#PoetryReadathon – The poetry and other great things bloggers

There are a significant number of great bloggers out there who write poetry among all sorts of other great posts. I thought I would use today’s post to share a bit about three of the part-time poetry bloggers. I consider that I fall into this category of poetry blogger too.

Sally Cronin

Sally has a lovely blog called Smorgasbord where she shares everything from posts about gardening, food and recipes, history and mythology and health and diet. Sally also has Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore where she show cases the books and reviews of an enormous number of her fellow writers and authors.

Sally is a wonderful writers and I have read a number of her books. You can read my reviews here (you’ll find a couple of reviews for other great books featured too):

Tales from the Irish Garden

Just an Odd Job Girl

Sam, A Shaggy Dog Story and What in a Name?

You can purchase Sally Cronin’s books here: Sally Cronin’s Amazon Page

From time to time, Sally also writes a lovely poem, like this one below:

You can find Sally’s blog here: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/about-me/

Christopher Graham (aka The Story Reading Ape)

Chris Graham, aka The Story Reading Ape, is an avid reader and has a lovely blog, https://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/, which offers an array of resources for writers, as well as humour, publishing news and a platform where writers, who feature in his Hall of Fame can be read, share their expertise and promote their work.

Chris seldom promotes his own work, but he has published a book of poems, My Vibrating Vertebrae, which is the legacy of his mother, Agnes Mae Graham. You can read my review of this lovely book here: https://robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com/2018/01/25/bookreview-my-vibrating-vertebrae-and-other-poems-by-agnes-mae-graham/

You can purchase My Vibrating Vertebrae here:

Send an Extra Card this Christmas

When all about are full of doubt

in these troubled times of ours.
Spare a thought for what was wrought
Before the Earth had flowers.

No Christmas cheer, not even beer
was anywhere to be found.
The world was hot, and believe it or not,
it wasn’t even round.

Years in millions, nay, even billions,
have passed since that forming time.
Yet somehow life grew from that strife
And pushed up through the slime.

So why complain, and talk of pain,
because you’ve spent some money.
Enjoy the food, and try to be good,
it’ll surely please your honey.

You can read the rest of this great poem, shared by poet and author, Sue Vincent, here: Christopher Graham poem

Dan Alatorre

Dan Alatorre is another versatile writer, author and blogger who provides a lot of support to the blogging community with his private critiques and writing competitions. Dan shares lot of advice on writing and is available to answer questions writers and authors may have.

Dan is the author of numerous best sellers, host of the YouTube video show Writers Off Task With Friends, blogger… and father to a hilarious and precocious daughter, “Savvy” of the bestselling book series Savvy Stories. His novels, short stories, illustrated children’s books and cookbooks have been translated into 12 different languages and are enjoyed around the world.

I have read a few of Dan’s books. You can read my reviews here (you’ll find a few reviews for other great books featured too):

The Navigators

An Angel On Her Shoulder

Savvy Stories: Funny Things I Learned From My Daughter

You can purchase Dan Alatorre’s books here: Dan Alatorre’s Amazon Page

Now comes death

“A somber conversation had

Two brothers from the hospice bed.

Traveled far to see young Blane,

A chance that would not come again.

 

Just thirty years was this grown child

But older, much, from cancer’s trials

And in this brother’s eyes did see

The arc of life soon to complete.

 

We talked of pleasant stories past

And as my brother breathed his last

A favor, holding hands, I asked;

And one which he agreed would pass.

 

“Always protect me,” he said

As tears fell on the hospice bed.

“No one protects me now from this.”

The journey, all alone, was his.

 

The favor asked, agreed, and done,

My brother, with the setting sun,

Did go ahead to that which waits

To tell me what’s past Heaven’s gate.

 

No more for me to do but leave

And in my solitude, to grieve.

And so I left that cold, hard place

A dark hotel room now to face.

 

As sleep upon me later came

The night now dark, began the rain

A rustling to my ear did make

To pull me from my restless state.

 

Outside my room and through the glass

A hooded shadow figure passed

Awaiting me in dark and gloom

I rose to cross my hotel room.

 

And solemn was the face inside,

A glimpse the black cloak did not hide,

Three globes did he hold out to me

– To gaze upon my destiny?

 

A face of peacefulness and pain,

No message could I ascertain,

Just holding out a crystal ball

For me to gaze upon it all.

 

Past, present, future? Who could tell?

Or hope and fear? The depths of Hell?

And so I gazed upon the ball

And saw a glimmer in its walls.

 

The stories that the globes did say

Were mysteries to come my way

And if mistakes the tales contain

I did my best to ascertain.

 

And once this information gained

The figure disappeared again.

The shadow and the crystal balls

As if they’d never been at all.

 

A promise kept? Or lies for show?

The crystal told me in its glow.

“Beyond is but for Death to know.”

This poem features in Dark Visions, an anthology of 34 horror stories from 27 authors (1 of which is me!)

Poetry review round up to date

To date the wonderful review that have been shared for the various participating poetry books are as follows:

Fairies, Myths & Magic by Colleen Chesebro

Miriam Hurdle review

Open a new door by Kim Blades and Robbie Cheadle

Jacquie Biggar review

Miriam Hurdle review

Colleen Chesebro review

Sublime Shadows of Life by Balroop Singh

Dorinda Duclos review

Summer Magic by Marcia Meara

Robbie Cheadle review

A Haiku Perspective, 2015 by Annette Rochelle Aben

Robbie Cheadle review

Poetry bloggers featured this week:

Meet poet and new author Frank Prem

Meet poetry blogger, author and writer Sue Vincent