Tag Archives: love

Day 17 — reading genes + reading droughts

April 17 is my grandmother’s birthday; she would’ve been 101 today. So I wanted to honour her again by a poem that explores my reading ancestry.

The Poetic Factoid was going to be about the correlation between reading & various genetic traits, until I came across a word in my research & I knew the poem had to be about that.

*****

the genetics of reading

looking back through time
     there’s a definite lineage
          a genetic heritage of literature

my mother’s always been deep
     into crime to which I was a late comer
          her greatest gift to me was green Anne
               the Poldarks surprised me by being 
                    much more than mere bodice 
                         ripping regency romances

— teen me returned the favour by hooking her on fabulous fantasy

mum was clearly given gifts from her mother as both
     delighted in the murders & mysteries of Dame Agatha
          Georgette Heyer & Dorothy L Sayers ; gran even
               read James Bond, Alistair McLean & similar thrillers
                    when younger before migrating to Danielle Steele &
                         almost anything Large Print by the end of her eyes

— wish I could’ve got her opinion on Julia Quinn

grandad was much more factual
     a biographical non-fiction kinda guy
          books on birds & the natural world
               histories  the English language 
                    the bulk of which I inherited 
                         including     naturally  fittingly

— his impressive leather bound editions of poetry 

          it gives me great pleasure sharing 
     these generational reading genes (even if 
my pants are a bit bigger than theirs)

******

Day 17 Factoid — to read or not

A Presbyopian Inspired Drought

the one time in my life 
i’ve read very little 
was for a year or so 
a decade ago when 
every book bored me
when i could not
sit still long enough
to complete a chapter
even a couple of pages
it was aberrant behaviour 
for a life long wyrm 

finally i realised 
the print was blurring
eight to ten inches 
from my eyes — but 
within a month
the magic of specially 
tailored super glass
scientifically ordained
specifically adapted
for my ageing eyes
brought the magic back

Day 16 — reply to KonMari + copies sold

I’ve toyed with the idea of writing a response to KonMari & her method of keeping houses clean for a long while. There’s possibly another couple of related poems still to come out cos this wasn’t what I was expecting when I sat up to the puta. The Factoid is a purely economic one.

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The Life-Changing Magic of Having All The Books

Dear Marie Kondo,

As a matter of fact.

This book does spark joy.

As does this one.

And this.

And this stack here.

This stack, this stack & this very tall stack by my bed.

Here also this table full of books.

This desk with them all crowding my computer screen sometimes threatens to collapse … but it would be a joyous kind of collapse if they ever did.

This box in the hallway (except when I stub my toe on it going to the bathroom but that’s only like once, maybe twice a week) plenty of joy.

And once I’ve unpacked the other 17 boxes, no doubt they’ll spark joy too.

This bookcase. Big joy sparker. 4 cases, 8  shelves each, all screwed together. Floor to ceiling. Joy Joy Joy.

That room of books. 

The room beyond it.

The compactus full of books. Joy.

The ATCO outside full of non-fiction.

The shipping container stocked with spares.

Joy to my world, the books are here.

I don’t care if I’ve only ever vaguely dreamt of reading this book or wondered wispily that I would like to one day read this other book again or if I probably never will pick up this third book and read it cover to cover. Even forgotten I own that book. Simply don’t care. They all spark joy in me. Indeed giddy euphoria. Sheer unbridled glee. Manic bliss. Contentment.

30 volumes might do you at any one time, but I’ll stick with my 30,000, thanks all the same.

gareth

*****

Day 16 Factoid – She’s sold a lotta books

copies sold

TL-CMoTU
may have been 
translated 
into 44 languages
&
MK
you may have
sold more than 
14 million copies

— but not to me
you haven’t

Day 15 —  unread books + coral 

The Festival of Grief hasn’t really hit this year which I’m certainly not sad to miss. Slowly coming to peace? Perhaps. The Poetic Factoid riffs off of traditional marriage gifts for 35 years together (apart).

