Biography
I was born in Reading in 1953, although my family comes from the West of Ireland. I was a Gregory Award winner in 1977 and my first collection, Brueghel's Dancers, was published in 1984. For more than twenty years I stopped writing, but have since published several further collections, the latest of which, After Hours, was published by Cultured Llama in 2017. My poems have also appeared in many journals such as Agenda, Ambit, The Courtland Review, Cyphers, The Frogmore Papers, The IrishTimes, The Interpreter’s House, The London Magazine, The Manhattan Review, The Morning Star, New Walk, Poem, Poetry Ireland Review, Poetry Salzburg Review The Reader, Southword and Stand. I also co-edit The High Window.
Samples
YOUR CHAIR After half a lifetime of early starts, and a few fly years that made you money, you finally softened round the edges and eased back, prosperous, into your chair. It's there in our mother's place: a threadbare seat of judgment, battered in the mayhem of a clattery open house, its wrecked guts sagging, its two arm rests coming adrift. And fixed immovably in that still centre you watched the racing on TV, shushed out our conversations, as Michael O'Hare's gabble of names stampeded to its climax. Another windfall? Or a better prize – To know you were flush enough for losers not to matter, in a different country to have attained a gruff serenity. That chair has hoarded the words you uttered, and releasing them at times, as we make our late decisions, can fill up a room with some cagey, warm, and toil-inflected phrase. Your chair is true North on a map of memory, and points out paths, the sanctioned ways still worth your approbation, the cuteness implied in 'Whatever would your father have thought?' WORK HORSES The clanking compound of the brewery, where my Dad did shifts when work was slack on the buildings, is buried now beneath the panels of the multi-storey car park and chat that drifts across from the cappuccino pavement. Born to a scant inheritance of rushy Sligo acres, my dad was bred like his brothers to follow the work, sending remittances home from London, Reading, and Philadelphia – for worklessness would have been their defining shame. And somewhere in the hinterland of just remembered childhood I am watching a drayman as he guides heraldic horses through a time-thinned stream of traffic. Their sinews barely tensed, they go unfussed about their business.
All poems are copyright of the originating author. Permission must be obtained before using or performing others' poems.
Blog entries by David Cooke
Selmer (27/02/2024)
Tea Cards (18/02/2024)
St James Primary, Reading (09/02/2024)
St James Primary, Reading (09/02/2024)
St James Primary, Reading (09/02/2024)
COWS (05/02/2024)
Visiting (03/02/2024)
Visiting (03/02/2024)
Chasin' the Breeze (02/01/2024)
For the Record (22/11/2023)
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Comments
Frances Macaulay Forde
Sun 2nd Jul 2017 05:41
Frances Macaulay Forde
Fri 16th Jun 2017 02:18
A quick note to let you know I have mentioned your new book in a blog post, today.
https://francesmacaulayforde.wordpress.com/2017/06/16/after-hours/
Looking forward to a good read.
It's a small world - at least where poetry's concerned. David.
Frances Macaulay Forde
Thu 15th Jun 2017 01:58
Hi Again David,
I established the first regular public reading event in 2005 after returning from Ireland and it ran each month until 2008. Yes, like many others, Jackson (relatively unknown in Perth) first read some of her words at my 'Poets Corner' monthly meetings at the State Library in Pages Cafe in 2008.
She is (these days) very involved in the poetry scene here in Perth, particularly the 'slam' events, I think.
I have retired after many years of serving on various writing committees including PCWC, WritingWA, FAWWA and having represented Poetry Australia as a poet in residence for 6 months at Burns Beach Cafe (my last gig). See my bio here: https://francesmacaulayforde.wordpress.com/about/
I shall order your book now and look forward to reading.
Best, Frances.
Frances Macaulay Forde
Wed 14th Jun 2017 08:47
G'day David,
Thanks for keeping me informed.
I've now contacted your publisher and asked how I can order a book to be sent to Perth, Western Australia.
Best,
Frances.
Frances Macaulay Forde
Wed 15th Feb 2017 00:15
Hi David,
Are you making a list of those interested in your book? Please add my name. As soon as you have more details about where I can purchase a copy, please let me know. May your muse always amuse.
Frances.
Frances Macaulay Forde
Tue 31st Jan 2017 04:19
Hi again David, just wanted to let you know I did as you said and checked out 'The High Window'. Congratulations , I enjoyed it and will check it often. I also mentioned the press in my Wordpress blog posting: https://francesmacaulayforde.wordpress.com/2017/01/26/wa-writers-festival/
Looking forward to reading more of you words.
Frances Macaulay Forde
Thu 26th Jan 2017 02:26
Pleased to 'meet' you, David.
'Your Chair' reminded me of my own Irish father and his favourite chair - which I'd not thought about... has now inspired. I enjoyed the close-up look and the dialogue at the end - all bringing him to life.
'Work Horses' was a clever (again) reminder of my dear old dad who could never, even after the war be accused of being 'out of work'. Again, you have inspired me to write about his heroic Pathfinder service which at the time was vilified and which he never talked about... then after his holding 3 taxi/bus driving jobs at once to feed my brother and Mum.
So thank you... I am very pleased to have made your acquaintance.
Hi David, thanks. After just a week on this site I am very taken by the quality of work by poets like yourself. I aim to read more of your work. Best wishes, especially for 2017. Paul
Many thanks David for your helpful info on The HighWindow Press. Very interesting, and I may feel inspired to take part, i'll give it some serious thought.
