#nationalpoetryday

Today, Thursday 4 October 2018, is National Poetry Day and the theme is Change.

National Poetry Day #nationalpoetryday is an annual celebration that inspires people throughout the UK to enjoy, discover and share poems. Everyone is invited to join in, whether by organising events, displays, competitions or by simply posting favourite lines of poetry on social media using #nationalpoetryday.

National Poetry Day was founded in 1994 by the charity Forward Arts Foundation, whose mission is to celebrate excellence in poetry and increase its audience. The Day enjoys the support of the BBC, Arts Council England, the Royal Mail and leading literary and cultural organisations, alongside booksellers, publishers, libraries and schools.

To celebrate #nationalpoetryday I am promoting the ebook versions of the two poetry books I published on Blurb in 2014 and 2017. My objective is to demonstrate that If I can write poetry anyone can. I failed English Language O-Level four times and was diagnosed as dyslexic in my 60's when I had to write a dissertation for my BA Fine Arts degree. I have since gone on to do an MA and a PhD. It was during the writing of my MA dissertation that I started writing poetry, I am not sure why maybe it was the first time I had been totally immersed in the process of writing. The books included nostalgic reflections and reference to the inspiration behind each poem. There are also interesting and quirky snapshots to illustrate the themes.

The ebooks are priced at about £6 on the Blurb website 50% of which I shall donate to the Alzheimers Society. Please make an old man happy and help a good cause by buying both books, click the links below...

Remembering - Poetry and nostalgic thoughts 

Remembering More - More poems and nostalgic thoughts 

We’ve been together now for 50 years

We’ve been together now for 50 years
And it don’t seem a day too long so the song says
I remember the day when you blew me away
I won’t say it was love at first sight 
But something stirred deep down inside
The shortness of hair and the cute cheeky face
Were the features that captured my eye
It was something inside that captured my heart
Something inside that’s hard to define
Something we call je ne sais quoi
Something you know but which you can’t see
We’ve had our ups and we’ve had our downs 
Counted the pennies scrimped and saved
Three beautiful children with families we love
I look at your face and still love what I see
You are the best thing that ever happened to me 

For Irene in memory of our 50th Wedding Anniversary on 29th March 2018 I love you.

Alistair J Parker
29the March 2018

Together is the place to be

Together is the place to be
Love is such a strange old think
From pounding heart and breathless glee
To knowing look and wistful gaze
We know how love it used to be
And how it has become
A feeling deep inside your heart
That’s strong and deep and true
There is no deeper kind of love
Than I have for you
My Valentine

Inspired by the occasion...

The verse in this year's card to my Valentine
14 February 2018