Hi everyone, I hope your 2011 is off to a happy, healthy and productive start!
I mentioned my recent Podcasts, where I was interviewed by Morgen Bailey. For you convenience and interest, I’ve given here the direct link to these, saves you searching around, just click to go there and listen. Also included a précis – summary – of the podcast contents, to enable you to identify parts of particular interest to you. At the end of the second podcast I read out three of my poems- enjoy!
Best wishes, Louis
Podcasts link (click to go to page and select):
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/baileys-writing-tips/id389840707
Part 1. BTW Special Episode 007 released 13/1/11
Précis:
What makes a good poem, favourite poetry forms. Poems have ‘messages’? Free verse; avoiding writing ‘chopped up prose’. Why poetry seems to be the most difficult kind of writing to be successful in. Advice to aspiring poets, favourite poet(s). LJC & the Lake District connection. Interviews with BBC Northampton Radio.
Part 2. BWT Special episode 008 released 20/1/11
Précis:
Structuring time. Poetry outlets, poetry & songwriting competitions. The difference between writing poetry and lyrics. Memorising poetry. LJC’s favourite music to listen to. – Songwriting: where to start? Beat structure for writing lyrics. LJC reading materials. Poetry & Ernie Ball Musicman guitars. LJC Amazon Kindle collections; the electronic versus paper route. Social Media presence: Facebook, Twitter and Blogspot. Future writing developments, current work and projects. Poetry reading By LJC, three pieces: ‘The Secrets Summer Keeps’, ‘There is a Love’ and 'No Tour Required'.
LOUIS’ LINKS:
• www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1639390596
• www.amazon.co.uk/gp/search/ref=sr_ex_n_0?rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Alouis+j+casson&keywords=louis+j+casson&ie=UTF8&qid=1294162766
On "riddim" Reggae
Just the other day Wesley P - an arts colleague - remarked that:
"a fence always brightens an otherwise uncluttered horizon or am I 2 prosaic?" referring to the fact he likes the urban more than the country.
Which lead to a Dub version, based on WesleyP's phrase:
Fence alway brightening, a lovely view
Flowers upsettin mi stomach
just the pavements will do.
Keep it urbin, cuz tha countryside disturbin'
Keep it urbin, wear my raybans day and night.
Horizon stretchin, sky far too big
Wit tha prozac and prosaic
More tha kind o' my gig
I was wandring through tha field after drinking late last night
When I was jumped by a jack rabbit
Its fur n big teeth , a horror and a sight
Save mi right for taking a short cut through tha country at night
Still some comfort mi tek, from this will ease'l
Were simply a jack rabbit
Not a ferret or a weasel.
Keep it urbin, cuz tha countryside disturbin'
Keep it urbin, countryside gi mi a such a fright!
Sly & Robbie can sleep soundly! No challenge. :-) lol L
Monday, 24 January 2011
Monday, 17 January 2011
Keep on keeping above ground (New year resolution?)
Hi everyone, Back again after the Christmas pause. Not that it's been a dormant few weeks in any sense...read on..
Podcast with Morgen Bailey - Novelist and Writer - recorded Monday 10th January (released 13th January).
We talked about the art/process of writing song lyrics and poems, and I gave some tips on this. I also read three of my song lyrics poems. Featured at the end of Part 2: There Is a Love, The Secrets Summer Keeps and No Tour Required (one for Blues lovers). Part 1 is online now, to down load via iTunes etc. Part 2 available from 21st January. See Morgen Bailey's website, Weekly Tips Podcast or Special Episodes page.
Link (scroll down to lower third of page for podcast questions/contents):- http://www.morgenbailey.com/page_1285418781066.html
Words on the Water competition.
Mailed off my entry to this, fingers crossed! Is a poet wothout honour in his own country? Maybe it's time to break with tradition. Enjoy the snowy picture... "When you can see the mountains, it's snowing. If you can't see them , it's raining" (!?)
Link: http://www.golakes.co.uk/thedms.aspx?dms=13&venue=5014735&feature=1405
Clare Free, blues guitarist, band leader. Stuart Dixon.
The last issue of Blues Review magazine featured Women of the Blues, including Joanne Shaw Taylor.
Clare Free is another one to watch out for. Some good tracks to download for FREE, they are a good taster of Clare's Blues tracks. My Favoright? "My Perfect Man", a fine example of Blues got soul.
Links:
http://www.clarefree.co.uk/
http://bluesrevue.com/
Stuart Dixon. From the same area as Clare, Stuart also has tracks to listen to.Currently he hosts the weekly Sunday Night Jam at the Crown and Anchor, St. Edmunds Road, Northampton (8pm onwards, resident Band Cinqui), links:-
http://www.myspace.com/stuartdixonguitar
http://www.myspace.com/cinquimusic
Latest poems lyrics...
Results of Billboard World Song Contest to come in around February time - maybe my entries in the Jazz (a Ballad) or R & B categories will hit the spot?
Since my last Blog, about 6 or 7 new poems lyrics; some humorous in nature
Keep on keeping Above Ground ( to support all post Flu battlers) and I Loved You More Than That (about adopting a small black kitten that then grew into something a bit larger... extracts follow. Till next time keep safe.
