Twenty-First Century Renderings

Twenty-First Century Renderings is a first collection of poems about love, culture and poetic influence from a new British poet, Christopher Dadson.

In this collection, Christopher explores themes of change, constancy and conflict through a broad range of forms and styles, from traditional sonnets and ballads through lyrical and dramatic monologue, to free verse and longer narrative styles.

His poems are straightforward on the surface but contain echoes of English and Spanish language poets through the ages, resulting in a contemporary collection that draws equally on early modern poetic tradition and present day experience.

The Wet Patch

You can read into the title of this book anything you wish. Some of my coastal friends on Magnetic Island, North Queensland, and some folks in our little town of Ravenshoe in far North Queensland—anything north of Townsville is far—have, without reading my poetic yarns, jumped to their own conclusions.

Some say, “You’ve written about our wet tropics and rainforest. Others say it’s about our ‘Big Wet’, a nice mild term for our cyclone season. Yet others have truly mucky minds.
What I will say, is that The Wet Patch along with all of the other humorous poems in this little book are true stories.

The book is scattered with North Queensland colloquialisms. The characters, even those with silly names, are real people. Dave, who features in my poems, is my husband, David.

Hope you enjoy the book as much as I did living it.

The Skylark

This is a collection of Haiku poems with watercolour illustrations manifested with the heartfelt plea that as one we can regain the balance of nature.

‘What if there is no bird song?’

Then it’s too late. We haven’t listened and we haven’t acted.

‘Greed feeds corruption

 A continual circle

Corruption feeds greed

Disorder then chaos

As everything will dissolve Into entropy.’

The Shadow of the Poppy

Within the ranks of a beleaguered army, hearts and thoughts turn towards home. A whole generation of young men, torn asunder by ravages of war, tormented by what would become known as the ‘Devil’s Breath’. From the rats that scampered around the dying, to the machines of steel trampling everything under their rolling treads, to the flying bullets and double-edged bayonets, the barbed-wire fencing and blood-curdling screams, ‘no man’s land’ became representative of hell.
As the demons of war raged around them, many a young man sat with a pen between their shaking fingers to write their fears: their desperation over a life that was fading…

The Men With No Names

People of the world all look to find their own position; firstly through family and friends, then the neighbourhood and finally work. Others prefer the commune of religion. All these influence the way they live and think, which in turn, allows them to find a cause close to our heart. But give people a democracy and you allow them to bloom, not just in their cause, but rendering them more freedom of thought.
What could be better?
The Men With No Names follows democracy in an insular town in Britain. This allows each person to have their opinion or put forward their own cause towards their fellow neighbours, as well as suggesting or rejecting ideas by the town mayor and council.
Looking at the town’s folk from afar is one man who has seen the world and has his quiet opinions, also influenced by his own experiences of war, but far beyond what he had expected.
The book looks at past history that repeats through each generation, the struggles of the people to find who they are, and finally, to who are the heroes in our world, and those who think they are heroic in their cause.
There is always more to learn, but the main concern is that most people only use the narrow mind that they know.

Tanka Cavalcade

Tanka Cavalcade is a book of poetry on a variety of topics in Tanka form. Many of the poems are ekphrastic, inspired by paintings, photography, dance choreography, and classical music. This includes a tribute to American opera star the late Jessye Norman. Beauty and grace are found all over this book where readers will enjoy their unique perspectives. In addition, different ideas showing internal sensations are used with deep, moving intelligence that are fresh in the poetry genre. Methods, such as the meaning of names, use different languages put a special touch to poems’ meaning.

Summer Poetry in Loch Ness

The glistening holy water of Loch Ness and the glorious surrounding hills of bloom and heather n' thistle glow into beautiful summer poetry from the mouths of cherubs, angels and the treasured imagination of Miss Bonnie Blue Sunflower. Breathe in the warmth as the shimmering sun rises and sun sets and the angelic never-ending sunshine in-between bringing all the joys of summer to Loch Ness. Feel the gentle, mellow breeze from the wings of ladybirds and fluttering butterflies and treat your sweet taste buds to the fruit and honey of poetry from heaven all about Loch Ness. One day, your soul will be led to Loch Ness by butterflies and birds of paradise because whatever your faith, all heavens are above the magical water of Loch Ness and the glorious dusk auroras sent by all of heavens' angels to delight your eyes and bring warmth to the enchanting heart of all those who truly believe in the glory and faith of poetry loved by all gods.

