Richard Harries

Biography

I have been writing poetry which I drifted into kind of accidentally for around seven years . I ahve performed at the Hull Freedom Festival , Pocklington Littlefest , Hedfest, Folksail Fest , Humber Stresst sesh and many more . I have performed at open mic and also at the Red Shed Reading in Goole. To of my poems were incorporated into a play performed in Harrogate HAUNT and the book from the play was Saboteur award nominated. Another poem TWELVE HOURS was read at Ypres exactly one hundred years from the start of the actual battle to the descendants of those men that died. I ahve a ball and perform a lot.

Samples

A true story as told to me by the only surviving witness to the incident : Tragedy at Flamborough , 1952 By Richard Harries Copyright As recounted to me by my long-term friend Marian Bean, then a child of five I look back through the mists of time Into my memory, my childhood To a day that affected and moved Me all my life I was at the seaside In Flamborough, on holiday That dreadful day in 1952 When two girls went swimming So happy shrieking with laughter To me they seemed so old, so grand As teenagers do when you are five There were winds And the sea was rough, so rough The girls were swept out as we watched Crowds gathering, hoping, praying The Flamborough Lifeboat could not launch I am told there were repairs Being done to the slipway So ropes were fired and one of girls Reached the rope but could not hold on Gillian and Joan were their names That day of horror in 1952 The Bridlington lifeboat had been launched The crowds on the cliffs watched and shouted And those brave men fought to save the lives Of the teenage girls, they found one but it was too late As they entered Thornwick Bay they were hit by a wave Rolled over, capsized and five men, valiant brave men Fell into the sea They were swept towards shore and some made it there But the bowman, who had clung to the stern Drowned. A valiant father of three The second girl’s body was found a week later Sadness and tragedy enveloped Flamborough That terrible day It enveloped me It affected me so much And always will

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

Blog entries by Richard Harries

Me (Richard Harries) (25/07/2016)

Blog link: https://www.writeoutloud.net/blogs/richardharries