*****

books unread

of all the endless wonderful things
i never experienced with you
sports  school  starring in a play

reading to you   sharing books
is of course the one i miss most

*****

Day 15 Factoid – coral 

35 years

successful marriages
would be celebrating
with gifts of coral

however as always 
my gifts are merely : memory
dreams of  : longing for

wonder:loss:remorse
& : words i regularly reread
reminding me : a balm

Day 13 — aphorisms & platitudes + pearls

Read the latest Rupi Kaur today & I gotta confess. I just don’t get her Instapoesy thang. So much is just banal platitudes that have been done better dozens of times before (some of her longer poems about the migrant experience are actually kinda of interesting) — but the Temu-grade aphorisms do nothing for me. Anyhoo this is a pseudohomage to her by tweaking/reworking some of my fave reading memes.

The Poetic Factoid comes out of learning about Pearls of Wisdom.

*****

reading pl(attitudes)

1.
SIX MOTIVATIONALS
i.
You can’t read in bed all day …

… unless you start 
nice & early in the morning.

~

ii.
One does not simply 
walk into a bookstore …

… without an authorised list
detailing which specific book(s) 
you are going to purchase.

Bwahahahahahahaha hahahahahahaha huh 

~

iii.
Autumn is here. Winter coming …

… time to make like a scout & prepare
by ensuring you have between 33-42 
new books in your TBR stacks.

If you do not: to the bookshop — now!

~

iv.
Bookworms are cute
bookwyrms are better.

Our hoards of treasure
are ever so much bigger.

~

v.
If anyone needs me …

… I’ll be reading

WARNING: don’t need me.

~

vi.
I love books, my doggo
reading, & maybe 3 people.

