gobstoppers.tv
Julien Crispin Street Poet, Faith Walker, Poet to the stars, the trees etc
Not so much a book, more a journey
The
most common response to reading these poems has been I usually hate
poetry but I really liked this one and that one. So my expectation is
that you will find at least one poem that will help you to step out,
however briefly, from the headlong rush that life has become. 
Read
the poems on whatever level you want. Some are multi layered, like
Gobstoppers, and some are as you see them, Aniseed balls, even they
have the seed of an idea. You will find the broad spectrum of life in
here. I have tried to be as honest as I could about my walk through
this world. I have fallen on my face many times, but Im still getting
up and going on.
Love, death, anger, finance, faith theyre all in here and much more.
Three
Glasgow based artists, Peter Howson, Frank McFadden and ally
thompson, contributed 10 illustrations each to the book, this
added to the 10 from myself to create a book with a truely original
feel. Each brought a very personal perspective to the illustrations.
click on the links below to view poems and the work by the artists
or click to buy for £9.99 (+£1 postage anywhere in the world)
Peter Howson
Frank McFadden
ally thompson
Julien Crispin
Howson
http://www.gobstoppers.tv/peterhowsonillustratio.htm
click to enlarge
The Big Red Beast
Arrrhhhhhhhh!
Or words in that vain
Reverberate round the walls
Of my brain
Logical thought, well,
You can forget it
Deep down inside
I know Ill regret it
But just for the moment
I dont care the least
Its a hostile bid
From the Big Red Beast
Ive tried to be nice
But its just come out gritted
Through a stare full of ice
And a brow that Ive knitted
Dont take it to heart
Its just my own rage
Ill soon settle down
Just not at this stage
Adrenaline pumping
And brain disengaged
Resort now to reason
And war will be Waged.
But leave me in peace
And let the dust settle
Give me some space
And Ill be in fine fettle.
But Oh no!
This needs to be sorted
Compassion exiled
And mercy deported
I'm sorry all right!
Does that make you feel better
And youll leave me alone
And I wont be your debtor
Your pound of flesh cut
My soul a bit light
A little less me
A little less fight.
But this isnt me talking
Its the Big Red Beast
Hes got my fruits of the Spirit
And hes having a feast
But Ill get it together
Im sure Ill be fine
Just give me a minute
Just give me time.
McFadden
http://www.gobstoppers.tv/frankmcfadden.htm
Upwardly Immobile
Im Skint again
I can do it with such ease
Consummately able
To fall off my own trapeze
I didnt have to try
Like falling of a log
Knee deep once again
In the Debtors bog
Im Skint again
And I dont mind confessing
My balance should be healthy
But it just keeps on regressing
Black Holes do exist
Of this belief Im sure
One exists within my bank
And its set to make me poor
No matter what goes in
It always ends up less
Contributing once again
To this fine financial mess
Im Skint again
Its driving me mad
I thought I had it sussed
I thought I had a wad
A healthy little buffer
A bit of breathing room
But now Ill need to suffer
The Bust without the Boom.
thompson
With the best of intentions
You don't set to fail
Don't set out to feel a failure
Impact your face on tera firma
Ruin the lives of those around you
Fall into a sump of silage
Sit down and survey the carnage
Roll around and wail
No
You set out to inspire the masses
Working and the upper classes
Make a difference
Make a change
Some small part
On lifes big stage
With the best of intentions
You don't set out to lose
Don't set out to be a loser
Resident in the hall of hobos
Lifetime member of morons monthly
At the beck of others call
Trying to stand
Set to fall
No
It's not the way it's meant to be
It's meant to be a whole lot nicer
Not past across the bacon slicer
Pared back until the bones are gleaming
Punched until your nose is streaming
I don't know where this is leading
Perhaps i should just cry
Perhaps I should just yield before it
Pretend its fine and just ignore it
Sorry !
Cant !
I just cant do it
Ill hold my head high
Muddle through it
Like the rest
Who fell before me
Failed the test
To tell their story
Like me they tried, aspired to more
Till dull beige people showed the door
Objecting to non status quo
The challengers must surely go
But go we wont
Were here to stay
Our roles mapped out before us
We are but the oysters grains of grit
Creating beauty from all this .
Crispin
more crispin illustrations and poems? click the link
http://www.gobstoppers.tv/julesillustrations.htm
Never Never
Please,
let me stay a kid
Please, Please, Please,
In my cardboard box
And close the lid
Snug and warm in my little den
Coming out for snacks and bickies
Every now and then
Please
let me stay a kid
Oh, go on, go on let me
I dont want to face the things I did
They would just upset me
You could tell me what to do
I really wouldnt mind
Could you think it all right through
Please would you be so kind
Please,
let me stay a kid
Oh, go on, oh please
Ill play marbles on the grid
Ill even graze my knees
I could run about like mad
And it really wouldnt matter
Stuff my face with junk
And never get much fatter.
Please,
let me stay a kid
Ill be your best friend
Give you a million thousand quid
Just let my childhood never end
When a mortgage didn't figure
Pocket money could be spent
And it took at least a year
Before a season came and went.
Please,
let me stay a kid
Arrr!, youre not being fair
You said you loved me, so you did
But I dont think you care
If you did you wouldnt push
Youd leave me as I am
But youd stop things going wrong
Cos I bet you can.
Please,
let me stay a kid
Or Ill shout and stamp my feet
Hold my breath till I turn blue
Youll see, Im hard to beat
Well,
I really didnt mean that
But it is the way I feel
Its scary when you realise
Lifes got a bit too real.
the cover
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