Biography
Hi; I'm a poet based in Tameside, England. Publications: Waiting for Nancy (2015) http://www.lulu.com/shop/gray-nicholls/waiting-for-nancy/paperback/product-22502540.html?ppn=1 Just started writing again after a long break with the aim for a second book (to be released in either 2024 or 2025 - "Sculpting Absence". Please be patient while I try to find my feet again. This will be different to before. Additional and exclusive poems here - https://graynicholls.substack.com/
Samples
IF I WERE A PROPER POET If I were a proper poet I would write in Shakespearean And constantly refer to Larkin Every other line or so. I would write poems Far more angry than Plath And show Hughes How he should have wrote the Crow. I would walk in the Sally Gardens Every other lunchtime with Keats And hug Tennyson as he crossed Backwards and forwards on the bar. I would give the Owl And the Pussycat a motorboat Before getting Milligan pissed so the Ning Nang Nong became the sing Sang Song. If I were a proper poet I would shake Owen by the hand And stick Kipilings’s head Into a cup of worms, But I’m not So I’ll just keep rambling And write vague threats To Armitage and Duffy. *** WALK ON THE WILD SIDE Our story started at the ending before falling through the looking glass cut across boundaries instead of cut out train journeys into a beginning that nobody remembered, cast out across forgotten islands rattling with memories stone stepped across sticking records on mourning paths lost in perfect days and a constant walk on the wild side. (For Sian, a huge Lou Reed fan still walking on the wild side)
All poems are copyright of the originating author. Permission must be obtained before using or performing others' poems.
Blog entries by Gray Nicholls
Manchester (24/04/2024)
Freedom (09/04/2024)
This is Fascism (25/03/2024)
Death 'From the 7th Seal' comes acalling (Version 1) (16/03/2024)
Yesterday's Journeys (14/03/2024)
Not a love poem (11/03/2024)
No need for words (03/03/2024)
No need for words (22/02/2024)
Linda (Revisited) (12/02/2024)
Edward (07/02/2024)
Do you want to be featured here? Submit your profile.
Comments
thanks very much for the kind comments on 'Dexteram Patris' Gray, pleased that you liked it mate
Wed 4th Mar 2015 11:25
Hi Gray, thanks for taking the time to read & comment on The Tree House. I love If I Were a Proper Poet, can really relate :)
thanks for the kind comments on 'a wee dram' Gray - pleased that you liked it - cheers mate ;-)
Preeti Sinha
Sat 22nd Nov 2014 10:22
Waiting for Nancy is one of the very few pieces that I've read which I honestly wanted to read because of its sheer down-to-earth reporting like quality, humour and the inputs about the cats.
Great job!
Hi Gray
I have just read waiting for Nancy which has a real gritty authenticity I like, also just read If I were a proper poet, which not only made me smile, particularly ' I would give the owl and the pussycat a motorboat' but also I can relate to my own circumstances of not feeling like a proper poet.
thanks for commenting on 'grievous angel' Gray - yes, a sad loss to the music world and greatly undervalued in his influence on modern country and Americana - a true legend who was taken from us too soon :-(
Ian
thanks for the kind comments regarding Circe's Antidote' Gray - very pleased you liked the twist at the end and that it wrong-footed you out :-) RESULT! thanks once again
Ian
thanks Gray. glad you liked this. It was just a bit of fun really although most of it is true in particular the bit about diving cats (one of them missed the windowsill the other night and nearly knocked herself out which would have been worrying if it wasn't so funny - lol)
Hi G - thanks for your time and comment
x
Thanks for your comments. I am open to any ideas to help me improve.
I wrote this in my head while walking in the lake distrct.
I tried to keep it as tight as possible cos I didn't to ramble on and lose the picture I had in my mind.
Hi there; just read 'The End Of The World' - simple, unfussy, and all the more effective for it. I'd change 'the sun has RAN away' to the sun has RUN away' though.
Thx for the comment/feedback on my last poem G. Nickol- appreciated.
My Best
Chris
Hello there - hey, thank you for your note on 'I Can Try', appreciate it :)
Welcome to WOL - I hope you enjoy it here as much as I do.
I really like your 'End of the World' - I've been entertaining post-apocalyptic fantasies since I was a child. Almost can't wait for it! Most people wouldn't understand that but I think you would ;)
You're in the North West I see. You should come along to the monthly WOL night at the Tudor house pub in Wigan - there's loads of us go to that, and it's dead friendly :)
It's always held on the second Thursday of every month, so maybe you could make it to the February one?
<Deleted User> (7075)
Wed 28th Dec 2011 23:26
G. Nichol , Welcome to WOl. Looking forward to seeing more of your work. Winston (Admin Membership)
If you wish to post a comment you must login.
Lynn Hamilton
Fri 24th Jul 2015 13:37
Hello Gray and thank you for reading and your comment on 'Emotion'. Much appreciated x