You are not one of them.
Go.

~~~

2.
FOUR DEVOTIONALS
i.
My partner issued an ultimatum: 
Look. It’s books or me. Hmmm.
Was reading a Fielding novel last week
& I remembered her name. Aemelia.
Anna?  Anastasia perhaps?
Something ending with A anyway.
Or starting with it …

~

ii.
Tip to spice up your love life.
Get yourself pleasantly tipsy
Go to your fave online bookstore.
Spend up big. Sit back & wait
& see what the universe delivers you.

~

iii.
My ideal partner when I say
Turn me on:

Walks over
Whispers in my ear
Wanna go to the bookstore?

Instant goosebumps.

~

iv.
My ideal partner when I say
Talk dirty to me:

It’s cold out
It’s almost dark
I’ve done all the chores
There’s leftovers in the fridge
I lit the fireplace in the library an hour ago
The room is oh-so-toasty warm
I’m making us hot chocolates
It’s the weekend tomorrow 
I think that was thunder
It’s starting to rain

& while I was out earlier
I bought you the latest book in the series you love

~

*****

Day 13 Factoid – the usefulness of Wisdom Pearls

Pearl of Wisdom

Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding,  
for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.
                                                                                                   Proverbs 3:13

TIL I learnt that Pearls of Wisdom 
have morphed from genuine spiritual insight 
to more rustic ironic home truths 

& I got to thinking wouldn’t it be 
wonderful if there was an actual mystic
Aunty Pearl who travelled the world

Dispensing advice to everyone annually
that you had to act on regardless of whether
you agreed with it (especially if you didn’t)

That combover doesn’t work 
— get a buzz cut, dye what’s left blonde
& go bald with chutzpah!

He’s never gonna leave his wife
Kick him to the curb sweetie
— find someone worthy of you!

You hate accountancy. Quit your job.
Play your guitar. You’ll never make much money
— but you’ll be happy till you die!

Anyone harbouring doubts over her advice
could come together on the seventh day of every month
surrounded by supporters to help them break out of their shells 

Day 12 — one magic book + gareth’s book of magic

1983 (age 13) was a crazy year for me, reading wise. The previous year I’d discovered The Lord of the Rings trilogy in the school library two days after my birthday. [A poem has already been written about this, though it might be cannibalised/expanded to fit the format of these Lawrence’s Maxim poems. Potentially interesting aside: I actually read the trilogy before The Hobbit not realising they were connected.]

That year I also dove headlong into fantasy in a big way. The Belgariad, The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, Pratchett’s first Discworld, The Colour of Magic, The original Shannara Trilogy, The Mists of Avalon, The Neverending Story with its coloured text, Mary Stewart’s Arthurian Saga, the first 4 or 5 L. Frank Baum Oz books, Watership Down & Duncton Wood, Prince Ombra, Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea series, The Books of the Isle series & countless others in that & subsequent years. Many (if not most) of these books I still own.

And the book which forms the subject of this poem. Magician by Raymond E. Feist. Note: As with last Saturday’s poem I’ve played with the layout so you’ll need to click on the image to enlarge to get the full effect. I’m intending them all to ultimately form a sequence.

*****

Lawrence’s Maxim 02 – Magician

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Day 12 Factoid – my personalised magic book 

gareth’s grimoire 

a grimoire is a book of spells : a magic textbook : providing instruction in

producing : talismen  potions &  amulets
performing : spells  charms &  enchantments
summoning &/or invoking : the cornucopia of supernatural 
     entities such as angels  demons & the whole
     potpourri of  miscellaneous sprites
divining : things others don’t want known but you do

the only chapter i would want 
in a grimoire of my own is one entitled 

How to pause time           long enough to read every book I’ve ever wanted

Day 07 – following your bliss + buying happiness

I have a bucket load of ideas I’d like to get to this month when it comes to books & reading. (Hmm, odd that.) Sometimes it’s hard to choose. Not today. This one grabbed me ideas brain & away we went. So, presenting one of the many ideas which explore the various dream/idyll lives I would live if I could.

The Factoid Poem addresses the very real & pressing question: does buying books make you happy?

*****

bliss following, version 1

If you follow your bliss you put yourself on a track that has been there all the while, waiting for you.
— Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth

