Near us is a wood with red squirrels. They are beautiful creatures. Let’s hope their old buddies, the Pine Martin help them out, and we see a big recovery. Above is my attempt in watercolour.
Robert Campbell
I can’t say much, but let’s talk about Narnia!
The good news is the project got accepted but the bad news is…well there actually isn’t any bad news. However, I’m still not giving much away as things are still being put in place. So as I can’t say much, but let’s talk about Narnia! Wink-wink, nudge-nudge, know what I mean. I love the Chronicles … Continue reading I can’t say much, but let’s talk about Narnia!
Secret New Project
Last week I emailed in a proposal for a poetry / spoken word project. At this point I’ve no idea if it will be successful or not (but then how could you know, they probably haven’t look at it yet!) The actual proposal is something I really want to do. It would be much better … Continue reading Secret New Project
Last Saturday I was a poet
Last Saturday (5th August) I was a poet. I stood amongst poets. I spoke along side poets. I occupied the same stage as poets. I read my poems: that I had been invited to read. I was listed on the advertising as a poet who would be reading. I’m not sure why I need to … Continue reading Last Saturday I was a poet
The Wonder and Woes of Dyslexia
dyslexia is the perception of reality through connection. It isn’t connection through colour or size or make or type. It is much deeper than that, more esoteric, subliminal. It is connection through connection. A myriad of connections.
Would you be friends with a liar?
Hearing your thinking. Would you be friends with someone who is a liar? Someone who lies to you? Would you be friends with someone who is manipulative and controlling? Someone who damages you because they don’t care? Would you be friends with someone who is an obnoxious critic? Someone who never has a good word … Continue reading Would you be friends with a liar?
I wasn’t a fit kid but I could have been.
What do you do when you get injured?
My mother’s typewriter
Last year I produced a poetry exhibition. The exhibiting bit took a lot of thought. Outside of books and spirited performances the exhibition of poetry can be tricky. Anyhow one of my tricks was to use my mother’s typewriter, it gave so much - authenticity, hand production, aesthetic beauty, and familial bounds to my long … Continue reading My mother’s typewriter
Dyslexia ain’t no superpower!
…things have changed thankfully, dyslexia is associated with brilliance, just go onto your search engine of choice and type in famous dyslexic people. It’s nearly as if dyslexia is a superpower, some sort of mystical and magical skill! I’m sorry to tell you that it isn’t. Dyslexic children still leave the educational system worse off than their none dyslexic peers.
Name five problems dyslexia causes you?
I got an F in English, but I’ve also written books. I know my dyslexia played a huge roll in me getting an F. But my dyslexic thinking also played a huge roll in me being able to write my books (having a vivid / silly imagination, easily seeing connections, the ability to bounce ideas around in bizarre ways in my mind). But when you’ve always done this its hard to see this as a unique talent.
“Exultant Orb” – New Short Poem
“Exultant orb of burning fire, Our orb it basks within thy fire, Till clouds they come to shade our view, And give us rest and rain anew. ”
‘Hidden midst the summer green’ – new short poem
“Hidden midst the summer green, Lurking ‘neth thy leafy sheen Springtime flower is long ago, Autumns bounty just as far.”
“Shall I think, or write, or speak?” New poem
“Prose it dances in my mind; Grips the soul with precious rhyme. So shall I think, or write, or speak? Hauld my wheesht, forbear, or weep?”
The Flywheel and Consistency in the creative process.
A flywheel is “a heavy revolving wheel in a machine which is used to increase…momentum and thereby provide greater stability, or a reserve of available power.” So says the dictionary on Pages. I heard about the idea of the flywheel on the Farnham Street Podcast a long time ago, or was it Tim Ferriss? I … Continue reading The Flywheel and Consistency in the creative process.
Learning from the 90s
Recently, YouTube’s algorithm kindly suggested a 1994 documentary on selection for officer training in the Royal Marines! It wouldn’t have been my first pick, but there you go. My first shock was the 1990s, the coolest decade ever, looking like a dim, distant far off world, but there you go. The next shock was the … Continue reading Learning from the 90s
(Huge) Marketing Trouble [Hard Truths for Writers]
I’m in (huge) marketing trouble and for the first time I really don’t know what to do! Or maybe that’s the problem, maybe this is the first time I’ve realised that I don’t really know what to do. Anyhow here are some of the problems that have brought me to this point. Lastly firstly I … Continue reading (Huge) Marketing Trouble [Hard Truths for Writers]
Made By Dyslexia hash tags
This is from Made by Dyslexia and the hashtags are brilliant! Add a line to your email signature: I’m #MadeByDyslexia I’m #MadeByDyslexia – expect creative thinking & creative spelling. I’m #MadeByDyslexia – expect big thinking & small typos. I’m #MadeByDyslexia – expect curious ideas & curious spelling.
“No one” (Poem)
No one to listen, No one to hear, No one to witness, No one to cheer, Unseen, unknown, Concealed from view, And all this done in public view, Acclamation took away, Stolen on your finest day…
Poetry Day Ireland 2023
Poems by contemporary Irish writers Angela Graham, Al Millar, Steve Dornan, Anne McMaster and myself in the medium of Ulster Scots, to mark Poetry Day Ireland 2023. https://thehamelypen.wordpress.com/2023/04/26/poetry-day-ireland-2023/
The Forest (poem)
https://youtu.be/JuUOXuz34X0 The ancient Forrest, All are gone, all but a few, to mind they’re gone. The spreading leaf, the red tail bob, the hills and glens, in silence throb. Veins and valleys, streams and paths, each and ever contours craft Beyond our sight, horizon grasped: oaks and elms, chestnut and Yew. Mighty stock, a hundred … Continue reading The Forest (poem)
Inspired by Narnia ‘Midst the Tombs’
https://youtu.be/4f9x-vbclag A poetic journey into the magical world of Narnia, as it is revealed in the Horse and His Boy. This poem taps into the feelings of Shasta as he waits alone in the tombs outside the City of Tashbaan as the horns blow for evening and the shutting of the gates. Sitting here,Midst awful … Continue reading Inspired by Narnia ‘Midst the Tombs’
Words are Precious
“Words are Precious” is a new poem / piece of poetic prose by Robert Campbell (me!). ‘Words are Precious” ponders to power of language for good and then for ill. I’ve added both the video and text! https://youtu.be/PE46irPPk-8 Words are precious Words are precious: they build kingdoms; they establish empires; they crown monarchs they elect … Continue reading Words are Precious
Yes – I can say no.
How often do you say “no” to things that would interfere with your goals? Yes I can say no, because I’ve learnt to say no, bitter experience has been my teacher. I’m happy to say yes to the time limited, the specific, the clearly defined. I used to believe saying no, or placing limits, was … Continue reading Yes – I can say no.
The Wreck (poem)
https://youtu.be/A3RdLPChl-w "The Wreck" The story of an abandoned ship. March challenge - finish and record 4 poems l write ages ago. #poem #poetry #poet #newpoem #spokenwordpoetry #spokenword #spokenwordartist
‘Negative Energy’ – Blog snippet
“We all encounter negative energy, though its source and out working will be different for each of us. For me the worst kind is flux. This is when something has ended or finished. Or when your waiting on something, and I mean your specifically waiting on something, normally a decision or a response that is … Continue reading ‘Negative Energy’ – Blog snippet
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