LIVERPOOL POETS 2008
Sydney F Smith
I was born and bred in Liverpool.Originally from the Toxteth area of the city, I am living in Aigburth at present. My qualifications include a BA(Hons)from LJMU and a Certificate in Adult Education from the University of Liverpool.
My writing includes monologues,short stories and song lyrics,although my first love is composing poetry.And my poetry is written on many themes, from horror to humour and politics to love. It has been read by a varied mix of people such as radio DJs and leading politicians.
In 1991 I submitted my first poem for publication. Entitled 'Why Am I So Poor?' it appeared in the anthology 'Winter Collection'(Arrival Press.) Since then I have had many poems published. They the following:
'A Spider's Dilemma' in 'Laugh Lines'
(Arrival Press)
'Dear Friend' in 'Musings For Merseyside'
(Arrival Press)with 10% of royalties donated to
Liverpool charity LASER
'Diet Decision' in 'Spring Verse'
(Dogma Publications)
'It' in 'Tranquil Times'
(Dogma Pub)'
'Spectacled Designer Eyes' in 'Mystic Melodies'
(United Press Ltd)
'Leaving' in 'The Thought That Counts'
(United Press Ltd)
'Words Within My Head'in 'The Beauty Of Existence'
(Forward Press)2007
Other poetry has appeared in poetry journals such as 'Heart Beats,('The Skull')and in newspapers,on the internet,et al.I have also contributed two stanzas to 'The Liverpool Saga' which I recently recorded for BBC Radio Merseyside and have written some lyrics for a choir to be performed early next year, for a charity event.
The Skull
I keep a skull beside my bed
with eyeless sockets that stare ahead
a gaping hole where nose should be
strangely enough this comforts me
Whose skull it be I dare not know
nor shall I venture how long ago
this person met a date with death
taking that last,long exhaled breath
The rotted flesh has long since gone
destroyed,a face that was someone
long ebbed,the life to talk and roam
its eternal grimace set firm in bone
How weird it looks within my sight
lit dimly by the glowing light
provided by the planet's moons
relieving the darkness of its gloom
Perhaps there is an old necrology
that may give a name to he or she
but I consider such private intrusion
would rob me of this skull's illusion
So the cranium on my bedside table
from ancient times, can keep its fable
lest I be left in a state,aghast
at conjuring up such murky past
Of course,I know Earth was destroyed
by nuclear weapons deadly deployed
and that self-destruction by the bomb
led to annihilation for everyone
For they never could ignore the bait
of killing each other through sheer hate
and this alien skull I keep by my side
was one of those Earthlings when it died
Sydney F Smith
(Heart Beats-Journal 1)
2007
Anyone wishing to contact Sydney can do so through emma.jackson@linuxmail.org
FOR INFORMATION ABOUT SPECIAL POETRY EVENTS TAKING PLACE IN LIVERPOOL JOIN - LIVERPOOL 2008 MAILING LIST
THIS SITE SPONSORED BY POETRY KIT (www.poetrykit.org)