Biography
I started writing in 2017, and have now written over 500 pieces of work. I perform as ‘The Urban Poet’ for performance poetry. I have shared my poetry in Schools, Care Homes and on local radio, and performed at festivals and open mic nights. My piece entitled ‘Tree of Hope and Peace’ was written for, and read out by myself, at a memorial tree planting ceremony for the Manchester Arena bomb victims. I like to be active in the community and enjoy live music, dancing and watching football. I am also very proud to say that I was requested to write a poem for a Royal visit to Trafford, Manchester and read out my poem ‘Restoration’ to HRH The Princess Royal and 150 guests on 17th January 2018. I have self published books ‘Rhymes and Reasons’, and ‘100 More Reasons for Rhyme’, fund raisers for Parkinsons UK. A 21 track CD of my poetry with music, ‘Is there a Poet in the House?’ has also been a successful fundraiser. Rick Varden is based in Lymm, Cheshire
Samples
COLOURS By the Urban Poet Bright colours on pastel shades Telling black and white stories Of purple tinted jelly beans And brown and greenish flora Indigo banners are now unfurled Showing yellow violet and green Rainbow trout with purple mouths Swimming in a colourless stream Oh show me the colours of life To see it's light and shade Through God's own kaleidoscope Observing how they're made Fade to grey or blush to red In the petrified forest we see instead Colours merging light and dark Brown and maroon on each tree bark Colour me an animal colour me a bird Join up the dots and make a pattern Draw me a sketch of the sounds you heard on that spaceship to Jupiter and Saturn Oh show me the colours of life To see it's light and shade Through God's own kaleidoscope Observing how they're made Observing every shade Of colour that was ever made THE OSTENTATIOUS MR GLITZ He’s not plain or restrained or wet like the rain Not unobtrusive, nor meek, humble or demure, he’s not introverted, bashful, shy or insecure He’s Mr Glitz, you’ll find him at the Ritz Not the opera or the ballet, or a trade union rally. Yes he’s politically correct but he only wants the best, that’s Mr Glitz He’s designed to impress, being showy and pretentious, glamorous, flamboyant, a man of good intentions. Brash but not tasteless, certainly not faceless, the bold and outgoing Mr Glitz The ostentatious Mr Glitz, likes to take a risk, have a punt at something different Be a visible presence and not be inconspicuous. He can be vulgar and loud, but at the same time very proud, of his achievements in life, not in need of a wife, that’s Mr Glitz Mr Glitz is characterised by his sometimes outrageous demeanour, tactile, gregarious, in no way a dreamer Presenting as gaudy and garish at times People look twice in the place where he dines. But underneath the tinsel facade Mr Glitz does find life hard, that’s why he can be kind and gracious, as well as being the ostentatious Mr Glitz!
The Urban Poet
Founder member Lymm Dam Good Poets Society Host Poet at ‘Lymm Spoken Word Evenings’ Member Lancashire Dead Good Poets Society Member Altrincham Arts Festival Self published books: ‘Rhymes and Reasons’ and ‘100 More Reasons for Rhyme’ (2023) CD ‘Is there a Poet in the House’ (Also on Sound Cloud) Performing as ‘Rick The Urban Poet’ Festivals and open mic nights Radio work on Lymm Radio Fylde Coast Radio Altrincham Radio Radio General Warrington North Manchester FM and RWW School lessons, Care home visits and after dinner speaker
All poems are copyright of the originating author. Permission must be obtained before using or performing others' poems.
Blog entries by Rick Varden
Ode to The Soaps (18/11/2024)
Needles and Pins (17/11/2024)
Music Lovers (15/11/2024)
Lady Penelope (13/11/2024)
Evelyn and Amelia (11/11/2024)
Mystery Girl (11/11/2024)
I Wish (09/11/2024)
Families At War (06/11/2024)
They want whats best (05/11/2024)
Divisions of Joy (02/11/2024)
Audio entries by Rick Varden
Alexa and Siri (A digital love story) Audio (25/11/2019)
Extra Terrestrial Poets (Audio) (23/11/2019)
I fell in love with an Alien (audio) (22/11/2019)
I only work for the council AUDIO (23/12/2018)
‘At Christmas time with bells on’ AUDIO (23/12/2018)
The Ostentatious Mr Glitz (14/12/2018)
It’s hard to stop (audio) (13/07/2018)
Truth and Lies (audio) (12/07/2018)
Virtual Unreality (audio) (12/07/2018)
Is there a nurse in the house? (Audio) (03/11/2017)
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Comments
Thank you for your lovely comments. I took the children to the old set years ago it was very good. They also took us through the set of The Borrowers..we enjoyed it thoroughly..?
Thank you for reading Her Heart Fred. ?
<Deleted User> (19836)
Thu 2nd Aug 2018 05:53
Nice to meet you Fred. Thank for the lovely comment you wrote on "Wedding Bells". It is appreciated.
Your sample poetry is very enticing. I look forward to reading my way through your other poems.
Thank you, Jane?
Hi Fred, appreciated your comments on my blog. I read Truth and Lies again yes again...and having read your comments to me which gave me an insight into your poetry and thought processes I enjoyed it even more....if that is possible. THANK YOU.
Hi Fred, Just read Truth and Lies. Wonderful.
Much admiration for your work in the community. Taylor
Thanks Fred for your kind comment on 'coming'
Much appreciated!
Fred, I salute not only your poetry which I enjoy but also your work in the community. Thank you. Keith
james thomson
Wed 29th Nov 2017 08:02
Writing the poems is all about writing the things which you assume and you have just started writing the poems and have already written more then 100 poems that really great thing. http://www.ritewaytowingnyc.com/
good morning Fred thankyou for your comments I'm so sorry I forgot to write back regards Wendy
Many thanks Cynthia, yes I have liked some and sent comments too to other poets. I realise how important it is to get encouragement from others. Thank you for such a nice welcome. Appreciated
Welcome to WOL, Mr. Varden.
May! and you've written 70 poems already! Good grief. Your brain must be grateful for the release of so many ideas smouldering for so long.
'Truth and Lies' is powerful, like an erratic torpedo. You have a sense of the dramatic.
Please add your own comments on the work of other poets, however short. We all thrive on them. Even the 'LIKE' flower is appreciated.
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Taylor Crowshaw
Sat 2nd Feb 2019 06:25
Thank you for commenting on The Matriarch Fred. I live surrounded by a pine forest it has inspired me on a few occasions.
Beyond the Trees
Beyond the trees in a deep dark hole,
lives a fox and his friend the mole.
The mole did not know that his friend ate mole meat,
for he could see no further than his feet.
The mole brought the fox a gift of worms,
which managed to keep them on good terms.
Although the fox's glance would have told a different tale,
had Mr Mole been able to surveil.
A winter chill swept through their den,
the fox began to feel hungry again.
Now the mole certainly was no fool,
and realised he needed to keep his cool.
If he could find no more worms,
how would he keep them on good terms?
When he pushed his nose up through the ground,
this is what the little mole found.
He heard a noise right under a log,
and there he found a juicy frog.
Off he went with his gift,
he knew it would give his friend a lift.
The fox enjoyed his juicy frog,
which mole had found under a log.
He was so happy that in return,
he gave his friend the mole a juicy worm.
This tale is fraught with danger for the mole,
the situation is beyond his control.
There sits in the den an uneasy truce,
unless the fox's natural instincts are let loose.
So the mole never rests for more than ten,
while the fox lies slumbering in the den.
© 2018 Taylor Crowshaw