Worlds Apart: Poems of Contrast

By Beth Richards and Charles Muller

Beth Richards writes: "My poetry probably reflects the inside image of my thoughts-sometimes very deep thoughts. I write from the heart and sometimes when I'm in a reflective mood my poetry is serious and somewhat philosophical " This collection of poems is a result of Beth's suggestion to Charles Muller that they produce a book that combines their gifts. Beth says: "Charles and I have led two very different lives, and it shows in our writing-hence the title Worlds Apart. Apart from having been born in different hemispheres, we are two very different people, but we appear to be kindred spirits in many ways. (Both born under the star sign of Leo!)"

The poems by Charles Muller are perhaps more startling, with jagged images and sentences that cut like broken glass, sometimes exposing the raw nerves of life. Many of these were composed in the context of Apartheid South Africa and recall the violence and injustices of those times.

Beth and Charles are also artists, and the cover depicts a painting by each of the poet-paintings that highlight their contrasting worlds.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Apr 20, 2008
• ISBN: 9780595614561

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Copyright © 2008 by Charles Muller and Beth Richards

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of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Cover paintings by Charles Muller (‘Haunted Wood’ in acrylics) and Beth Richards (‘Polperro’ in

oils).

ISBN: 978-0-595-50302-5 (pbk)

ISBN: 978-0-595-61456-1 (ebook)

Printed in the United States of America

Contents

FOREWORD

PREFACE

POEMS BY BETH RICHARDS

A RED LETTER DAY

A TALE OF WINTER

IF I WERE …

I’M ALLERGIC TO DENTISTS

IS IT ME?

IS IT REFLECTION?

MY DIY HUSBAND

MY DREAM EXTENSION

MY FRIEND THE BUTTERFLY

MY SECRET LOVER

NATIONAL SERVICE, 2 YEARS

PEAK DISTRICT ATTRACTIONS

DIANA——OUR QUEEN OF HEARTS

1961-1997

DAY AND NIGHT

IF ONLY WE COULD LIVE TWICE

MOONSHADOW

SILENT COMMUNICATION

THE BLUE, BLUE SKY

THE WISE OLD OWL

A GIFT

A TOURIST IN SCOTLAND

AN AGE OLD PROBLEM

LIGHT——FOREVER-LIGHT

MOVING ON

PEACE AND LOVE

SUMMERTIME BLUES

S A D

SHOPPING AT THE SUPERMARKET

SUNDAY——DAY OF REST

THE DRIVING CODE

THE GLORIOUS PEAK DISTRICT

THE SEA AND ITS MOODS

THE UNKNOWN ANSWER

TO DESIRE OR NOT TO DESIRE!

TURN BACK THE PAGE

UNREQUITED LOVE

WHAT AM I?

WHAT IF

THE GATHERING

LONDON, HERE I COME!

A HAPPY CHRISTMAS

LEAP YEAR 2008

MY SILENT FRIEND

CLIMATE CHANGE OR WHAT!

TWENTY-FOUR HOUR TURNAROUND

DIFFERENT WORLDS

POEMS BY CHARLES MULLER

FINAL DEMAND

LONELINESS

TIDAL WAVE

A NECKLACE FOR NDUMI

MEETING IN MAFIKENG

PROFESSORS IN VENDA

ACADEMIC INFERNO

GIYANI INFERNO

AMSTERDAM INFERNO

SLICED MEETING

PORTRAIT OF MY LOVE

PORTRAIT OF MY LOVE

GRECIAN GODDESS

TURTLE FACE (OR MIRROR IMAGES)

WHEEL OF DESTINY

LINES COMPOSED IN A STAFF MEETING AT A

GIRLS’ SCHOOL

SUPPLY COVER

LINES WRITTEN IN ROMA’S LOUNGE

PLANNING PERMISSION

PLANNING PERMISSION

DETOUR

SALT

EDITING

TRILOCATION

ENDNOTES

Beacon

inverse beacon

of my muse

whatever it now is

achievement is not

mine but yours

guider of words

refiner of thoughts

would that I

match in language

one day your

purity of

faith!

Maria Katrakis

Winter Poem

Winter swooped

Across the freezing logs,

Killing all the rabbits.

But never a word he spoke.

Winter rushed

By the icy sea,

He kicked the dolphin in the head,

And then he travelled on.

Winter crept

Through the dark wood,

Frosty with his breath.

On his lips were icicles,

And at his back was death!

by Emma Matthews

Foreword 

I’m the type of person who thinks that whatever life throws at me, I just have to deal with it the best way I can and get on with it. This doesn’t mean that I’m complacent in any way. I’m a fighter and if I want something I’ll fight for it come what may! I put my heart and soul into everything I do—it’s the only way as far as I’m concerned. Life is a challenge and I love a challenge.

My poetry probably reflects the inside image of my thoughts—sometimes very deep thoughts. I write from the heart and sometimes when I’m in a reflective mood my poetry is serious and somewhat philosophical; at other times my work can appear to be light, but deep down, whatever I try to convey through poetry, it’s always truthful.

I sometimes don’t know where it all comes to me from! Is it a Gift from God? Who knows! But certainly it’s a gift, and one should always use any gift if one is lucky enough to be endowed with one, as I have been.

It was my suggestion to Charles that we produce a book that combines our gifts—for I remembered that Charles once said that he had written some poems, too, apart from dabbling in painting, as I have. So this is the result of that suggestion! Charles and I have led two very different lives and it shows in our writing—hence the title Worlds Apart. Apart from having been born in different hemispheres, we are two very different people, but we appear to be kindred spirits in many ways. (Both born under the star sign of Leo!) However I will leave Charles to fill you in about himself…

Beth Richards

February 2008

Preface 

One cold frosty morning I saw a corpse being unloaded from a car. The man