Biography

I'm an award-winning Children's Poet specialising in creating and performing Humorous Animal and Bird poems, Verse-Fables and Fairytales-In-Verse, Folklore Poems, Epic Poems and Poems about the Countryside - an award-winning Cartoonist and Artist (aka: 'Kitty Pigfish') - and an award-winning Singer-Songwriter. Winner of The GG Poetry Award, 2nd Prize The PIM Poetry Award and various 'Highly-Commended' Poetry Awards. Founder & Trainer of The Ventriloquist Club of Great Britain, award-winning singer-songwriter (various awards/prizes) - and award-winning Cartoonist-Illustrator and Bookjacket Illustrator. I'm the Founder and Editor of The Poetry Box Magazine - (www.ThePoetryBox.co.uk) - I also work as a Poetry Judge, Book Reviewer, Walkabout/Busking Ventriloquist, Ventriloquist Trainer and Landscape/Still Life Artist and Caricaturist/Cartoonist! I perform my poetry live at various Open Mic venues and weekday mornings and afternoons outdoors on the patio at The Fairy-Tellers Studio and Garden, near Rogate, West Sussex. I co-founded a new regular Open Mic night in West Sussex which commenced in 2015 called 'WordBox'. Merlynda Robinson (LLAM) - aka Cartoonist: 'Kitty Pigfish' - is an award-winning, radio-broadcast and frequently published Epic Poet and Verse-Fabulist. Merlynda is also the Founder and Editor of 'The Poetry Box Magazine', a Poetry Competition Judge and Poetry Book and Book Reviewer. Merlynda is the Winner of The Golden Grove Poetry Award, 2nd Prize-Winner of The PIM Poetry Award, Highly-Commended Award-Winner of The Portico Poetry Prize and The Serendipity Poetry Award, Finalist of The National Poetry Slam (2015), Winner of The Leaf Bookjacket Award, Highly-Commended Songwriter - The WM Composers Award for Song - and Semi-Finalist in The UKSC several times for her Songs and Lyrics. Merlynda is an LLAM of LAMDA - winning 4 Honours Medals in Speech - and successfully completed the rigorous 'The Mastery' at The Actors Institute. Merlynda has performed her poetry on BBC Radio, Delta Radio, Radio Lion and various other commercial radio stations. She was the 'Poetry Expert' for BBC Radio Solent's 'Functional Poetry Challenge'. Merlynda's poems have been published in over 40 poetry anthologies to date, and Merlynda is the author of: 'ACT! ALONE - Scene-Stealing Highly Comedy Monologues & Verse For Performers and Speakers' (available via Amazon and all book sellers), 'MASTER THE ART' - Commissioned and Published by The Art Institute, various Poetry Pamphlets/Chapbooks, and the unique Poetry and Ventriloquism Audio Book: 'BARLEY THE POET & DUNCAN L DOLITTLE READ THE TALE OF THE GOAT & THE WOLF - A BEDTIME FAIRYTALE BY BARLEY THE POET' - available via Amazon and all good book sellers. Merlynda performs her poetry and songs live at 'The Fairy-Teller's Studio & Garden' near John Jenkins Glass Shop, in Nyewood, Rogate, near Midhurst - weekly - and is available to book for Poetry and Literary Festivals.

Samples

The Vain Stag - A Verse-Fable by Merlynda LK Robinson One day in the mountains, beside a clear pool A handsome young stag who had just finished school Caught his reflection held fast in the water And gazed at himself, and vowed that he'd alter The spindly legs he was born with, and then Admired his beautiful antlers, just when He heard the faint baying of wolves in the air And so startled leapt in the woods where a snare Of overwrought branches grasped at his crown And snapped at his antlers, and held him fast down! And closer and closer the snarling wolves raced And try as he might he just couldn't unlace The fingerettes curling themselves round his head Resigning himself to becoming quite dead, And food for the wolves, who were nearly upon him He silently said both a prayer and a poem When just at that moment, by ceasing his struggle The branches were loosened from their jumble-juggle And freed from his captors he bounced down the lane Away from the wolves till he reached once again The pool in the mountains, so silent, so calm So free from the fears, and the chase, and the harm, And gazing down where only small fishes swam, He said to himself 'How lucky I am! My beautiful antlers near brought me to death While my ugly stick legs mean I still have the breath Of life living through me!' and musing on that, The handsome young stag on his way home from school, Took a shiver-deep sip, from the icy, clear pool. The Golden Goose of Inspiration by Merlynda LK Robinson Place on your palm my oval gold And ring out the bells with your quivering! For you have a golden egg in your hands That no velveteen cushion of high education Could ever protect Nor nurture so well Those hands were made For the writings of Fortune And I Without them Will never be rich

All poems are copyright of the originating author. Permission must be obtained before using or performing others' poems.