Wednesday, 29 July 2015

Peter O'Sullevan - d. July 29th 2015

Even in the largest field
we always knew your colours;
the little man in glasses and trilby,
a stayer when all others faltered.

Read about Peter O'Sullevan here 

Jon the Postman - d. July 27th 2015

You were beyond all notions
of scene, philosophy or style.
You just took to an empty stage,
grabbed the vacant mic, 
did what came unnaturally.

Read about Jon the Postman here

Friday, 10 July 2015

Omar Sharif - d. July 10th 2015

The deal,
the playing of your hand;
eternally finessed.
Your scenes

were golden as the sands;
now, time to rest.

Read about Omar Sharif here

Thursday, 2 July 2015

Val Doonican - d. July 2nd 2015

What is that noise?
It is the creak
of an old chair,
rocking easy
since I was about knee-high,
now forty shades of empty.

Read about Val Doonican here

Wednesday, 1 July 2015

Sir Nicholas Winton - d. July 1st 2015

A departure is announced;
of all passengers,
your journey
to that final station
is a guaranteed connection

Read about Nicholas Winton

Monday, 29 June 2015

Chris Squire - d. June 27th 2015

Yes, you were a visionary;
those fervent souls who listen
through every album,
every track, every solo,
already know
the meaning of eternity.

Read about Chris Squire here

Friday, 26 June 2015

Patrick Macnee - d. June 25th 2015

Though the gent/agent 
is long into a pension
his image still falls
from unfurled umbrellas,
upturned bowlers,
suave as a bottle 
of Penhaligon's.

Tuesday, 23 June 2015

James Horner - d. June 22nd 2015

We knew the news was bad
when the orchestra
accompanying your life
fell away
to a dark rumble of cellos,
the sustained bass notes of loss.

Thursday, 11 June 2015

Ornette Coleman - d. June 11th 2015

A trumpet cries,
not for the bird 
that is caged
but for the soul
finally released,
free as jazz.

Read about Ornette Coleman here

Ron Moody - d. June 11th 2015

A man's got an art, hasn't he?
I saw too little of yours,
but a hand, a voice, a song
absorbed in childhood
picks the pocket of memory.

Read about Ron Moody here

Christopher Lee - d. June 7th 2015

On the skyline
his body is burning;
not a sacrifice
but a gift to the soil.
Scared? 
You'd better be.





Wednesday, 10 June 2015

James Last - d. June 9th 2015

No more the crushed-velour strings,
the silken-underwear rustle of brass,
the low-mixed drums, the classical gas;
he now arranges higher things.




Wednesday, 3 June 2015

Charles Kennedy - d. June 1st 2015

Some politicians
are damned 
by the flaws
in their politics,
others redeemed 
by the flaws
in their hearts.






Saturday, 23 May 2015

Terry Sue-Patt - d. May 22nd 2015

Somewhere a bell chimes
for lesson's end,
for day's end,
for term's end,
for school's end,


Friday, 15 May 2015

B.B.King - d. May 14th 2015

That sound; cotton motes, 
smoke and bourbon,
glistening strings
bent double with the blues,
the creak of an opening door
even sweet little angels
could not close.


Wednesday, 6 May 2015

Errol Brown - d. May 6th 2015

If you can't believe
in miracles
believe in these;
Tight rhythms. 
Tight clothing.
Sex. Funk.
The dance floor.
The dance.


Read about Errol Brown here

Monday, 4 May 2015

Grace Lee Whitney - d. May 1st 2015

She was a tiny moon,
dark in the umbra
of a gaseous giant,
but once a week
the sun would call her
from the shadows,
paint her surface gold.