John Murray Poetry

About.John Murray lives and writes in the Var in southern France.

He has written six collections of poetry. A sample from each is in the following pages ...

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www.johnmurraypoetry.com

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Last Pint in England.

Last Pint in England (Pen Press 2006) was the author's first published work. The poems reflect upon love, self-doubt and facing death. It has been described as painfully honest writing and contains many memorable and disturbing images.

A collection of 50 poems.

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Dreams.

I sometimes dream of tender girlswho smother me in golden curls and kiss me gently as I sleep.

And then again I dream of friendswho left us long ago, they sendtheir love. They wake me and I weep.

I sometimes dream of bounding youth,my limbs so strong and then the truthreturns as day begins to creepinto my consciousness, so stiff,so painfully beset by age, as ifmy youth had never been.

They hurt, these dreams of distant bliss,these recollections of a kiss,those days of glory, dimly seenand yet there was a time when allthe world seemed there for me, a talland potent might-have-been.

My guardian angel came tonightand warned me that it might be soon. But that too was a dream.

La! Pint in England.

Last Word.

Last Word (Pen Press 2009) contains another 50 poems, with a section devoted to the Var in southern France followed by Men & Women and Mortality. A grim humour is evident occasionally but the overall tone is typically direct and bleak.





Pickwick to the Rescue.

I crouch in my cornerpeering through the barsof insecurity.

Waiting for something,something badto happen.

Trying to gauge whatenormity would so oppressme that I would not wantto live.

I can envisage it, but I cannot tell you.

But if it happens, I thinkI will refresh my spiritby re-reading Pickwick Papers.

Then I will review the situation.

La! Word.

Last Warming of the Heart.

Last Warming of the Heart (Pen Press 2007) is in similar format to Last Pint in England but tackles a wider range of emotions. Divided into three themes of The Gentler Sex, Portraits and Reflections it is an evocative collection full of understated emotion and suppressed longings.





Lara.

I am grizzled now and creakinglike an ancient gate, but as she percheson my arm I feel the memories leakingfrom their deep dark store; churches,baptismal fonts and gowns of lace.

The infant fidgets with my facebesotted with my lower lip,grasps it in her tiny grip,the massive bull tamed, a mere twistof the rope in its nose. Our manly heartsso easily enslaved, freedom barely missedin our haste to be adored, Cupid’s dartsflying through an open door.

She nuzzles at my ear, moreanguish, my infant daughter rebornupon my arm.

La! Warming of " Hea#.

Last Moments.

Taking the unusual perspective of the death of well-known public figures and, in some cases, fictional dramatic heroes and heroines, the author inspires them either to reflect upon their moments of death or to comment upon their lives viewed from the 'other side'.





Lennon.

It's a real pain, man,getting shot, yer know.All you need is love; yeah, yeah, yeahand a bullet-proof vest!Imagine,me a Scouser, dyingon a side-walkin New York like George Raft.Bloody daft!

Maybe I had lost my way,a bit weird, far out,a long way from Twist 'n Shout.Maybe, but from now onBaby's definitely in Black.

Ah well, tara whack!

La! Moments.

Last Thoughts.

In his latest work John Murray continues his poignant analysis of human relationships, continually confronting his own ghosts and doubts. Looking deep into himself he reveals feelings familiar to us all, insecurity, regret, longings and loss of innocence.





Is That It?

Is that it? Is that all?

A birth you don't recall,some pleasure, lots of painthen shut in a boxin the earth, under the rain.

Can that really be all?

It seems I may have been,without existing.

Now you tell me, I could havewritten a symphony,built a cathedral,sailed a warshipor developed a cure for the poor.

But my life has passedin cloud-filled dreamsand nobody told me how quickly it would end.

La! $%ghts.

Here is nothing beauteous.

(2012) A book of startling originality, in which photography, sketches and enchanting haiku-suggesting images are interspersed with five line verses of compressed wisdom, sardonic comment and quizzical humour.


Available from Blurb:

This book is available as a ‘coffee table’ book from online printer Blurb. The cost of the book is £45.

To order your copy, please go to:

http://www.blurb.com/b/3776895-here-is-nothing-beauteous





Example poem:

When a child is bornan appointment is madeof indeterminate date,with a man who walks slowlyand carries his hat.

Poetre&

Please visit

www.johnmurraypoetry.com

if you would like to place an order.



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John Murray Poetry