Ray
Hi David, I have checked your online journal and mighty fine it is. Is this something you run yourself and/or contribute to? I would be very interested in submitting a hopefully suitable piece myself if that is possible. I am trying to spread my work and need to make a concerted effort, with a possible result in having a pamphlet at least to my name. If you have any helpful suggestions I would be grateful. You know by now my style as such I'm sure.
Regards, Ray.
HI David, I'm so glad I raised a bit of fodder for thought on the Penguin poem - I wondered about the italics! I think it is thought provoking as it is and quite a nice image as if breath is to be scooped up from a bowl. A Milliganesque conception perhaps. Penguins do conjure up an intriguing sight and that consolidates the idea I feel. Always a pleasure to read your stuff.
Ray
And now, for me, 'Ode to Martial Music' is absolutely fabulous.
Excellence has nothing to do with 'fame'. I think you should be 'famous', on a wide scale, even globally. Maybe that's why artists had/have patrons, to do the marketing. Since selling is equally as or more important than artistic talent.
I have much to catch up with, but not today. Cheers. I hope Dubai was for pleasure.
HI David I have just read Your Chair and Work Horses and thoroughly enjoyed the easy and thought provoking style of both. Being a furniture restorer (also a musician) I appreciate the affection engendered by old pieces like chairs, particularly Windsors , slightly stern I know, and the line gruff serenity is perfect. A pleasure and sense of confidence comes through them! In Work Horses I love the juxtaposition of past tense and present "I am watching."
Cheers Dave for your appreciation of my comment. ;)
I have 'studied' the philosophers so named entirely on my own, and also have ploughed through various 'proofs of God' with great interest. I have many philosophy books on my shelf, chiefly garnered from university 're-cyle stalls' and general second-hand book shops. Never having been 'organized for regurgitation' in a test situation, I have mainly a 'feeling' of these ideas, but an overview which has greatly enriched my thinking.
I have 'The Age of Belief' (The Medieval Philosophers) by Anne Fremantle right at my elbow, and a 1936 volume called 'The Testament of Man', a collection of works from very Ancient Times in All Cultures, many early ones from rocks and reeds. It is the commonality that blows my mind.
It's really fab to even broach such a subject as this without encountering a pained expression from the other person - I'm assuming.
Re: Nothing - more like your ability to think, period. What does your Catholic upbringing have to do with it?
Have gone through your work....i must say am impressd. It is just ...i like it: 'Your Chair' i love it
David, thank you very much for your very kind words. I sincerely appreciate the link and I will follow that up in the near future.
(I confess to being a 'technophobe' and need to embrace social media).
On a different matter relating to your musical tastes, if you are ever in the West Country check out 'The Old Duke', King Street in Bristol. I feel you would love it.
Hi David
I have just spent a delightful half an hour going through your Blog and Poetry samples. I found Work Horses was all heart and a wonderful read. I found that your love of Jazz and the Blues came at you through every line in your poetic musical tributes.
It was 30 minutes very well spent... and one I will revisit. Most enjoyable.
David, I am so relishing these books of your poetry, especially since they are widely separated in age, experience and intent. It is a very personal look into yourself.
One thing was really funny. I was very taken with one poem and the apt description of 'rain ...... dissolving window'. I thought: "What an exceptional image - 'dissolving' is perfect." Then, a few days later, I read a different poem in the other book, and I recognized that this second poem was similar, sort of, to a previous one. Maybe just on a related theme. But then, the same 'dissolving window' jumped out and I laughed out loud. Of course, I had to scope the two books to find the other poem. It was insightful to compare the two, the younger and older man, years apart. But 'the dissolving window' wouldn't let go!
BTW, after the fact, I did notice your comment about re-doing some works for later publication. When is a poem ever finished!
Happy new year to you too, David. Not sure I'll get to the Ariadne launch, but will try to make the Screech Owl one, date depending. Very impressed with your Grimsby poems in Penniless Press today. Have you got any more of those up your sleeve?
Books arrived safely almost immediately. My computer wonked out just before sending you a message, and hasn't recouped until today (incorrect info from experts silenced my Christmas period - not a bad thing - and I was quite ill too, but better now. Better computer access - better me - what's not to like!) I will greatly enjoy your poems. Happy New Year!
With great pleasure:
Cynthia Buell Thomas,
#3 Willow Tree Court,
Brooklands Rd., Sale'
Cheshire, UK
M33 3SE
Yes, I had a poem about getting knackered while walking in the Peak District in the summer issue of Orbis, David. Not much else to report in that line just recently! Look forward to meeting up somewhere in the new year.
Hello there - thanks for taking the time to
comment on my poem about the murder of JFK.
I've added to my opinions with comments to be
found on Simon Austin's poetry blog "Kennedy".
Oliver Stone's film was a tour de force of movie
making and whilst he may have not been able to
fill in all the gaps, I follow his belief that
Oswald was hardly a lone nut. JFK made very powerful enemies for a variety of reasons.
P.S. I note in your "bio" above you mention
"In The Distance" with a date "20011"!!
Now THAT'S the sort of immortality any poet
would die for (sorry!! :-))>
Thanks for the link – that poem has a reference to the Beatles also. My education continues. As for the expression "Bag of Cats", I liked it enough to write a 'poem' about it.
Yes, I thought I detected a flavour of MLK there. I was listening to a commemorative programme yesterday and suddenly heard the strains of Heatwave, which is in my all-time top 10, which probably has about 50 tunes in it!
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Greg Freeman
Mon 18th May 2020 08:05
I didn't realise you were having another lean time, David. The leaving of Grimsby? But you're compensating by the huge amount of work you're doing with The High Window. That is becoming a great achievement.