New Anthology – Tipping Sheep (the right way)

29 Friday Mar 2013

Posted by Worldly Winds in Poetry, Publications

≈ 26 Comments

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Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, anthology, poetry, Tipping Sheep, Tipping Sheep (the right way), UK poet, Yorkshire poet

It is finally here!!

Here is your opportunity to buy my first anthology – Tipping Sheep (the right way)

It is as ‘cheap as chips’ – well… as cheap as an Easter Egg – Go on treat yourself!!

(The Kindle version is still in progress – I will paste the links for the e-book version soon.)

‘Tipping Sheep (the right way)’ is the first anthology from new author Alexandra Carr-Malcolm. This is an intriguing compilation of poems, spanning over a ten year period of collected works. ‘Tipping Sheep’ will take you on a journey of highs and lows, exploring life, death, and many aspects of the human predicament. From the depths of ‘Bittersweet’ despair, to the humour of ‘Tipping Sheep’ and the musing of ‘Knitting Couplets’. Alex has a unique style of word play and cadence within the lines woven with wit and wisdom.

Click on the links below to take you to the page where you can purchase a copy 🙂

Violets

27 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by Worldly Winds in Death, Heartbreak, Poetry

≈ 30 Comments

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Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, anger, bruises, death, domestic abuse, domestic violence, dreams, heartbreak, loss, marriage, poetry, UK poet, violets, Yorkshire poet

His pint glass half empty,

he’s nursing the blues;

always bitter, never mild,

flat cap and scuffed shoes.

She hoovers the house,

with stars in her hair,

sings to her muse,

thanks god he’s not there.

As he sits in the pub,

nursing his woes,

the footy is lost,

as the last whistle blows.

In her Primarni dress,

she scrubs hard the floor,

heart in her mouth,

dreads the key in the door.

He shuffles on home,

with her heart in his boots,

a belly of beer,

and a loin full of fruit.

She accepts his gift,

with the grace of a Queen,

a necklace of violets,

blacks, blues, and greens.

He broods and he dreams,

cultivating his grudge;

she’s stolen his youth,

this old, plain, drudge.

She lies stock-still

as the stars in the air.

He can no longer hurt,

what is no longer there.

by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

English: Violets by the coast path This year seems to have been particularly good for violets. This is part of a bank also scattered with lesser celandine. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Natural Order

26 Tuesday Mar 2013

Posted by Worldly Winds in Death, Grief, Heartbreak, Loss, Poetry

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, commemoration, in memoriam, natural order, remembering, remembrance, UK poet, Yorkshire poet

Dedicated to those gone, too soon and too young –

Always in our hearts…

How can it be?

When it is not natural.

Not this way,

from the blind side.

How can it be?

Order?

When it is out of order,

out of the ordinary,

extra ordinary.

You oxymoron,

natural order.

How can it be?

By Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

Findlay’s spirit (Photo credit: beccaplusmolly)

Coming Soon…

23 Saturday Mar 2013

Posted by Worldly Winds in Poetry, Publications

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, anthology, new publication, poetry, UK poet, Yorkshire poet

New publication coming soon….

Watch this space for further details and links…

Just the Air

22 Friday Mar 2013

Posted by Worldly Winds in Death, Deep Stuff!, Grief, Poetry

≈ 13 Comments

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Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, Chanel, death, dreams, haunted, memories, Mother, nightime, poetry, UK poet, Yorkshire poet

This is the final piece from the poetry workshop. The final piece was inspired by Maitreyabandhu’s ‘The Bond’

The idea was to give a feel of anticipation of an impending visit, and use Maitreyabandhu’s closing phrase of, ‘Just the air’, within the poem.

Just the Air

All is still…

and I am present,

caught between two worlds,

just the air as our witness,

and a pillow of dreams

as darkest night unfurls.

I smell your sickly lily scent,

of cigarettes and light Chanel.

Why do you come?

What do you want?

Forgiveness or

remembrance,

from your little girl?

You left in anger

not once, but twice.

So why return

in darkest night,

when you’ve been gone,

these eight years long?

by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

English: Moon (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Enlightening Seeds

21 Thursday Mar 2013

Posted by Worldly Winds in Buddhism, Deep Stuff!, Poetry

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, Alice Oswald, breath, Buddhism, enlightenment, Germination, meditation, rebirth, Seed, spiritual death, spiritual growth, spiritual rebirth, transformation, UK poet, vision, Yorkshire poet

The penultimate piece was inspired by Alice Oswald‘s, ‘A Winged Seed’. The idea was to write a piece based on the idea of a seed, or a spore, travelling, or germinating.

