John Gallas Poetry

poem for September 2016

Joachim du Bellay

(1522-1560)

(translated by Kurt Ganzl & John Gallas)

Homelove : The Bell-Tower

Happy they who, like Ulysses, fare

Afar, or he that snatched the Golden Fleece,

And so return, adventure-stuffed, to peace

And age amongst their kin, and kept from care.

When shall I see, upon the distant air,

The smoke stand up from home, my little piece

Of poor and plotted land, my little lease

Of still content, my Shire, and my share.

My fathers’ house is dearer far to me

Than Roman piles and gauded frillery,

And more than marble, tile, or trim ; the Loire

Outruns the Tiber ; Palatine is far

From little Liré ; Angevin more fair

Than salt, or sea, or this, or anywhere.

What's Afoot ? Top Ten

1. In training to Do Mad John's Walk (John Clare's walk from the Asylum in Epping to Northborough), in September. Clare-brain and Clare-feet limbering up. Poems and Observations along the way.

2.St Magnus Festival Poet 2016 : three packed readings, a student workshop, premiere of 'The Iris Murder' (Alasdair Nicolson music, John Gallas libretto), interviews, stage Q & A session, photos, and lots of books sold.

3. LCFC Championes Rap now on You Tube ... just enter 'John Gallas Leicester City Championes Rap' !

4. Won the Swansea Writers' Horror Poem Competition (see John Gallas videos on You Tube, 'Miser's Sonnet')

5. Carcanet have taken 'The Little Sublime Comedy' for book publication in July 2017.

6. Just completed : a picaresuqe, unpleasant short novel about the brief life of the 'orrible Noah Claypole after the end of 'Oliver Twist'

7. Both 'Pacifictions' and 'Fucking Poets' have sold out. Thank you, Cold Hub Press NZ.

8. DIY translation and audio of Xirinachs' poem 'A Plate of Olives' can be accessed at Modern Poetry in Translation. Samoan Children's poems, and poems of Leon Laleau also available.

9. Go to YouTube for 'Paterau Sonnet', 'The Blobfish Sings Under the Sea'. 'Down Tallapike', 'Funeral at Salem'.

10. Look out for 'Contrappasso : Long Distance' publication from Australia, with 'Elvisits' and 'St. Egg'.

Complete Book List

Practical Anarchy (Carcanet)
Flying Carpets Over Filbert Street (Carcanet)
Grrrrr (Carcanet)
Resistance is Futile (Carcanet)
The Ballad of Robin Hood and the Deer (Agraphia Press), pictures by Clifford Harper
The Ballad of Santo Caserio (Agraphia Press), pictures by Clifford Harper
The Song Atlas (Carcanet)
Star City (Carcanet)
The Book with Twelve Tales (Carcanet)
Fucking Poets (3 vols) (Cold Hub Press NZ)
40 Lies (Carcanet) pictures by Sarah Kirby
Fresh Air & The Story of Molecule (Carcanet)
52 Euros (Carcanet)
Pacifictions (Cold Hub Press NZ)
The Alphabet of Ugly Animals (Magpie Press)

Contacts

John Gallas Poetry www.johngallaspoetry.co.uk

Carcanet www.carcanet.co.uk

Carcanet blog www.carcanetblog.blogspot.co.uk

John Gallas Facebook

Cold Hub Press (NZ) www.coldhubpress.co.nz

Agraphia / Clifford Harper www.agraphia.co.uk

YouTube (Paterau Sonnent / The Blobfish Sings Under the Sea)