Stumblings

‘Better to have questions you can’t answer than answers you can’t question.’

The author describes these poems as ‘stumblings’ because they are stumbling attempts to understand what can seem beyond understanding. In his writing he confronts the issues that are inescapably a part of being human, as he sees them playing out in the maelstrom of his own life. He takes us into areas of desperation, confusion, even despair, but also of acceptance, fulfilment, ecstasy, obstinate faith, and above all of tender love.

The poems range widely through philosophical musings, urgent questioning about what it is to be human, irony, self-mockery, overwhelming passion – and always with an intensity that acknowledges that everything matters, everything has meaning if only we could decode it. And throughout this volume the writer attempts to comprehend and reach the elusive God who he believes in but fails so comprehensively to connect with as deeply as he longs to.

Any readers who are prepared to stumble with the writer on this poetic journey through life may find themselves in a place where they can at least begin to understand, accept, and even glory in their imperfect humanity as the writer does. And maybe hope to stumble into Grace, enlightened and affirmed.

Songs From The Mansion House Garden

Through the ages we have lived in a split society of the haves and have-nots. Songs From The Mansion House Garden is a poetic look into the lives people lead, some through wealth, others religion or through nature, and how we perceive each other. Each will have an opinion on wealth; whether it is a necessity or a creator of each life.

By the end the reader can make their own decision on the author’s thoughts.

Shadows & Angels

What happens when mysterious stories of the world’s light as well as strange, secretive and sometimes macabre tales of its darkness collide in spectacular fashion?
Shadows & Angels is just such a haunting, distinctive and contrasting poetry collection. It takes the reader on an exhilarating roller coaster journey of the good, bad and ugly side of life’s experiences; sometimes hurtling back centuries in time, before rebounding into the present, with a veritable cornucopia of subject matter.
Poetic and varied images of dark fantasy and horror are merged with love, romance, and dazzling optimism; beguiling lyrical rhyme, hammering on the doors of broken rules, blends inexorably with a myriad of profound emotions; as terrifying monsters, both real and metaphorical, battle with wise, courageous angels for supremacy in the moving narrative.
Charming, enigmatic and complex characters in abundance are introduced as this mesmerising book leads its readers across the winding annals of time, continents and differing worlds.
From supernatural to beautiful and fantastical to dangerous, with hypnotic and seductive chronicles, shocking plot twists and radiant intensity: each poem imbibes emotive reflection told in an elegant and powerful language that engages the reader in intelligent and stylish prose, whilst making them imagine they are clandestine observers in each dramatic scene.
Whether opening the gates of Hell or peppering murky dreams with unrequited love, doomed romance or echoing periods of high-impact drama and wondrous adventure, Shadows & Angels conveys a rare, intelligent and perceptive insight into a world of intrigue and jeopardy, but always encompassed in warrior resilience and precious hope.

Reminiscence: A Selection of Assorted Poems

Here within the pages of this book, you will discover an assortment of poems on a variety of themes that we can all relate to. Haikus, rhymes and free verse that affect us all at some point in our busy lives: some humorous, some romantic, some heart-touching, some dark, some festive and even some on animal and plant themes, questioning us on our responsibilities on the welfare of our planet and the cosmos. You may look upon these as a mixed packet of sweets. So, please sit back, relax and delve at your pleasure inside, until you find a delicious sugary one that you relish and taste! The author presents to the reader, a fine selection of fifty-five poems brought together, for the first time finally in print, to reminisce upon his fifty-fifth year of life, accompanied by his very own paintings, illustrations, sketches and photos too.

Reflections

Lift yourself into a new realm of lateral make-believe world.

Indulge in artistic poetry that will lift you.

Become disassociated from the matter of fact daily life that confronts us all today.

Creativity is the mark of poetry as it sings our senses in appreciation and realises another perspective to what surrounds us. Another poem, another realm of understanding.

An ideal book to have at your side, whether at home, relaxing on the beach, or on holiday lazing in any of the seasons of the year! Awake to an alternative mode of leisure of novel reading. Absorb and drift away with wordsmith that beckons you into a floating paradise of your very own.

Poetry affords one to a taste of strength of suggestion that whets the palate very differently to the manner in which a fictional or non-fictional novel cannot achieve. Enjoy your journey through this book as your reading material companion.

Which one will you choose as your favourite?