Dave Morgan
Profile updated: Sun, 30 Oct 2011 08:11:00 pm
Biography
I was turned on to poetry after winning a plastic army lorry for reciting "I had a little pony" at the Coronation celebrations, held in our local pub, "Scrimmies", in 1953, aged 5. I have never looked back although the prizes never seemed to get bigger or better! "Write out Loud" is my third or fourth poetic reincarnation, with years of fallow in between. I have often thought of being a novelist. I'm sure you have too. While I think about it, I write poems as synopses of no-longer-voguish kitchen sink dramas, which went out with the kitchen sink. Now we've got a dishwasher I might become more forward-looking and "modern". I set up my first poetry group, "Morg Soc", at Uni abetted by a group of friends, who shared the fantasy of literary immortality and adulating women. "Write out Loud" is a little more sophisticated, a little more grounded, but the fantasies remain the same. Favourite poets Dylan Thomas (for his prose)Gary Snyder (for Han Shan and Rip Rap particularly)and Hovis Presley. In my days as a Chinese cookery demonstrator at Pontin's, people marvelled at my wok and chopper work.Hovis could have made that sound quite funny.Having hated my RC upbringing and "mis-education", I now find myself drawn back to the Irish diaspora, and drink a lot of Guinness as a political statement.Thank you to all the Write out Loud regulars and irregulars for providing a platform, a couch, and an audience for my ongoing therapy.
Samples
CHOKER
“ We played “Loaded” by Primal Scream the other day. It made me think of the lads up north, one lad in particular, a close friend who we lost. I just got a lump in my throat and didn’t pull it together in time. When we got back on air I was all choked up”.
Sarah Cox : “lastline” column, “Ministry”, July 2001
So I’m leaving Leeds
And over drink we are making our comparison
Of football teams and their supporters
And I mention Leeds United and Tony Harrison.
Not for the first time
I draw some sharp unknowing jibes,
And condescendingly explain
The poet’s anger at some eighties mindless soccer scribes.
Harrison’s venom split the nation,
Railing at “fuck” daubed in a Leeds graveyard,
His work itself was written off as desecration,
He was never Thatcher’s favourite bard.
Then Stephen quietly said
“Graveyards have a tale to tell, there’s much to see
As in my own small town near Glasgow
Whose history can be traced across its tidy cemetery.
Across the back wall lie the older tombs
You notice all the kids who’re under five,
Dying from disease, and hungry to their bones.
The mammies seldom saw their bairns survive.
And here the paupers’ graves grassed over,
And there the marble tombs of civic patrons.
In life they were not equal, in death it so remained,
The ones unmarked, the other crafted lavishly by city masons.
And in the corner there the regimented stones,
Memorials to those butchered in the mud of France,
A ritual culling of the cream of Scotland’s youth,
Who wanted to be heroes but never had a chance.”
“And here” said Stephen, “a generation lost to glue and drugs.
Young men, they were my friends, just sixteen years or so.
Don’t think I’m joking, I survived through luck
Why I was saved I just don’t know”.
So Mike is “safe in his Saviour’s arms“,
With Paddy whose now “set free”
And here is Sean “a loving son”,
And the space next to Martin “was meant for me.”
We stared in silence at our pints,
Stephen’s rep was as a joker,
We’d lurched from Leeds United into life and death,
We hadn’t bargained on a choker.
Revised 3 Feb 2007
All poems are copyright of the originating author. Permission must be obtained before using or performing others' poems.
Blog entries by Dave Morgan
Plum blossoms in snow (28/03/2011)
Lines written in theTudor House on the 30th Anniversary of the death of John Lennon (10/12/2010)
Today (15/01/2010)
Having a shower after watching the news headlines (31/12/2009)
The Staff Room Celebrates (18/12/2009)
John Jelly Tribute (07/09/2009)
Big Chill August 2009 (26/08/2009)
If........... (10/08/2009)
Give Generously (28/07/2009)
Little Roy (26/07/2009)
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Comments
Dave Mountain
Sun 3rd Apr 2011 20:45
Nice to meet too Dave. Let me know if your going to any open mics or whatever not to far from Macc. and I'll come along if possible. Got home in good time last night but am still recovering from the ravages of my weekend poetic retreat. Keep up all you good works and take care - Dave
Thanks David for your comment on my poem 'Song of the Sunflower.' Your feedback is much appreciated. I shall move that poem to the blog area and put up another 'sampler' in its stead. Will be reading you again soon. Cheers, Frederick
Hi Dave, It was nice to chat to you the other night in Wigan and cheers for your good advice. Just read your poems above, poor old Derek, what a way to go! I really like 'Choker', I know what your mate means about graveyards, they are very powerful places. Hope to see you about soon, cheers Stevex
hi dave. I definitely haven't retired yet! Unfortunately i haven't been able to make it to dgps recently for various reasons including moving house. I'm actually now living just round the corner from the everyman, so i have no excuse to miss it. I will definitely be there soon. Hopefully see you there.
Paul
Tue 5th Jan 2010 15:40
Ta for being my 6,000th visitor and your generous comment - truly thou art a sage and onion!
