Henry Wright

Henry Wright - photo by Nigel A.  JAMES

An extra Poem for May. Henry Wright, the British author, lives with his wife in Vienna. Having spent most of his life in the scientific field, Henry’s work tends to concentrate on more serious matters. But, the small phrase, “tends to”, clearly means that there is another side, too. In fact, Henry’s “other side” consists of very humorous writings and poetry. The following is one of his best.

                                               ILL-ADVISED ADVISER



                                     “It’s good to eat,” observed the duck
                                      While seeking grass to munch,
                                     “Whatever could we do instead
                                      When time comes round for lunch?”


                                      The dandelion with mournful look
                                       Replied a bit put out,
                                      “I see your point, I do indeed,
                                       But I can’t move about”.


                                      The duck was taken by surprise
                                      To hear a flower speak,
                                      The place where one expects a mouth
                                      Were petals but no beak.


                                     “You won’t grow up a healthy duck”,
                                      The weed went on to say,
                                      “Unless you have your vitamins
                                       And minerals each day”.


                                      The duck was piqued to think a plant
                                      As lowly as a weed,
                                      Presumed to give advice to her
                                      On what she ought to feed.


                                     “What use are you?” she cried enraged,
                                     “Stuck always in one spot?
                                      You cannot fly or walk or swim
                                      And talk such tommyrot”.

                     
                                     “I landed here by parachute,”
                                     The weed replied with heat,
                                     “And ever since produced the food
                                     That you should daily eat”.


                                    “Forgive me for my hasty words,”
                                    The duck replied contrite,
                                    “I’ll follow your advice at once
                                    Because I’m sure you’re right.


                                    “I’m sorry we must part this way
                                    So that I may survive”.
                                    With that she opened wide her beak
                                    And ate the weed alive!

Barbara Alli - An Introduction

Barbara Alli - photo by Nigel A JAMES

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The Touch of the Calm

Life, for us all, is a chain of encounters. We have good times, we have bad times, and, we even have moments that leave sorrow and pain in their wake. But, whatever the challenges may be, being and staying ourselves is always the best, and, Barbara Alli has always been true to herself.

She grew up amongst the dance and the song of the magic of Africa, and, it was the beat and the rhythm - and the shades of its life - that formed her into what she is now, a person of layers - and all held together with a red-hot string of passionate energy.

And, it’s this fired-up emotional excitement that’s keeping these layers of movement in action. Barbara is creative. She is a dancer, a singer, a drummer, an artist, a writer, a photographer, and much more besides; and, what is good news for Austria, she is busy in Vienna passing on all that she knows.

And, Afrococo, the organization that she founded to promote African performing arts, is her vehicle for getting it done. Its programme covers a wide range of exciting projects, all of which are designed to bring people’s creative energy to the surface - where it then becomes an exciting force of expression and strength.

And so, this is Barbara’s philosophy, be yourself, be deep and be happy, and, by being so, you are helping others to be themselves, too. And, she knows what she is talking about - for she has the soothing touch of the calm, and, the sweetness of strength. Things can only be good!

More info and contacts, http://www.afrococo.at/




diarikom@gmail.com

Poem for May

Drummer Girl - pencil drawing by Nigel A  JAMES

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A Shropshire Lad is a cycle of sixty-three poems by the English poet Alfred Edward Housman. Some of the better known poems are “On the Idle Hill of Summer”, “To an Athlete Dying Young”, “Loveliest of Trees, the Cherry Now” and “When I was One-and-Twenty”.

The collection was published in 1896. Housman originally called the work The Poems of Terence Hearsay, according to one of the characters portrayed, but, altered the title following a suggestion by his publisher.

The main theme of A Shropshire Lad is mortality, and so living life to its fullest, since death can strike at any time.

The poem I have chosen for May is “On the Idle Hill of Summer”

On The Idle Hill of Summer

On the idle hill of summer,
Sleepy with the flow of streams,
Far I hear the steady drummer
Drumming like a noise in dreams.

Far and near and low and louder
On the roads of earth go by,
Dear to friends and food for powder,
Soldiers marching, all to die.

East and west on fields forgotten
Bleach the bones of comrades slain,
Lovely lads and dead and rotten;
None that go return again.

Far the calling bugles hollo,
High the screaming fife replies,
Gay the files of scarlet follow:
Woman bore me, I will rise.

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diarikom@gmail.com

Jenö Horvath - An Introduction

Jenö Horvath - photo by Nigel A.  JAMES

Miracles and Timeless Treasures



A short introductory portrait of Jenö Horvath

Wood is one of the most beautiful things that exist, and, there are very many people who can work it into items of everyday living; but, only the best have the mastery of extending this product of timeless nature into  unequalled treasures of ever-lasting beauty. And, just such a person is Jenö Horvath.

Jenö has been a carpenter for many long years, and, he still lives and works in the same little village in Hungary in which he grew up in. And, it was there - whilst playing amongst the forested hills of his childhood, that something wonderful happened. He fell deeply in love with the natural miracle of timber.

Being a carpenter, he says, is the most wonderful calling of all, and, his love for his job has touched and helped others as well. And, the best example of Jenö’s selflessness can be found in Tilaj, the forgotten little woodland village in which Marika, his wife, had grown up in.

The interior furnishings of the little church of Tilaj had fallen into very bad repair. A thing that pained Jenö! And, so it was, that after many hours of dedicated and passionate hard work, Jenö was able to refurnish this small house of God, and, bring it back to its original glory and slendour.

A marvel for many!

But, the miracle, says Jenö, lies, firstly, within the nature of wood - in its feelings, in its flexibility, and, secondly, in the honour of having the rare and precious gift of being able to work with, and understand, its soul and its character.

All comments welcome - diarikom@gmail.com
Thanks!