In Wareham, on 28th August, I shall be offering a new way of presenting poetry. I have tried it successfully before elsewhere, but this will be the first time I shall be available to perform poems during the course of a five-hour session. Please see "Poetry a la Carte" on the "GIGS" page.

Items that won’t make it into my book (see ‘Round the World’):

(2) Advice from a traveller friend.

Take a wedge to go under the door, an alarm to hang on the door handle, a combination lock and length of wire with eyes in each end for securing baggage.

Spread items between several pockets.

Put precious papers or money into your sock before you put your shoes on.

Do not eat at a restaurant table close to the door.

Keep possessions away from windows where a stick with a hook might retrieve them.
 

I have just written the following:

TIME TO CAST A STONE

Rejected by her family,
hopeless, helpless, bound in cloth,
buried in earth up to her shoulders –
no single blow will kill her;
a load of stones must strike her head
before the torture’s over.

If we who watch from higher ground
do not condemn this ancient outrage,
are we not then little better
than those who do the deed?

                            John Barclay

GIGS: I am not accepting any more speaking or performing engagements in 2010. I will take bookings for 2011.