Moments of Joy – Moments of Darkness

Anthony knows about depression because he lives in it; he understands about nature because he was brought up surrounded by it. His poetry is a culmination of them both. They sometimes merge perfectly in his body of work spanning nearly a decade, he writes mainly about his depression. Some capture the complexities of his life, some the simplistic nature of nature and some the joys he finds. Each poem reveals a little more of what he suffers through day to day, moment to moment. He handwrites in little pink notebooks, because he loves the colour pink and putting pencil to paper.

Moments of Joy – Moments of Darkness will enable the reader to journey with Anthony through his depression, as he battles his daily demons, most times it’s a losing battle, but sometimes there’s a crack of light and nature shines through to create a happy moment. As the book unfolds the reader will see how he learns about himself to combat his depression and sometimes how to find peace in the simplest of things: a cup of tea to a cloud in the sky.

Moments of Joy – Moments of Darkness are a culmination of his poems written over these years.

M.J.K’s One Hundred Talks on Mary Jane Kelly

In the late spring of 2019, I suffered an accident that put me in a deep coma for days. The details of the event are yet to be clearly explained, since I developed a retrograde amnesia, which doesn't let me remember the previous moments and thus fully recall it. However, the raw facts go like this: I woke up in the middle of the night, in the seaside house where I had travelled for the weekend, went outside and fell out of a nearby three storey balcony on the asphalt in the street. When I came out of the coma, I was diagnosed with a gash in the carotid artery on the right side of my neck.

It immediately came to my mind that what provoked Mary Jane Kelly's death, the last victim of the so-called Whitechapel murders in 1888 committed by Jack the "Ripper" (a sobriquet never mentioned across this book) was precisely the same injury as a result of aggression, although many barbaric ones had been perpetrated on her. Of all the canonical Ripper murders, Mary Jane Kelly's is considered the most gruesome, and also puzzling, of them all. During the long weeks I passed in bed following my accident, Mary Jane Kelly invaded my thoughts and gave me company, offering me talks on herself, always in the form of poems and verses. That's the genesis of this book.

Little Heart Beats

Imagine when you first fell in love. What did it feel like?

Little Heart Beats captures a love journey stemming from when you first met your soulmate, how you reacted, how you knew you were in love, what it felt like, and what it means to not only give out love but also to be loved back.

It is subdivided into four sections that will leave you believing in love again.

Just Outside This Room

This book of poems was partially written while I was quarantined courtesy of the Covid-19 pandemic in Henan Province, China.
A stay that was prolonged to seven and a half months.
The myth and mystery of human experience evoked by being alone, finding myself on the edge of no return. The vulnerability, sudden solitude, struggles in a lifetime, consolidated in meditations, poems and reflections.
Most of the poems are spiritual in context, some just free thoughts.
My nephew’s take on this book of poetry was: ‘If you thought through the poems, then I will read them.’
I am very thankful and humble for this unexpected and unique opportunity, a journey of lifetime.
I am also looking forward to sharing this adventure in mind and spirit with you.
Michael Hovi

Inciting Change

Whilst being homeless for two years and living on the peripherals of society, many an hour was contemplated to realise what is paramount in one’s life. Together, with the support and help from specialised agencies, I now have been housed and working for 13 years.

Eternally grateful for prayers answered, I hope that through the sharing of my words, others can gain insight and inspiration from a different world of thought and experience. It is hoped that the reader may realise that “coupled with consistency, the right support, love, and timely opportunities, one can conquer adversity!”

To those currently struggling with adversity in their lives, whatever their circumstances may be, I sincerely pray and hope for a better tomorrow. I regained my faith in God and humanity and pray you do too. If my words have by some measure helped in the process, I am humbled.

If Cows Could Fly

Ever seen a flying cow, a horse that knits, or an eel that rides a bike? Well, welcome in to a world where your fantasy and imagination can bring them all to life.

This set of humorous poems, mainly concerning the strange things animals may get up to, are suitably illustrated by the author's whimsical drawings.

I'll Draw an Iris on my Heart and send it to You

The thing about poetry is, that
She has but the simplest of rules.
She does not have to rhyme,
Nor be written in clear lines.
She doesn’t even need true letters,
All she has to do, is move the spirit, break the heart and mend an injured soul.

Helene J. Storm

Heart ’n’ Mind

This poetry book is based on a journey of struggle and hurt. The hope is that the words in here take you through the life journey of Sammy and that the words help anyone who has been through similar times, if not the same. Her aim for this poetry book was to create awareness that no one is ever alone and that there is always someone out there who has suffered in the same way you have.

Yes, the poetry in here is based on loss and violence suffered and for Sammy, writing this book is her way of saying, ‘You don’t have to hurt and suffer in pain alone, write it down and turn it into help for others.’

Generation Care

Drawing on his experience of over 50 years of health care service the author has imagined how life would improve if mankind moved towards a more caring and loving society. While mankind has greatly benefited from the goods and services which have been delivered by capitalist societies, the excesses of capitalism and the selfishness which leads to inequity have ruined many lives. Love calls us to a caring capitalism in which competition delivers high standards while governance protects the poor. Everyone’s basic needs are met by this society. The model of inspection against governance standards has been used with great success by the Care Quality Commission to improve care and to protect vulnerable patients in the UK National Health Service. With the potential disasters of a viral pandemic followed by the environmental threat of global warming, capitalists are being called to work primarily for care and not primarily for money. It is interesting that this same message is contained in the teachings of Jesus who founded our culture.

From Heart to Mind to Words

Indulge in a poetic journey that unravels the essence of self and the enigmatic human conundrum, beckoning you to embark on a path of profound self-evaluation. These poems serve as mirrors, reflecting perspectives uniquely tailored to each reader’s individuality, fostering non-judgmental introspection on a deeply personal level.

The author draws from life’s observations, ingeniously crafting verses that encapsulate universal questions and fleeting glimpses of potential answers – questions that resonate with every soul who encounters them. With each verse, the reader is compelled to transcend the ordinary negativities that shroud their true selves, paving the way for unhindered and retrospective analysis of their actions and motives.

The fluidity of the writing beckons the reader to be wholly present, free of distractions, and beckons them to reflect with unfiltered honesty. Each piece becomes an invitation to explore profound inquiries: Is this me? Do I recognize myself in these lines? Should I take action? Or, at the very least, can I become better?

Die! Not Likely

I like my poetry to cover Life that others will recognise and relate to.

I try to bring in emotions and humour to help others to think and see a different perspective.

I enjoyed writing this book which just seemed to happen between my second husband dying in 2014 and having my stroke in 2015.

Black Clouds to Sunshine

These poems are the author’s way of expressing her feelings and thoughts, and a way of coping with mental illness experienced by herself and her family. By putting her thoughts into poems, some sad and some funny, it gives her a sense of belief.

She hopes this experiment of hers will help others out there, knowing there is a way to relieve the pressure of anxiety by putting pen to paper and writing about those pent-up thoughts.