The launch of 'Flames of Herakleitos' took place last night (Friday 23rd March) The event was opened by David Woolley, published poet and director of The Dylan Thomas Centre and I then gave my opening address welcoming quite a large number of guests, old and new friends. Music and song was supplied by Franco Rinaldi a Welsh/Italian singer/musician and then a reading was given from my book by my niece, Holly. Who, I have to admit, did an excellent job, much better than I could have done. However, I didn't get away with keeping a low profile and gave a rendition of two poems of mine, Follicly Challenged (sub-titled- to all the curls I knew) and was assisted by my daughter, Juliana who supplied the last line, here is that poem:
This barren dome, damned cranium bare
That once so flowed with lustrous hair
You betray me with your flashing beam
That startles horses when I’m seen
Those lovely locks so careless shed
Found on my pillow and not on head
I mourned them all as their life did wane
And swirled round sink, disappeared down drain
“Comb over” I tried, to hide the loss
Made jokes of rolling stone and moss
But in my room I cried alone
When finally threw out my faithful comb
And shaved off the last few failing strands
That clung to scalp with desperate hands
Then heard the words I do most hate
As my daughter slapped my naked pate.
“Hi baldy…”
That once so flowed with lustrous hair
You betray me with your flashing beam
That startles horses when I’m seen
Those lovely locks so careless shed
Found on my pillow and not on head
I mourned them all as their life did wane
And swirled round sink, disappeared down drain
“Comb over” I tried, to hide the loss
Made jokes of rolling stone and moss
But in my room I cried alone
When finally threw out my faithful comb
And shaved off the last few failing strands
That clung to scalp with desperate hands
Then heard the words I do most hate
As my daughter slapped my naked pate.
“Hi baldy…”
Holly then recited a poem of mine entitled 'In your hand' and then Rhys Hughes was kind enough to give a rendition of poem of his which drew the audience into a surreal world where Vikings invaded his bedroom ( we all waited with bated breath to see if he was either ravaged by them or forced to join in with their Abba songs) Finally Holly read my 'Magic Colouring Book' poem and I ended the reading session with ' Mother please don't cry for me.' The evening was rounded off with a mixture of music and singing ranging from old Neapolitan songs to Tom Jones's Delilah.
Some of the literary, artist, publisher, musician guests included: Mike O'Driscoll - Steve Lockley - Paul Lewis - Chris Teague - Brian Willis - Rhys Hughes - Ian Simmons - Steve Upham - Tony Harwood - Stuart Ross - Monica Konggaard - David Woolley
Thanks to everyone who attended and made it the happy night that it turned out to be :)
