Biography
Welcome aboard!
I'm David Franks, an English folk and Christian musician plus poet; and my web-nickname, WalkaboutsVerse, is an abbreviation of my life's work (originally a paperback) "Walkabouts: Travels and Conclusions in Verse" - which, along with info on a related C.D., "Chants from Walkabouts," you may read, for free, via either my e-scroll or my e-book (linked above); also, at both sites, you'll find further links to other things about me (other info on repertoire, other publications and performances, messages, etc.).
But here is THE BLURB from WALKABOUTS, and some other abridgment - "ABOUT THE POET AND THE POETRY: David Franks was born and, after a long time away, lives in England. The four-part collection has travels and conclusions, in poems and songs, from his nomadic first-thirty-six years. The experience behind the verse includes shoestring-travel through about forty countries, A-grade junior sport, a B.A. in humanities, four technical certificates in manufacturing, plus several years on the shopfloor. The style is mostly direct; and the substance informative, humorous and didactic."
Armed with poems, unaccompanied Chants and E. trads, I began participating in folk and poetry clubs, festivals, and forums during 2004, before beginning to teach myself keyboards and recorders a year later. I've since placed in folk-festival competitions, done a few mini-gigs, recited on radio, and, as suggested above, some WalkaboutsVerse has also been published in journals, etc.
In broad summary, then, I travelled and studied in humanities, before writing the verses and finding a way to sing or chant some of them; I learnt (formally and informally) desktop publishing, P.C. recording, as well as other I.T.; and, lastly, I taught myself to read and play music, plus, eventually, to write it by mimicking my singing with the above instruments.
Other main interests are - as with many English folk - gardening and tennis (again, use links).
Whereas (linked) MySpace is the place for all my collection chronologically, here on WOL I try to be topical and, thus, my blogs, sometimes, offer poetic responses to the news of the day - plus others' comments.
Samples
Poem 187 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (above links): A SOUTH SHIELDS WALKABOUT - AUTUMN 2001 (Also my AUDIO SAMPLE, above.)
Out of the museum-and-gallery
(Wiser on Cookson and the local way),
Down Ocean Road with, to the right of me,
Its eateries and, left, neat places to stay;
Before, on either side, Marine Parks -
The southern-one a most beautiful place,
Teeming with moorhens, swans, grebes and mallards
In a small lake at a scenic-hill’s base.
Then (holding chips from the parade’s cafe
And, thus, a flock of gulls squawking above)
Onto the South Pier I made my way:
Seeing seaweed over rocks - like a glove -
And high-and-dry sands held from transgression
By growth of grass and the weaving of wood,
Plus, in the dim light of a sleepy sun,
Fishing boats returning to Tynemouth’s hood.
(C) David Franks 2003
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this lay/poem-come-song on myspace.com/walkaboutsverse -
2 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (above links): WALKABOUT WITH MY PEN
Once drove an old sedan, up north,
From a place in Sydney to Cairns;
Then to Kuranda I went forth,
By train, to look without set plans.
I browsed through the trendy market,
With fresh fruits of tropical kind;
Walked to the creek through lush thicket -
Nature’s hand giving peace of mind.
I dined in a scenic cafe;
Then, outside, as I wrote for yen,
Some passing Kooris called-out: “Hey,
You go walkabout with your pen.”
Request or question, I don’t know -
Assured voices, elderly men.
That’s now several years ago,
And I’ve seen the world - with my pen.
(C) David Franks 2003
All poems are copyright of the originating author. Permission must be obtained before using or performing others' poems.
Last blog entry
Posted on Thursday 2nd September 2010 10:31 am
Thirteen years and two days ago...
Poem 47 of 230: A LOSS FOR HUMANITY
Toward the end of summer,
A car crash in France.
Then thousands of cut flowers -
Some bearers in trance.
For Diana broke-even -
Now resting in peace;
A loss for humanity -
Her caring did cease.
For, while taking her perks
(Perks there should not be),
She gave greatly of herself
In kind charity:
Charity good states would free.
(C) David Franks 2003
From http://walkaboutsverse.webs.com/ (e-scroll)
Or http://blogs.myspace.com/walkaboutsverse (e-book)
Previous: WHALLEY ABBEY...WHAT TALES? - AUTUMN 2000
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Isobel
Wed 28th Oct 2009 17:25
Thank you muchly David - would rather be responsible for that than a new Ice Age....
Isobel x