the bliss dream : or the first iteration of it at least : is to purchase a second hand : double decker bus : paint it Anne of the Gable green : ensure it is equipped with titanium grade shock-absorbers : & a highly powerful yet surprisingly fuel efficient engine : fit out the upstairs with comfortable living quarters : while downstairs : as many empty bespoke bookcases as can logically & logistically be arranged : then to spend a year : driving round Great Britain : (pleasant companion/co-driver optional) : visiting key literary hotspots : i’ve always wanted to experience : & : more importantly : slowly filling up those bookshelves : by popping in to every second-hand bookstore : i can get to : along the way : ending up in Hay-on-Wye : at the end of May : for their magnificent festival : by which time : my exhausted & overworked bus : will probably be so weighed down : with wonderful new acquisitions : i’ll need to park it in a field somewhere nearby : & proceed to read my way : through the lot

*****

Day 07 Factoid – Psychological Studies concerning buying books analysed in depth & detail

Can Buying Books Make You Happy? 
Psychology Says, Well, Duh!

this poem explores the psychology 
behind buying books 
                                    … & being happy

it’s well known that if you buy experiences 
not material objects the happiness 
hangs around lots longer

books are material objects
yet in opening them up & reading them
experiences are being experienced

Ipso facto sum — which is good

psychology also praises personality-guided-spending
that is: spend your money in accordance 
with your personality & you’ll be happy

ergo an introvert buys books = happy
avid reader buys some sort of icky old experience 
where they don’t have any time to read = not happy

Quid pro quo — which is also good

so what’s the conclusion 
of all this comprehensive analysis? 
yes. buying books does make you happy!

[i get that’s how this whole poem started 
but we had to do some rigorous sciencey things
to shut up all the negative nellie naysayers out there]

of course i must conclude with the caveat
too much of anything can be bad
// hang on, wait, what’s that? 

new research now claims
no such thing as too many books
(OMFG! what a relief!)

Dona eis requiem — which is all very good

Day 01 – firsts: reading + writing

April. Again. Therefore Na/GloPoWriMo 2025. It felt like it arrived with a rush. Today has been a week packed into a day already. But I’m looking forward to this year because … 

As in previous years I’m adopting a themes-based approach to Na/GloPoWriMo. And this year it’s something I should, by all rights, love doing since I’ve picked a theme I love, well, doing. My task is to write a reading or book-inspired poem every day. Happy is the man who makes his vocation his vacation & all that. Well, there we go. I’ve already written over a dozen reading/book inspired poems at intermittent stages in my life. So let’s make it official & see if we can get a chapbook out of it.

So the grist for this year’s mill will include: books, book memories, stories about books, lists of books, face books, book is revist often & some I’ve ben too scared too), fave reading quotes & fave book quotes (yes I keep a file of such things), book facts & reading stats, book covers, libraries, lending books, dream house plans which is basically any house with enough rooms to use 40 of them as libraries, book collecting, shopping for books, buying books, quirky topics I collect books on, disputes with parents on the number I books I own, and so on.

As previously II, since the project I have in mind may depend on the poems not being made public prior to their appearance I won’t necessarily be posting the entirety of each poem on my blog, but sometimes a [hopefully] tantalising snippet (many journals/comps/etc refuse to accept poems even if they’ve only been on personal Facebook pages or blogs with minimal subscribers). 

As a wonderful compensation for skimpy serious verse, I’ll be repeating my daily Poetic Factoid poem assignment from previous years — which if I’m honest — can produce better poems than the main event. Hahaha!

Day 1 – reading: act I

first memory reading 
hand written words 
on pieces of paper 
kept in toy box 
at grandparents’ house
sitting beneath 
dining room table 
under which 
we’d eat Christmas 
dinners for decades 
shuffling words 
into simple sentences 

— both acts forever imbued 
with everlasting magic 

*****

Factoid 1 – first known author

not Gilgamesh again

google tricked me today 
by answering who wrote the first book
not with the anticipated response  
the unknown author of Gilgamesh
but Enheduanna 
                             — a Mesopotamian 
high priestess of the moon (of course she is)
her name means “Ornament of Heaven”
author of 42 temple hymns, the myth
of Inanna & Ebih & 2 hymns to the love goddess
all composed three centuries prior to the Epic
& her name is known 
                                    — despite the anonymity 
of her contemporary poets’ works 
all of which pleases me greatly 
(aside from being forgotten today)
but nothing more than when 
                                                 — at the end of one hymn
she bitches about how difficult the creative process is

yep, writer’s block was a thing even back then

Day 23 — Marlowe MashUp + History