Enlightening Seeds

Sitting, just sitting…

waiting for illumination.

There is nothing

more that I can do,

other than…

sitting, sitting, waiting

for my head to crack open

in a cacophony of life,

shattered and broken,

to all that I am.

No longer

sitting,

but waiting,

waiting for that explosion of growth,

to rip forth and pull me from mundanity,

and thrust me upon the world;

as what?

I know not,

so I will sit,

and wait,

upon this breath,

of fresh air.

by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

A germinated seedling (Eranthis hyemalis) emerges from the ground (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Now Change Your Life

19 Tuesday Mar 2013

Posted by Worldly Winds in Buddhism, Death, Deep Stuff!, Poetry

≈ 13 Comments

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Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, Archaic Torso of Apollo, breath, Buddhism, death, Don Paterson, poetry, Rilke, spiritual death, UK poet, Vajrasattva, Yorkshire poet

The second piece was based on, ‘Archaic Torso of Apollo’ after Rilke, translated by Don Paterson.

The idea was to include the line, ‘Now change your life’ either at the end or somewhere in the body of the poem.

Here was my attempt.

Now Change Your Life

I smell you in my dreams.

Elusive, exclusive,

to all realms,

but what of it?

Stoic indifference,

tantric magnificence,

eyes tantalise,

and plead,

“Now change your life”

before death slams the door

on opportunities scorned,

and breath is spent,

like a match.

by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

Rainer Maria Rilke (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Three Books

18 Monday Mar 2013

Posted by Worldly Winds in Buddhism, Daily life, Poetry

≈ 11 Comments

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Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, Buddhist retreat, Dharma, Kindle, packing, poetry, reading, retreat, Uk poetry, writing, Yorkshire poet

The next few poems were written on a poetry day. The first poem is inspired from R.S.V.P. by Beverley Nadin. The task was to write a list of items that we packed to take on our last retreat, and then include some of them in a poem. This was my attempt 🙂

Three books,

one red, one blue, one black,

Poetry, Dharma and Drama.

A pencil and pen,

backed up with a spare,

(thank God for my Kindle!)

and a brush for my hair.

My potions and pills,

(no nightie with frills)

Just good solid thermals!

Pyjamas and socks

squashed in a bag,

and no need for locks,

as I’m escaping to freedom;

leave humdrum at home.

I’m longing for space,

and a room of one’s own.

by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

Bell, Virginia Woolf (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Grin and Bear It

15 Friday Mar 2013

Posted by Worldly Winds in Poetry

≈ 26 Comments

Tags

Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, death, depression, dying, fatigue, poetry, stress, UK poet, Yorkshire poet

I’m hurting and aching

but who do I tell,

my heart’s fit for bursting,

my head feels like hell.

I’m lost and I’m lonely,

I’m feeling so blue;

life’s lost its sparkle,

and nothing feels true.

I’m tired and lethargic,

my mind is a mess;

please leave me alone,

as my nerves are on edge.

I yearn for some space,

and some time to reflect,

to get lost in some books,

and this world to neglect.

Alas it’s a whirlwind,

and life still goes on,

I’ll grin and I’ll bear it,

until this is gone.

by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

Steel engraving (993 x 71mm) for frontispiece to the revised edition of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, published by Colburn and Bentley, London 1831. The novel was first published in 1818. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Being Vivien

13 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by Worldly Winds in Daily life, Poetry

≈ 23 Comments

Tags

Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, poetry, portrait, reflection, self image, UK poet, Vivien Leigh, Yorkshire poet

She was a terrier of a woman,

sharp and quick;

just a bit shabby around the edges.

Always practical,

not fashionable,

but more than capable.

She wanted to be Vivien Leigh,

and in her head,

she was…

the mirror says different,

but her eyes are kind.

Make do and mend,

scuffed shoes,

and split ends,

overlooked,

a drab wall-

flower

but her eyes,

are kind…

by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

Hollywood Gallery ~ Vivien Leigh, 1913-1967 (Photo credit: erjkprunczýk)

Worldly Winds

~ It's not easy being me!

Monthly Archives: March 2013

New Anthology – Tipping Sheep (the right way)

Violets

Natural Order

Coming Soon…

Just the Air

Enlightening Seeds

Now Change Your Life

Three Books

Grin and Bear It

Being Vivien

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