Bio - Richard Fleming

Richard Fleming is an Ulster-born poet and short-story writer, now resident in Guernsey.

His work has been broadcast and widely published and will be familiar to listeners of BBC Radio Guernsey, BBC North-West and Radio Ulster.

He has performed at various literary festivals in the UK and Europe, has three collections of verse in print:
A Guernsey Double, Strange Journey and Stone Witness, recently published by Blue Ormer. He is currently compiling a fourth collection.

Richard enjoys music, books and films, food, wine, animals and sunshine. You’ll find these subjects featured in his popular blog, Bard at Bay (http://redhandwriter.blogspot.com) along with many of his better-known poems and short stories.

New Year's Wish - Ian Duquemin

So Christmas is over
And it brings a new year
For some times of plenty
But some dreaded fear
Will wishes been made
Be of greed or of peace
How many have wished
That destruction will cease?
Is new year a time
Where we all celebrate
Just a day when we smile
To disguise what we hate
Then fall back to hatred
So many prefer
Simply wishing for heartache
And bad to occur
It's another new year
Where the world is a mess
Do you turn a blind eye?
Or stand up and address
A child has just died
While I'm writing these lines
But the sales bring hordes
That's the sign of the times!
Another year over...
Another year ends...
So I ask you wish wisely
My most thoughtful of friends

Ian Duquemin

May You Know Peace - Kathy Figueroa

Under the weight of your burdens
May you never stumble
May your spirit and resolve
Not waver or crumble
May you find strength and joy
In small and quiet things
And may you know the peace
That this season brings

Kathy Figueroa

A Christmas Poem - Ian Duquemin

When Santa got stuck down the chimney, he began to shout
"Oh deer’s up on the rooftop, pass the reins and drag me out"
The reindeers pulled and pulled, as Santa pleaded "Rescue me"
But try they did, to no avail... They could not pull him free
Rudolf started laughing, then he stomped his cloven heels
Said "When that fire's lit, then you'll know how a turkey feels"
Well Santa saw the funny side, and laughed so very loud
He crashed down to the fire place, amidst a sooty cloud
He climbed out of the window, as the deers all gave a cheer
"Christmas isn't snowy white, it's very black this year"
Old Santa gave a chuckle, as he brushed away the dust
"We won't be having turkey, although venison’s a must"

Ian Duquemin

Sorry About That, Folks - Tony Bradley

Well, typically, and in character, I’ve screwed up again,
Just when everything was good . . it’s such a pity,
now our Poetry meetings are cancelled, at the hotel
but in mitigation, please, an explanatory ditty.

I always come late, from a Zumba class
the two functions overlap , by quarter of an hour
no time for the Bar, so I finish my health drink
hence the Hotel staff begin to glower.

Tony Bradley