Email: david1franks@yahoo.com
Homepage: Read samples here, then, perhaps, use http://blogs.myspace.com/walkaboutsverse for all of my life's work in verse and prose; furthermore, at http://myspace.com/walkaboutsverse or here...
Listen to audio sample:
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Write Out Loud Profile: http://www.writeoutloud.net/poets/davidfrankswalkaboutsverse
Write Out Loud Blog: http://www.writeoutloud.net/blogs/davidfrankswalkaboutsverse
Whereas (linked) Myspace is the place for all my collection chronologically, here on WOL I try to be topical and, thus, my blogs, sometimes, offer poetic responses to the news of the day - plus others' comments.
Here's THE BLURB from my free collection WALKABOUTS: TRAVELS AND CONCLUSIONS IN VERSE (above links)...
"ABOUT THE POET AND THE POETRY: David Franks was born and, after a long time away, lives in England. The four-part collection has travels and conclusions, in poems and songs, from his nomadic first-thirty-six years. The experience behind the verse includes shoestring travel through about forty countries, A-grade junior sport, a B.A. in humanities, four technical certificates in manufacturing, plus several years on the shopfloor. The style is mostly direct; and the substance informative, humorous and didactic."
(Also a folk and Christian musician, with one c.d., so far, CHANTS FROM WALKABOUTS - for details and to hear me, again, please use above links.)
Poem 187 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (above links): A SOUTH SHIELDS WALKABOUT - AUTUMN 2001 (Also my AUDIO SAMPLE, above)
Out of the museum-and-gallery
(Wiser on Cookson and the local way),
Down Ocean Road with, to the right of me,
Its eateries and, left, neat places to stay;
Before, on either side, Marine Parks -
The southern-one a most beautiful place,
Teeming with moorhens, swans, grebes and mallards
In a small lake at a scenic-hill’s base.
Then (holding chips from the parade’s cafe
And, thus, a flock of gulls squawking above)
Onto the South Pier I made my way:
Seeing seaweed over rocks - like a glove -
And high-and-dry sands held from transgression
By growth of grass and the weaving of wood,
Plus, in the dim light of a sleepy sun,
Fishing boats returning to Tynemouth’s hood.
(C) David Franks 2003
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this lay/poem-come-song on myspace.com/walkaboutsverse -
2 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (above links): WALKABOUT WITH MY PEN
Once drove an old sedan, up north,
From a place in Sydney to Cairns;
Then to Kuranda I went forth,
By train, to look without set plans.
I browsed through the trendy market,
With fresh fruits of tropical kind;
Walked to the creek through lush thicket -
Nature’s hand giving peace of mind.
I dined in a scenic cafe;
Then, outside, as I wrote for yen,
Some passing Kooris called-out: “Hey,
You go walkabout with your pen.”
Request or question, I don’t know -
Assured voices, elderly men.
That’s now several years ago,
And I’ve seen the world - with my pen.
(C) David Franks 2003
All poems are copyright of the originating author. Permission must be obtained before using or performing others' poems.
In North-East England...
Poem 196 of 230: BLYTH - AUTUMN 2002
After a day
Of moulding work,
I made my way
To Blyth's centre,
Where windmills play
Near the staithes,
And where one may
Dine or choose at
The Art Cafe.
(C) David Franks 2003
From http://blogs.myspace.com/walkaboutsverse (e-book)
Or http://walkaboutsverse.webs.com (e-scroll)
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Stop press - I must confess
I never thought my shoes were less
Important than a climate treaty
So pretty are my little feety...
I myself, Steve, have apologised for the fact that, nowadays, some of my blog-poems may be old-hat for long-term members, such as yourself. Also, for what it's worth, I try to be topical, in terms of current affairs, with some of my "daily ditties."
steve black
Thu 22nd Oct 2009 09:01
Apologies.
Wow how true are those last words by Isobel...
Mmm
Anyway....
David you sometimes you hit high water lines...
Sometimes you do not so much speak as offer a window upon nature, offer the natural world an eloquence...
I do not like all you do...not at all in fact.
But and this is this is the point...
You are a poet that sometimes does things that are more/better than ok and actually rather lovely and something to be treasured.
Regards,
Chris
Hi, David. When I first started writing poetry, all my poems rhymed, and only later did I drop the rhyme. I posted an old poem, The Raven as an example.
I hope you have a great weekend.
