The Fringe Poetry Cafe

By The Fringe

'The Fringe, Poetry Cafe' is an anthology from poets based in the North West of England. Some of this work has appeared in poetry pamphlets distributed in pubs, cafes, libraries, shops, buses and trains. In fact, anywhere the public may have time to read some interesting pieces of writing. There are many prize winning poems here. The pamphlets and ebooks are published by SeaQuake Books. The idea behind the initiative is to bring poetry to a wider audience. The poets included in this particular pamphlet are Bill Lythgoe, Loraine Darcy, Stephen Beattie, Phil McNulty, Malcolm Terry, Jacky Pemberton, Anna Mills, Linda Lewis, Mike Parsons, Alan Potter, Bob Eccleston, Neil Beardmore, Olga Reid, Mike Rathbone, Neil Goldstraw, Jan Machin, Joe Forshaw.

• Language: English
• Publisher: SeaQuake Books
• Release date: May 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310650680

The Fringe

The Fringe is comprised of indie authors and artists who, in addition to all being members of the Goodreads group Fringe Fiction, share the belief that creativity can grow and thrive in an atmosphere of respect, honesty, and friendship. Publishing is rich with hidden gems and diamonds-in-the-rough that belong to self-published, indie and otherwise underappreciated authors. Fringe Fiction is devoted to those who admire such individuals and want an outlet to discuss under-the-radar books with readers eager to discover fresh talent by obscure authors. Indie aficionados who welcome such recommendations and are enthusiastic about giving them are encouraged to let members know what they might be overlooking in the lesser-known corners of publishing.

Book preview

POETRY

CAFE

THE FRINGE POETRY CAFE

Published by SeaQuake Books

Copyright 2016. Individual contributors.

ISBN: 9781310650680

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favourite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of these authors. Publisher contact: [e-mail] Contributors contact: www.facebook.com/writinginsouthport

Cover image: 'The Cafe Terrace on the Place du Forum'. Vincent van Gogh

She Haunts My House

She haunts my house,

creeps through the door,

hesitates, hovers

on the stairs before

walking through walls,

shimmering on ceilings,

hiding her scars,

showing her feelings.

Dead hands in the dark

stroke my spine and remind me

of the way her fingers

would search, and then find me.

Last night I saw

a strand of her hair

curled on the carpet

in front of my chair.

Fear parts my lips –

makes me confess.

You killed her, didn’t you?

I whisper: Yes.

Bill Lythgoe

Halcyon days

In distant summers of my youth,

I picked with joy the crimson fruit

from fields where loose limbed

children played. Kissed by sun.

Halcycon days.

How quickly berries fall and die

when autumn clouds invade the sky

of powder blue that turns to grey

when children’s feet no longer play.

Make haste young men while the vine is strong.

For the season’s short and winter longs

to creep with stealth up to the gate where

nimble fingered pickers await

the return of the strawberries and the summertime

to cruelly taunt an old man’s mind.

Loraine Darcy

Waterloo Sunrise

Sunday morning,

I’m standing at the entrance