Rev Two-Sheds
Tue 29th Dec 2009 22:07
Cheers Dave - glad you spent a happy half hour round our gaff... plastic army lorries are the best, wish I had won one when I was a young'un... maybe I'll wax lyrical about my plastic fire engine... [maybe best not eh... it's a sad tale, all radiators and plastic memory distortions... never quite got over that weird sticky disintigration virus of rubber wheels on some of the dinkies, a bit harder to rhyme so maybe I'll leave that one ... anyway... happy new year to you and all
kindest regards
R2$
Paul (Admin)
Tue 22nd Dec 2009 20:51
Thanks for your thoughtful comments on my poems. I'm sure the mayor will love my peon to Bolton. And I was as surprised as you to find Dermot and his Mrs in the attic.
Methinks thou dost protest too much. Any poem with an intentional 'kick' is surely ironic (I would have thought, 'kicking' being its very essence). Moralizing is not always a bad thing. You are too good to be under-rating yourself. Who are you trying to impress - or dis-impress? (Ha! New word of the week.)
I hope the night went well. Sorry I couldn't be there. It probably rolled and rocked the way that we wanted it to.
Hello
Help. Lynne Jelly has booked a ticket up from London for the 2nd sunday in September. Ste (my husband) says there may be some musicians interested as well. Like himself, Paul Crompton, Dave Lomax, Rach. And of course Lynne herself.
I will ring you. If not I will ring Julian.
I will get in touch somehow as it seems a bit close.
N
hi dave, Thanks for your comments on rats / fish / barrels / poetry etc. Maybe this was left in the barrel when all the shooting was over! Inany case I think its ok but you are right, it is easy to write this type of thing and maybe thingsof greater worth only come with greater effort. See you about. P.S. I still love you too.
Ok that sounds good. I still have your mobile number I think. Will text you my new number. I thought Lynne was in South America travelling. Are you sure it was her? Shes been emailing me about her travels unless she's suddenly back. We will have to get together for a coffee or something and I think we should invite some of Johns friends so they can contribute. Will be in touch x
Nic
Hi, Dave
Regarding our particular 'moon' poems; not cleverer at all ... just different.
Hi Dave
Thanks for your comments, it's always good to have some constructive criticism. Reading through some of your stuff I like the way that you set the scene. Good stuff ma man!
Answering your question about who inspires me?... I share a house with Mia Darlone! enough said! ha ha
Hi Dave, I wondered if you would see my reference to Stoke - the city formerly known as the Potteries! Ha, thanks anyway, see you friday, will put you down for an open mic, cheers
What a great idea. Lets set a date and get some people together. Is September his anniversry?I think it should be mainly the people who knew John but he would argue all are welcome. I dont want to run the thing but probably think we can all share the responsibility and it will run itself. maybe we should all go for a curry or something afterwards or am I being too ambitious? let me know what you think. We can dedicate the night to Johns memory?
X Nic
Hi Dave, cheers, not sure Harvey Goldsmith has much to worry about yet! Thats convenient about the Crescent, have put you on the list, spread the word lets get a few in, cheers Jeff
Thanks for the John Jelly head poem.
I will dig out my effort too- 'The Seagull'
he would be proud of what Write out Loud has achieved, spreading poetry to the masses.
hope you are well. I will let Lynne Jellyhead know about this site as I'm sure she would appreciate the comments and tributes
regards Nic x
Hi Dave
Good to see you last night, thanks for what you said about my "Singing lound and proud' poem, I assume you've seen it but if not its my last blog on here. I thought best to keep neutral then any footy fan like yourself can feel the emotion and experience of the good old days!
cheers Jeff, ps Hope the Potters along with the Trotters of course stay up, a poem in there I think!
Bethan Townsend
Mon 18th Aug 2008 12:20
Hi Dave,
Thank you so much for your comments and encouragement :) Just thought I had to say it
Thanks!
Bethx
paul
Mon 18th Aug 2008 10:04
He's Rock and he's Roll
Got Be-bop, got Soul
He's a Chef
And he's cooking words
Dead-beat Dave Morgan!
Using "dead" meaning "really" as in "dead good"
Hi Dave,
It's me Nicola - the face from the past. The difficult one! Please post some more of your poetry. I know from memory I like it - I remember the one you wrote about Ranjit - in a school playground, hard hitting, socially alert stuff, with a voice.
It's got to have a voice you see poetry, not just pretty or with a beat.
I have a problem with all this slam stuff at the moment, it's very fashionable but will wilt eventually just like the housing market. You see I like word on pages, show me some of your stuff. The other day I wandered into a bookshop, I had an enormous feeling of loss because John Jelly was no longer in this world - to advise and guide me artistically of course. We must meet up for a drink and a chat some time. Check out my page - it needs updating - see you soon hopefully - NicolaX
hiya Dave
i love the way your poetry is so describable,
i can see in my mind what you are writing,
like reading a lovely story from a enjoyable book
i hope that makes sence lol
keep up the good work
sez x
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Gus Jonsson
Fri 24th Feb 2012 21:11
Thanks Dave as always
Long time no Guinness, hope you are well.
Hope to see you soon.
Gus