Melissa
I should just add that in performance poetry, issues/language don't jump up and bite you on the bum, like my poem just has. Language is soon heard and soon forgotten. Anything written down is there to be read and reread forever and a day - that is why we all need to be very careful about what we commit to paper. Never argue by mail (as some of my family have) - not easy to forget words that can be refreshed.
I don't know David. Perhaps people just want to feel rebellious and naughty sometimes - I know I do. I just feel like venting all my frustrations in some way. Perhaps I should buy a cat, then I could go and kick it. Will probably never write another poem that contains so many swear words - it was just a phase I was going through - probably cos I knew someone at the time who swore a lot - it must have rubbed off.
But why is there so much swearing, and shock tactics, in "performance poetry"?
Sorry if I've offended you with my recent poem David. I try never to swear in front of my children and only rarely in poetry. This was written primarily as a performance piece, not for page. I tend to perform only in pubs where the audience is largely inebriated and accepting of all forms of language. I do take your point.
Thank you for dropping by...Yes you can hear me read(with Brendan Ring on uilleann pipes and clairseach), check the audio clip and also one myspace page!
Sun 16th Aug 2009 17:17
Hello David. Thankyou for commenting on my poem. I can see by your prolific output that poerty is an integral part of your life, reflecting your life's journey. Regards Yolande.
Hi David - thanks for dropping by to leave me a comment, much appreciated
Best wishes
Dave
Thanks for your comment.
I like your 'Walkabout' idea, you really paint a picture.
Hi David, Glad you liked 'Windows'. I am getting some material together for a childrens book so look out for more daftness to come! Win
Thanks for taking the time to read David. I think you read one of the few that I wrote in free rhyme - LOL! Like you, I do like to rhyme and found it hard breaking the habit. Free verse does gove you a lot of freedom over the language you use though which can't be a bad thing. Till we meet again.
Isobel x
Hi David,
I have visited Kyoto, Tokyo and many other places in Japan, and there are still many places to cover. I hope to do some more travelling in Asia, whilst living in Japan.
Excuse me for asking, but what do you mean by, Trad and Metre? I am only just starting to develop my form and style in writing poetry and any new terminology still kind of throws me.
Many thanks for your encouraging words. Bel
Hi David - thanks for taking the time to read my work
steve : )
David
Thank you for your comment. It is suppose to have that feel to it but I do not always succeed in getting the stressed/unstressed syllables to meet the iambic rules that my english teacher told me to disregard! Other than that it is a narrrative poem that has a thought to be heard. You should read the 'hoodie' poem, it has a little more rhythm to it.
Regards
Sam
HI David, thanks for the kind words. What part of Mexico did you get to see? take care Clarissa
Thanks David for the comment.
hope you enjoy my myspace site.
i'm still learning all this, so some are better than others. i'll keep practicing!!!!
thanks
woman
To Carol: I just re-tried and it worked okay...but it's also on myspace if you'd like to use the above link.
Hi David, thanks for your kind comment. I have tried to open your adio sample above but its not working on my computer.
Thanks for your comment! Air Cav's actually a psychedelic indie band but I do play folk too.
nice writing, with ur poetry i feel like im there with u..if that makes sence
sez x
thanx for the comment
"in the dim light of a sleepy sun" I'm traveling with you David, traveling with you.......!
thanks for leaving an comment 2.
Ally
Thanks, Tomas - that introductory poem/experience was really the catalyst for my whole collection; and I've just enjoyed a visit to your profile.
Thanks, Ricardo: and, if it's okay, I'll respond with another (introductory) peom from my collection walkaboutsverse.741.com -
Poem 3 of 230: PICTURES
Photographs and, more so, painted-
Pictures of people and places,
For ends, involve in some cases
Adjustment of what was gathered.
With restrained artistic licence,
To make metre and rhyme with sense,
All matters related here -
Save the love-songs, to be clear -
Did happen to me, no fear,
And time-ordered they appear.
(C) David Franks 2003
Ricardo Reis
Mon 10th Dec 2007 11:08
What i especially like about this poem, and i like it v much, is that it is not 'laying any big message on us', that it exists as itself. That is one of the hardest things to learn, to let it speak for itself. We can slant and select to 'tidy up' a piece, but to contort it to what we want to say is most of our biggest blunders
All power to you!
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Isobel
Wed 28th Oct 2009 17:25
Thank you muchly David - would rather be responsible for that than a new Ice Age....
Isobel x