His writing comes from his heart, head and pen… yes he still loves pen and paper
Be yourself; Everyone else is already taken.
— Oscar Wilde.
Paul, a poet following the tradition of the land of his birth, was born and raised in the small village of Caerau, in the beautiful Lynfi valley of South Wales, and is now resident in Bristol, England. He has enjoyed a variety of different ‘careers’, including working on archaeological excavations, and for many years earning his living as a professional artist. He has travelled extensively in Europe, with an especial love for the cities of Paris, Florence and Venice, and has a great interest in philosophy, literature, history and the arts, which is reflected in his work. Paul says that he searched for years to find the right medium to truly express his ideas, and at last found the answer in poetry, something he has read and enjoyed all his life. In his own words, ‘When I started writing verse, I felt like a prodigal son being welcomed back to the home I left, many years, and many choices ago.’
Here you will find readings of his poetry, that Paul has made for you to enjoy.
Click [ HERE ] to play Paul’s poetry readings… The page to which you will be taken is on another of Paul’s websites and there are several audio files available to you there… Enjoy.
Could we please remind you that Paul’s materials are subject to copyright, so are only intended for your personal use and enjoyment. Any form of copying or publishing would be an infringement of copyright.
Welcome to extracts from Paul’s 2020 book ‘The Domain’
The Domain – published November 2020
Here are some excerpts from the book, if you enjoy them, please consider buying the book £9.99 plus p&p.
Contact Paul on:
Email: carpenterp80@gmail.com
Text: +44 (0)7813 574778
The Summer of Love (1967)
“Come on… square go, nae chibs.” * Their leader sneered at me with undisguised distain.
I had been surprised on some waste ground near my home by those whose faith was led from Rome and knew straight away that any negotiation would be in vain with this particular inquisition.
“Come on, ya poof…” He snarled, and I realised my pink shirt with ringed cravat at its open neck, that I thought so trendy, was a flagrant provocation to these sink estate zealots with their razor-cuts, Celtic shirts, biroed jeans and menacingly shiny boots.
My strange clothes and long hair marked me out as so blatant a heretic, that no repentance or pleading for mercy could possibly be countenanced, and I would most assuredly deserve the full wrath of their retribution.
When they eventually advanced at my continuing silence, like all martyrs, I felt my fear turn into an obstinate defiance;
So as the first fist and kick hit home, I didn’t even try to respond, but determined not to cry out, stood my ground and simply stared beyond them at the cloudless sky.
Bloody and bruised, with no shirt left, at last I staggered home; to the horror of my mother and the shame for not ‘sticking up for myself’ of my father.
But despite the pain that swelled at every turn I smiled inside as I lay upon my bed, in the knowledge that I had found the courage somewhere not to strike a blow;
And at the obvious truth which could not be denied, that ‘The Summer of Love’ was just another summer in Glasgow.
The starlings billowed darkly in pointillist clouds against the autumn sky; And as the lovers watched them rise and fall as one, both silently recalled that still evening long ago, when they first kissed at the October dance.
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Twelve golden flowers
Outside my window flurries of new foliage fall, blown down prematurely from their green clouds of shrub and tree by a bitter wind;
And in the kitchen yard their litter is accumulating now in fresh mounds over the rich mulch of my neglect.
But twelve golden flowers rise pristine above its wall, each one haloed in sunlight like herald angels from a summer to come, proclaiming their glad tidings of a beauty so serene.
Paul also recorded his first video clip in which he talks about one of the poems from the book “The Domain”; Paul explains the background behind the poem “The Summer of Love”
You can find examples of the poems from this book in Paul’s earlier blog posts… if you enjoy, don’t forget to buy a copy of the book as there are many more inside.
There are more of Paul’s book, look for PAUL’s EARLIER BOOKS
Paul Carpenter - Poet 