank Colchester Poetry and James Sarek in particular for organising the Open Mike.
My own writing has revolved around a re-appraisal of some older efforts, The "Body Curio" in particular coming under renewed scrutiny and in places a thorough re-write where I felt the material needed strengthening. The challenge has been to keep the "feel" of the original whilst improving it. The relevant page has been updated with samples from the piece so you can judge for yourself whether the process has been a success.
One new poem that got it's first outing on Saturday 14th Sept. follows, called "Maple Leaves" I hope it is suitably evocative of Autumn.....
Maple Leaves
She
loosened the band and her hair fell
Like
a red waterfall
Like
fire tumbling over her shoulders
She
loosened the band and her hair fell
Unfettered
across the curve of her neck
And
she flicked her head
Her
fiery hair describing an arc
Like
an autumnal goddess
Her
hair, red as a maple leaf
Promising
the open skies of the wilderness
Her
eyes as deep as the forest
She
loosened the band and her hair fell
Wild
and untamed
And
I raised my head and howled to the moon
In
that moment my heart ran free
Through
the ancient forest
Through
carpets of fallen leaves
In
the moment she loosened the band
And
her hair fell
I also include another re-write from the "Body Curio" that formed part of Saturday's performance.
Unconsciously
You
Perhaps
you took pity on me, sensing my need
And
deigned to show me the manifold wonders of love
The
height, breadth and depth of sublime womanhood
I
tasted sunshine in your smile, saw beauty in your eyes
Day
and night you were always on my mind
Unknown
pleasures soared within my heart like birds
Forming
a facsimile from the clay of love
Unconsciously
needing someone to worship and adore
I
worked an errant likeness with childlike thoughts
Gently
I smoothed every inch of its skin
Faithfully
captured every curve and detail
Reproduced
every rise and fall of your breast
I
made more of you than drab reality
Birthed
a deity from the pearl of desire
It
rose like Venus from the clamshell of my heart
Your
likeness beguiled me, promising perfection
I
couldn’t live without the hope my idol brought
Mine
the age old error of loving what I’d wrought
Time
and time again I threw exhausted arms
Around
the unyielding torso of my goddess
With
tear soaked kisses begged you
to awaken and replace it…..
I hope you have enjoyed the update (and I'll try not not leave it so long next time), hopefully see you at an Open Mike or local event soon!
Kind regards
Mark
Mark Harris has asserted his right under
Section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
To be identified as the author of this work.
