Biography

Richard Rose is a writer based in Northamptonshire UK. He holds a post as Emeritus Professor in Inclusive Education at the University of Northampton and in addition to his poetry, fiction and essays is the author of more than 100 academic works related to education and children's rights. His poetry has been published in literary magazines and anthologies in several countries and his collection of poetry, "A Sense of Place" was published by Cyberwit in 2000. He is also the co-author of "Letters to Lucia" a play about James Joyce's daughter, Lucia Anna Joyce, co-written with James Vollmar. This play was first performed by Triskellion Irish Theatre Company at the graveside of Lucia Anna Joyce in Northampton on Bloomsday (June 16th) 2018. It will have a further performance at that location in 2022 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the publication of Ulysses and the fortieth anniversary of Lucia's death. Richard has worked extensively in India and his recent book "Breaching the Barriers; Short Stories and Essays from India (2022 Cyberwit) reflects some of his experiences in that country. A further collection of short stories "No Strangers Here" will be published by Adelaide Books later this year.

Samples of Poetry

The Scallop One purpose of the artist, to divide opinions that convulse in paroxysms, yea and nay. Far better than elicitations of a bland or couldn’t care response. Every one of us an art critic today. On Aldeburgh beach, Hambling’s Scallop firm upon the shingle squats. Its long-drawn shadow etching patterns on the stones. Steel catching sun-kisses, wind humming through the shell’s divides. Whilst Britten’s words confound the message of a life once hid, ‘I hear those voices that will not be drowned.’ Today all voices must be equally weighted. The critic in each one will now be heard. And therefore, as I laud both sculptor and composer, others still condemn and wish them gone from here. But of this above all else I feel certain, Long after today’s critics are all gone, art and artist will be long remembered and Britten, Hambling and their ilk, will sure live on. Aldeburgh Beach, Suffolk (First Published in the Cannon's Mouth) Süleymaniye Mosque High above the Golden Horn, a skyline pierced, adorned by minarets and domes jutting heavenward, holds the eye. Testament to Süleyman, giver of laws, the magnificent, bringer of light memorialised in porphyry and marble. Hewn by the genius of Sinan, shaped by the labours of a thousand hands. Today the Sultan’s final testament betokens that which now remains to mourn a faded past. A kingdom built on short-lived glories of Ottoman splendour lost with time. History a hundred times repeated shows, how gilt of once great empires tarnishes with age and melts away. That which stands full-square defiant in the face of years’ decay, in ageless stone informs us that art will be less transitory than kings. Witness today the mosque of Süleymaniye, tribute to great Sinan’s craft standing long beyond the Sultan’s passing, a monument wrought from genius as great as any that by Michelangelo or Brunelleschi was defined. Istanbul, Turkey From "A Sense of Place" (2020)

Publications

A Sense of Place. Poetry Collection (2000, Cyberwit) ISBN 978-93-88319-41-6 Letters to Lucia. Play written with James Vollmar, (2018, Triskellion) ISBN 978-1-5272-6425-0 Breaching the Barriers; Short Stories and Essays from India. (2022 Cyberwit) ISBN 978-81-8253-851-1

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