Keep on keeping above ground!
When plan A is shot down in flames
It’s the end, or seeming so, of all your plans and games.
No more airy castles, schemes or grand designs
Just blueprints burned and exit signs.
Leaves you choked, you can barely say a word.
But we’re all still here above ground
While the good Lord tends us from above.
Should we dwell on things now snuffed?
Or on much cheerier stuff?
I know which I prefer,
It’s the thoughts that lead to love.
...To conclude I’ll set the mood
And prevent us all having a good brood.
Simply keep on keeping above ground
That’s the art
...
Keep on keeping above ground
Don’t lose heart
Keep on keeping above ground!
I Loved You More Than That (For Gojira)
I found you in the rain on my drive
All black and sodden mewling.
Eyes blinking in that helpless way
That dictates what I did next.
I dried you and fed you from the bottle
Milk like a mother.
Perhaps I could have left you in the windy storm,
But I loved you more than that.
So tiny wee when first we met,
But you grew, and how!
From Kitten to more dog in scale than cat.
Others said: “Too big, get rid”,
While I, I didn’t know what to think,
But I loved you more than that.
....I stroked you for a last time, then watched as you went free,
To roam wherever, as I returned to my static home.
I could have had you adopted by some Zoo
For a Panther is not really a cat.
But in love I set you free,
Although I’ll never know the end, the final chapter of the story,
For I loved you more than that.
Podcast with Morgen Bailey - Novelist and Writer - recorded Monday 10th January (released 13th January).
We talked about the art/process of writing song lyrics and poems, and I gave some tips on this. I also read three of my song lyrics poems. Featured at the end of Part 2: There Is a Love, The Secrets Summer Keeps and No Tour Required (one for Blues lovers). Part 1 is online now, to down load via iTunes etc. Part 2 available from 21st January. See Morgen Bailey's website, Weekly Tips Podcast or Special Episodes page.
Link (scroll down to lower third of page for podcast questions/contents):- http://www.morgenbailey.com/page_1285418781066.html
Words on the Water competition.
Mailed off my entry to this, fingers crossed! Is a poet wothout honour in his own country? Maybe it's time to break with tradition. Enjoy the snowy picture... "When you can see the mountains, it's snowing. If you can't see them , it's raining" (!?)
Link: http://www.golakes.co.uk/thedms.aspx?dms=13&venue=5014735&feature=1405
Clare Free, blues guitarist, band leader. Stuart Dixon.
The last issue of Blues Review magazine featured Women of the Blues, including Joanne Shaw Taylor.
Clare Free is another one to watch out for. Some good tracks to download for FREE, they are a good taster of Clare's Blues tracks. My Favoright? "My Perfect Man", a fine example of Blues got soul.
Links:
http://www.clarefree.co.uk/
http://bluesrevue.com/
Stuart Dixon. From the same area as Clare, Stuart also has tracks to listen to.Currently he hosts the weekly Sunday Night Jam at the Crown and Anchor, St. Edmunds Road, Northampton (8pm onwards, resident Band Cinqui), links:-
http://www.myspace.com/stuartdixonguitar
http://www.myspace.com/cinquimusic
Latest poems lyrics...
Results of Billboard World Song Contest to come in around February time - maybe my entries in the Jazz (a Ballad) or R & B categories will hit the spot?
Since my last Blog, about 6 or 7 new poems lyrics; some humorous in nature
Keep on keeping Above Ground ( to support all post Flu battlers) and I Loved You More Than That (about adopting a small black kitten that then grew into something a bit larger... extracts follow. Till next time keep safe.
Keep on keeping above ground!
When plan A is shot down in flames
It’s the end, or seeming so, of all your plans and games.
No more airy castles, schemes or grand designs
Just blueprints burned and exit signs.
Leaves you choked, you can barely say a word.
But we’re all still here above ground
While the good Lord tends us from above.
Should we dwell on things now snuffed?
Or on much cheerier stuff?
I know which I prefer,
It’s the thoughts that lead to love.
...To conclude I’ll set the mood
And prevent us all having a good brood.
Simply keep on keeping above ground
That’s the art
...
Keep on keeping above ground
Don’t lose heart
Keep on keeping above ground!
I Loved You More Than That (For Gojira)
I found you in the rain on my drive
All black and sodden mewling.
Eyes blinking in that helpless way
That dictates what I did next.
I dried you and fed you from the bottle
Milk like a mother.
Perhaps I could have left you in the windy storm,
But I loved you more than that.
So tiny wee when first we met,
But you grew, and how!
From Kitten to more dog in scale than cat.
Others said: “Too big, get rid”,
While I, I didn’t know what to think,
But I loved you more than that.
....I stroked you for a last time, then watched as you went free,
To roam wherever, as I returned to my static home.
I could have had you adopted by some Zoo
For a Panther is not really a cat.
But in love I set you free,
Although I’ll never know the end, the final chapter of the story,
For I loved you more than that.
All contents of this Blog Copyright 2010 Louis J. Casson, all rights reserved.
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