Other books that might interest you

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  Top 10 Poets – Born in London...

  John Keats, William Blake, Lord...

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  The language of Poetry is an art that most of us attempt at some point in our lives.  Although its commonplace exposure has been somewhat marginalised in today’s often fast-paced lives we all recognise good verse that can empathise with our thoughts or open us up to experience new things in new ways, to better understand and to enjoy the many strands of our lives. 
  But finding a starting point can be overwhelming, even off-putting, so in this series we offer up our Top 10 classic poets, who brim with talent and verse, on a range of subjects and themes that we can all enjoy. 
  The great city of London is perhaps unrivalled in its scale and effect on humankind down the centuries.  Its sprawl and its teeming throngs have shaped the world and even how we live today.  Within these 10 Male poets, who called this gloried city home, came poems that sought to define and explain just why that is.

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  A Song for Ella Grey - (stage...

  David Almond

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  'I'm the one who's left behind. I'm the one to tell the tale. I knew them both, knew how they lived and how she died.'
  Ella Grey and her friends are ordinary kids from ordinary families in an ordinary world. They fall in and out of love, play music, stare at the stars, yearn for excitement, and have parties on the beautiful beaches of Northumberland. One day a stranger – a musician called Orpheus – appears on the beach, entrancing them all, but particularly Ella. Where have they come from and what path will Ella follow?
  A Song for Ella Grey is a version of the myth of Orpheus that sings of the madness of youth, the ache of love, and the near-impossibility of grasping death. Zoe Cooper's stage adaptation of David Almond's award-winning novel was first produced in 2024 by Pilot Theatre, in association with Northern Stage and York Theatre Royal.
  This edition includes the full text of the play along with a range of teaching materials and resources designed to help educators bring the play to life for their students.
  Praise for the novel:
  'Infused with lyricism and with the fire and oddness of adolescence. Fresh, involving and lucid, it is a song in itself and teens will find it fills them with poignant longing and joy' Telegraph
  'The story of Orpheus and Eurydice is retold against a wild Northumbrian landscape: life, death, love and myths. Just wonderful' Bookseller
  'Extraordinary' Metro
  'Spell-binding… impossible to resist' Herald

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  Past Tense Future Imperfect

  Jon Miller

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  In these rich and witty poems, we encounter a gallery of characters, voices and situations in various stages of emotional undress and bewilderment, fretting at just the wrong distance from reality in railway stations, ferries, restaurants, war zones and watery dystopias. They are filmic pieces that announce the arrival of an unusually gifted poet, in a short collection much bigger than its size – entertaining, disturbing and despite the odds curiously life-affirming.
  Here, the poet makes the seemingly mundane scenes and interactions extraordinary, with stunning language and unforgettable images. Whether the poet talks about 'My cousin with the sensitive ears / winces as he unbuckles his memory / listens to wallpaper peeling' or a Nativity play where 'Straw lies about as if someone has detonated a scarecrow', the poet showcases remarkable skills in exploring deep, human relationships. – Romalyn Ante, co-judge of the International Book & Pamphlet Competition

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  Little Eyolf

  Henrik Ibsen

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  Henrik Ibsen's 1894 play Little Eyolf tells the story of the Allmers family: the father, Alfred, his wife Rita, their crippled nine-year-old son Eyolf, and Alfred's sister Asta.  As the play begins, Alfred has just gotten back from a trip to the mountains, and resolves to spend more time with his son, rather than on intellectual pursuits.  Asta is romantically pursued by Borgheim, an engineer, while the cracks in Alfred and Rita's marriage gradually reveal themselves.  The family receives a visit from the Rat-Wife, and are never the same again. (Summary by Elizabeth Klett)Cast: 
  Alfred Allmers: Bruce PirieRita Allmers: Elizabeth KlettEyolf: Katie RileyAsta Allmers: Arielle LipshawEngineer Borgheim: mbThe Rat-Wife: Ruth GoldingNarrator: Nadine Eckert-BouletAudio edited by: Elizabeth Klett

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  Your Heart My Soul - Piece by Piece

  Claudine (Dean) Donaldson

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  This book will be different, but unique. 
  For my poetry is real and somewhat sheik. 
  They’re all short stories about my past. 
  Family, loved ones, and dreams that couldn’t last. 
    
  Freedom of speech {so called} I am blunt. 
  I can write about anything and everything I want. 
  Fighting for life, children, and my rights has been a hassle. 
  Throughout my life it’s been a long battle. 
    
  Reading these poems are pieces of me. 
  Funny, sad, about love, and eternity. 
  Opening to others is new for me as well. 
  Hopefully, guide, or give you relief, time will tell. 
    
  Thank you to those who gave me the chance. 
  Thanks to my Family and Kids for the influence. 
  Thanks to my Husband for dealing with my crap. 
  Thanks to God for getting me out of those traps. 
  - Claudine Donaldson

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  The Child Soldiers

  E Braveheart

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  Wherever you’re from, from whatever background or class, no one knows  what goes on behind closed doors. The trauma and abuse I was brought up
   with from a young child has made me the person that I am today. It is like a branding iron put onto a developing mind. The scars you cannot see but dictate my every moment, others of you out there will know exactly what I mean. I hold no shame for what was done to me as a child.
   It has certainly given me more tolerance for other’s situations because of it. It has certainly made me more understanding. For all my adult life, I have suffered from mental health issues as a result. This itself has made me more empathetic with others. All these poems come from deep within. Some written from very dark places, others from hope and forgiveness, I’ve written many poems when I’ve had no one to talk to. Writing has always been there for me - it has always been my friend. 
  Forgive those that hurt you for it will only harm you. Love and good luck
   
  Braveheart.

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