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    PaleoRik
    PaleoRik
    PaleoRik
    Ebook81 pages22 minutes

    PaleoRik

    By Rik Roots

    ()

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    About this ebook

    Almost all of the poems in this book were written in the 20th century. Looking back on them now I can see where I was experimenting with voice, characterisation and storytelling within the form of a poem. The publication venue for some of these works was Magma Magazine – a venture which I helped to start and which is still going strong more than two decades later.

    A lot has changed in the world since I wrote these verses. The internet has transformed the process of developing and workshopping a poem beyond recognition. But I still remember the face-to-face weekly workshop in Stukeley Street with a lot of fondness: most of the bruises to my ego have healed up quite nicely!

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRik Roots
    Release dateOct 26, 2017
    ISBN9781370131495
    PaleoRik
    Author

    Rik Roots

    Rik lives in London with his partner, Nigel, and their two cats. As can be seen, he does not photograph well.

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      Book preview

      PaleoRik - Rik Roots

      Should he ever speak of home,

      it would be of the land he would tell:

      villages on sea level plains would again build

      in the midst of his eye.

      He would trek in sentences, friends he has known -

      paths trod as a child in hand-me-down shoes.

      The music. The radios. The open grate fire.

      The gossip of neighbours

      who visited for news.

      Of home he will not speak: not to me.

      He will drink the juice of his home

      in this mock ale house. He will smoke.

      He will listen to records, captured rhythm,

      smile, talk of work and weather

      to spartan associates: he will not gossip.

      The gossip bears no depth for him.

      We are alien twins glance-met in London,

      and the mirror before me

      is smudged.

      Rituals

      Autumn would bring us rituals to school.

      Conkers: bootlace strung,

      hung from coat toggles on proud display.

      Until smashed.

      All Hallow's eve and tall-cone witch hats:

      card masks green finger painted - soon

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