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Alison Smiles

Updated: Wed, 1 Jun 2016 11:17 am

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Biography

Originally from the home counties, now in Manchester. Another lifetime ago or so it seems I thought I was a scientist and completed my degree in zoology & plant biology at London university. Making up for lost time I did my English A level at Mancat in 2008, and was bitten by the poetry bug. Right now I'm writing family type stuff, but know when it's out of my system I'll look to the world at wide for inspiration! Juggling poetry with mountain biking and hillwalking amongst other things, but still lurking!

Samples

Wife and Mother I have not eagerly sought a blue line, gulped down a budding desire for a plus. I have seen the results of a CAT scan, and been told the sentence is death. I have not embraced a nine month gestation growing clucky, proud and rotund. I endured a similar duration of wiping puke from the mouth of a man. I have not pushed a baby out into this world screaming then start his first wail. I have kissed the lips of a dead man and inhaled as his last breath failed I have not walked hand in hand on the beach with a wizened grey haired old man, I have bought a plot in the cemetary and asked that it's dug double depth. I have not created my own happy ending, Frankly that seems a bit trite. I have found a place I belong to, and sometimes that just has to do.

All poems are copyright of the originating author. Permission must be obtained before using or performing others' poems.

Audio entries by Alison Smiles

Breasts (22/04/2012)

Grandpa's plot (11/03/2012)

Unfriend (27/06/2011)

Just a moment dear (24/12/2010)

42nd Noel (12/12/2010)

Song of triumph (27/11/2010)

Self indulgence (06/11/2010)

Maybe (07/10/2010)

Why I don't write greeting cards (08/08/2010)

Climber boy (29/06/2010)

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Comments

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Steve Higgins

Fri 8th Mar 2013 20:11

Hi Allison. lots for taking a moment to read 'the long and dusty road' Got stuck on this for a long time but my breakthrough moment was the verse you mentioned :
'I’ll breathe my last in a side road, a by road
An end of the line quiet road'
Still not completely happy with this but thanks for your comments,
Best wishes, Steve

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Yvonne Brunton

Mon 30th Jul 2012 20:41

Thanks for your lovely comment Alison I am glad you enjoyed 'Us Nolympics'

darren thomas

Wed 23rd May 2012 11:50

thanks for your recent comment, Alison - i appreciate it. dt

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Greg Freeman

Mon 30th Apr 2012 10:07

Hi Alison, thanks for your perceptive comments on The Show. It's show week next week! Greg

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winston plowes

Fri 27th Apr 2012 10:49

Hi Alison, glad you liked Fizz Bomb. good to catch up at Sale the other night. It was a great night wasn't it, must go more often, Win X

Terry White

Sun 22nd Apr 2012 07:28

Feel free to stalk me all you want. I appreciate the attention, it just lets me know I've not ran out of things to say and ways to say them.

Terry White

Fri 20th Apr 2012 06:32

Alison, thank you for your comments on Day 6, you made it sound so much better than it was.

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John Coopey

Wed 18th Apr 2012 17:55

Hello Alison
Many thanks for your comments on Metre.
I've never got round to reading Beowulf myself. I wonder if it loses something in translation to modern english

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Fifi Fanshawe

Wed 30th Nov 2011 22:33

I love 'Wife and Mother'. I think it's one of the best poems I've ever read. Incredibly powerful.

Great to meet you at Lumb Bank.

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Ann Foxglove

Sat 26th Nov 2011 08:54

Glad you posted this poem Alison, it was lovely to meet you at Lumb Bank! xxxx

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Jeff Dawson

Wed 27th Jul 2011 18:58

Cheers Alison, have a great time at Kendal the anticipation of the constipation, theres a poem in there somewhere!

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Jeff Dawson

Fri 22nd Jul 2011 22:08

Hi Alison, thanx for your comment, it can be a cruel place, glad you didn't get stuck! Glad you like it, by the way I had started to write it then your ghost theme came up so very well timed! Keep up your good work Jeff X

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Cynthia Buell Thomas

Thu 30th Jun 2011 17:51

I looked for you on Tuesday night, at the end of the programme, but you had left so quickly I missed saying 'hello'. I enjoy your work and wanted to tell you so, in person. Perhaps next time.

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John Coopey

Tue 28th Jun 2011 11:27

Thanks for your comments on Penicure. It's not entirely autobiographical!

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winston plowes

Mon 27th Jun 2011 21:07

Hi Alison

Thanks for your comment on Mish-mash. It was indeed a thin gap. From my view I could see the dog in this gap like a silouette. Horible :-(

I will try and write something more cheery next time! Win x

<Deleted User> (9186)

Fri 17th Jun 2011 12:02

Thanks for the comment on Let the Beast Dance Alison - David
(Hope to see you at Sale on 28th)

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Alan Morrison

Thu 9th Jun 2011 11:30

Hello Alison,

Thanks so much for your comment on my Turncoat poem. I thought it was going to be another one with not even a gravestone comment ;-) But you stepped into the breach. I'm glad you were brave enough to like it.

I must say that I love your "style naif". Very fetching (old-fashioned word which I like and which suits) with touches of wisdom.

Keep in touch!

With love & light,

Alan

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Laura Taylor

Wed 8th Jun 2011 16:18

Hey, thanks for the notes Alison :)

See you at the end of the month then!

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Rodney Wood

Wed 8th Jun 2011 09:46

Above my bed there is an fact a painting of an old boot.

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John Embley

Sun 5th Jun 2011 22:35

Hi Alison - thanks for your comment on 'On finding a tiny hole in my shoe...' -- raising a smile is exactly what it was intended to do -- I've been keeping my grandson amused for a week or so with this sort of stuff, while he's visiting from Canada!

<Deleted User> (9186)

Wed 6th Apr 2011 11:39

Glad you liked the poem - remember to stick to the "country lanes and bridleways" on your bike
:)

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winston plowes

Wed 6th Apr 2011 10:23

P,S. Went out on my bike round the haworth and calderdale moors for 4 hrs on mon. Wet cold and v.Windy. nearly got blown off several times and at the end too cold to speak properly. Spring! Win X

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winston plowes

Wed 6th Apr 2011 10:16

Hi Again Alison. Lovely to meet you and chat at the Big Weekend. Hope you got lots out of it, and judging by your recent offerings, you did! Win X

<Deleted User> (8951)

Tue 5th Apr 2011 21:57

Hi Alison, Thanks for your comments on Sleep if only.. Dreaming is over rated ?? i'll have to have a good deep ponder on this. Dreams is sometimes all you got to hang on to!! And when your Dreams don't come true then you know its only a dream.. Food for thought... Cheers Ian....

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John Coopey

Sun 27th Mar 2011 23:24

Hello Alison,
Sorry for the belated response - I've been browning my belly in Fuengirola.
Thanks for your comments on I Dreamt You Were Little Again.

<Deleted User> (9186)

Tue 15th Mar 2011 22:47

My friends get dimmer!! Nicely written with a hint of optimism to end ?? Dave

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Tommy Carroll

Thu 3rd Mar 2011 17:03

is it because 'them up north' are outsiders?

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Isobel

Wed 2nd Mar 2011 15:05

Can I just add my congratulations.

That is a very powerful poem and you are indeed a worthy winner. I am sorry that you have had to go through such experiences to write it though. Your grit and determination not to be beaten does you proud. x

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Anthony Emmerson

Wed 2nd Mar 2011 14:40

Hi Alison,

Well done on your much deserved POTM.

Regards,
A.E.

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Francine

Tue 1st Mar 2011 01:38

Hi Alison,
Congratulations on poem of the month!

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