John Ling

Biography

Former children's librarian, teacher of the deaf, and teacher of autistic children.Now works with Alternatives to Violence Programme, Community Mediator and ESOL. Quaker, and involved with City of Sanctuary in Huddersfield. Published three books, two of social stories, and one book of poems "Alice the Healer", the biography in poetry of his friend Alice, who lived a feisty and productive life, despite being crippled with rheumatoid arthritis. I like to make people laugh, while making serious points. Poetry is an ideal medium for this.

Samples

Getting out on the wrong side of the bed. (and other clichés) There were several conditions if she wanted to stay overnight. She wasn’t to know my design for coping with my predeliction for disposing of unsuitable partners. Got the idea from Sweeney Todd, my impatience with the imperfect, the lovers who did not satisfy, how I couldn’t be bothered with all that courtesy and cost, the frigid breakfast, awkward farewells. So if I liked them they ended up on my side of the bed, we would both get off and get out, so to speak, linger between bathroom and kitchen. Those I didn’t, I left them lying. The ugly ones, those who didn’t thrill, I would wait until they stepped out on their side, and while they dressed yawned and stretched, my hand would slide under the pillow, grab the lever, they disappeared from view, with a little scream, not too loud, as surprise suppressed their vocal cords. And the next I saw of them would be in a burger, or steak or a soup. Much the best way really. Make the best of a bad job, war on waste, that sort of thing, you know how it is, at the end of the day.

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

Blog entries by John Ling

poor Private Manning (06/10/2013)

Blog link: https://www.writeoutloud.net/blogs/johnling