It’s Friday and time for my guest post. If you’d like to feature as a guest on my blog, please get in touch. I’m looking for stories and non-fiction pieces of up to 1500 words and poems of up to 40 lines. If you can also send me a photo and a little bit about yourself too, that would be great. Please send them to estherchilton@gmail.com
This week’s guest writer is Eric Clarke. I first met Eric at the London Book Fair a few years ago. We’ve become good friends since then and I’ve watched with interest as his work has deservedly become recognised. Recently, Eric had his first collection of poems, Shorts, published by Potter’s Grove Press. Here’s a little bit more about him:
Eric Daniel Clarke (aka EDC Writing) is an Englishman, raised and schooled in Devon close to its Somerset and Dorset borders, and the World Heritage Jurassic Coast. He has spent his adult life near the River Thames, in Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, working as a scientist at the boundaries of the physical and life sciences. Now in his later years he finds himself writing poetry and prose, using words in place of molecules to explore life’s boundaries; observed, imagined, of his mind and yours.
The following poem is a topical one I’m sure many of you will be able to relate to.
England – Isolated Views
By
Eric Clarke
MARCH (18th)
Watched the teatime news
emotions, hopes, confused
can’t go out today
that’s what the modellers say
untested, tested, pray.
APRIL (22nd)
My morning, still
birdsong, open window
no people walking by
quiet, almost forgotten
the sound of child’s play
Two by two, walking
midday, both sides
middle of the road
break step, pause
others stare, move on
Good evening, late
afternoon, politician’s
speak, experts, statistics
common sense retreats
press questions, repeats.
MAY (6th)
Dream in isolation
what was isn’t now
as if it ever is…
JUNE (3rd)
Four walls within four more
right angles, tight circles
closed doors, open windows
delivery, step back, no signing
mind wandering, body in.
JUNE (19th)
It isn’t over till it isn’t
he’ll go out tomorrow
it’ll rain today she said
looking out the window
it hasn’t yet, it will.
JULY (14th)
Common sense let out the door
back in looking out the window.
Spike and spike and spike again,
cheap clothes, their fault, our own.
Cheers another beer, sand between
their toes, dust to dust, head stoned.
Out of mind, unknowns weep alone.
–
Esther Chilton 
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