In the past week I’ve read the same poem in three different anthologies. It’s unusual for me to have read so many anthologies during NaPoWriMo (normally it might only be one or even none, I tend to prefer volumes by a single poet) but I’ve felt a stronger desire for variety this month — & anthologies definitely give you that. Except in regards to this poem. I took it as a sign. 

Today’s poem is a tweak on the Shakespeare focus I usually have on this day. It is a reworked version of Marlowe’s, The Passionate Shepherd to His Love. 

*****

The Passionate Capitalist to His Doom

Come frack with me and be my doom, 
And we will all the world’s riches groom, 
Those Valleys, groves, hills, and fields, 
Woods, or steepy mountain yields. 

And we will tear up every rock, 
Strip the Shepherd from his flock, 
Pump our waste into River waters 
& so Create infertility in our daughters.

Poison aquifers, ramp up your ire, 
Enable tap water to be lit on fire: 
And if these pursuits fill you not with gloom, 
Come frack with me, and cause our doom. 

Capitalist Bastards shall rip and plunder 
Turn the world utterly asunder: 
If these delights in thy mind do bloom, 
Then frack with me, and cause our doom.

*****

Day 23 – TIL  some things about Christopher Marlowe

Marlowe: A Potted History 

Marlowe’s nickname was Kit
& like a more modern KITT
was a Knight Rider who served 
as one of the Virgin Queen’s spies ;
a shadowy flight into the dangerous 
world of a man who did not exist.

Was once arrested for counterfeiting 
coins in Holland ; a crime punishable 
by death, but … nothing happened.

Some say : he should’ve been
executed for his terrible
translations of ancient verse
particularly Ovid’s book 
of love pomes , Amores.

Symbolically killed in 1593
cos Bill Shaxpere no longer 
had time to be both him
                                         & himself 

Day 22 — calefaction + comfort zones

Too often, my first drafts while researching topics are a bit heavy-handed, a bit dry. This one I like because it’s more ethereal. More elegant. I probably shouldn’t post it in its entirety. But I must: I like it. And the Poetic Factoid is just fun.

*****

The Horse-Powered Apocalypse 

She doesn’t rustle branches.
Hair doesn’t ruffle.
She doesn’t arch up like a wave.
Earth doesn’t tremble.

She is subtle, predatory.
Something almost unholy.
She sneaks, thief-like
but ends by committing assault.

She is vital, active, brutal.
Kills more every year than guns.
Yet we rarely consider her.
We scoff at and scorn her.

She is extreme. She is coming
Correction.       She.   Is.   Here.

*****

Day 22 — TIL about comfort zones

rift valley thermostat

as a general rule
our genes love heat
preferring desert 
island paradises
to ice-covered 
coldilocks zones

the majority of times 
when we can choose 
how our air is conditioned 
preferred temperature 
is a low humidity 22°c

a combination 
that closely resembles
humanity’s east 
african birthplace 
where we first walked 
hundreds of thousands 
of years ago

Day 21 — dominion & Dominions

This is a poem/idea I’m pretty pleased with. It took a few goes to find exactly what worked best, but when I figured it out, I was extremely chuffed. It’s a visual poem which I think by using less, says a lot.

*****

Extractive Dominion 
Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Genesis 1:28

1. 
 xtractiv 
B  fruitful and multiply, and r pl nish th   arth and subdu  it: and hav  dominion ov r th  fish of th  s a and ov r th  fowl of th  air and ov r  v ry living thing that mov th upon th   arth.

2. 
 x rac iv 
B  frui ful and mul iply, and r pl nish  h   ar h and subdu  i : and hav  dominion ov r  h  fish of  h  s a and ov r  h  fowl of  h  air and ov r  v ry living  hing  ha  mov  h upon  h   ar h.

3. 
 x r c iv 
B  frui ful  nd mul iply,  nd r pl nish  h    r h  nd subdu  i :  nd h v  dominion ov r  h  fish of  h  s    nd ov r  h  fowl of  h   ir  nd ov r  v ry living  hing  h   mov  h upon  h    r h.

4. 
 x r c  v 
B  fru  ful  nd mul  ply,  nd r pl n sh  h    r h  nd subdu    :  nd h v  dom n on ov r  h  f sh of  h  s    nd ov r  h  fowl of  h    r  nd ov r  v ry l v ng  h ng  h   mov  h upon  h    r h.

5. 
 x   c  v 
B  f u  ful  nd mul  ply,  nd   pl n sh  h      h  nd subdu    :  nd h v  dom n on ov    h  f sh of  h  s    nd ov    h  fowl of  h       nd ov    v  y l v ng  h ng  h   mov  h upon  h      h.

6.
 x   c    
B  f u  ful  nd mul  ply,  nd   pl n sh  h      h  nd subdu    :  nd h    dom n on o     h  f sh of  h  s    nd o     h  fowl of  h       nd o        y l   ng  h ng  h   mo   h upon  h      h.

*****

Day 21 — TIL about conflicting information about Dominions

the duty of Dominions

in a strange : etymological irony : the angelic order : known as dominions : lords of the lower choirs : humanity : have been variously ascribed : a range of roles : within creation’s : governance

but most often : their mission is to administer : our universe : control the elements : supervise sun, moon, & stars : keep the planets rotating : oversee seasons : every aspect of nature : basically

it seems : they have become : derelict : in their duty