It’s early Sunday morning in Australia. We are sweltering in a heatwave so it’s an icy glass of water for me. Beautiful poem and loved the way you read it. Thank you
All good this end - looking forward to starting my RLF placement this September! And thank you for all the encouragement with that. It’d be lovely if you did more readings of your work too - the joy of your substack is that I never know what I’m going to find but it’s always a precious gift. I’m so sorry to hear about Chris - you’ve had such tragedy in your family, and heartbreaking that he destroyed so much of his work himself. His painting yesterday was something else. I wish he had left more behind. Sending love on a soggy old Sunday down south!
So fantastic you are an RLF fellow welcome to the very special and slightly odd club. I’m one of the mentors for The Reading Rounds project again this year… where’s your fellowship. Yes so much of Chris’s work is lost. I’ll show my two other main pieces by him over the next while if you like. So glad you like the surprises on here. My brief for myself is is freedom to do any Damon thing I like as long as it comes from that creative space inside. Glad you’re open to that 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 you’ll be amazing with RLF am sure.
Hello John, I like the idea of being part of a slightly odd club! I’m going to be at St Mary’s, Twickenham and have met the current fellow, Jini Reddy, who is lovely. I’m daunted but excited.
Please do show some more of Chris’ work over the next few weeks. I’m so sad he destroyed so much but glad you rescued some of it. And yes, please do keep the surprises coming. It’s such a joy to open the Substack every weekend!
Hello John, it’s Saturday evening, a good friend has just gone home and I put this on and shut my eyes and listened. I think I’ve forgotten the joy of hearing poetry. And you read so wonderfully. More please and some of your own too. And I also loved your brother’s artwork - beautiful! Have you got a lot of his work?
Hi Marianne- I hope you are well. Bless you for being so kind - I’m very out of practice with the last 12 months especially, but it’s fun to share and will help me start building my reading aloud abilities back. More soon - we’ll perhaps make this more regular and see where it goes. I have three main pieces of Chris’s work. And a collection of 12 early small sketch/grafitti like pieces. There was a lot more but I think he destroyed much of his work in his illness before he chose to leave us… so I’m very lucky to have these. If I had more I’d put a little exhibition on in my studio…
Yes... please read more poetry! This piece... just hit me hard in the heart... lots of emotions. Inspired to get back into Neruda... it's been decades.
You’d love this particular book I think Drew. Is published by Copper Canyon press in US… yes it reminds us of the greater work of the poet and artist- much love
Thank you for starting my Saturday morning with this beautiful poem. I too am drinking hot black coffee and looking at the chilly gloom of morning, trying to return to writing after a break that stretched on too long. This poem spoke to my heart and reminded me of the why.
It’s early Sunday morning in Australia. We are sweltering in a heatwave so it’s an icy glass of water for me. Beautiful poem and loved the way you read it. Thank you
Bless you Wendy - more readings soon
Hello John,
All good this end - looking forward to starting my RLF placement this September! And thank you for all the encouragement with that. It’d be lovely if you did more readings of your work too - the joy of your substack is that I never know what I’m going to find but it’s always a precious gift. I’m so sorry to hear about Chris - you’ve had such tragedy in your family, and heartbreaking that he destroyed so much of his work himself. His painting yesterday was something else. I wish he had left more behind. Sending love on a soggy old Sunday down south!
So fantastic you are an RLF fellow welcome to the very special and slightly odd club. I’m one of the mentors for The Reading Rounds project again this year… where’s your fellowship. Yes so much of Chris’s work is lost. I’ll show my two other main pieces by him over the next while if you like. So glad you like the surprises on here. My brief for myself is is freedom to do any Damon thing I like as long as it comes from that creative space inside. Glad you’re open to that 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 you’ll be amazing with RLF am sure.
Hello John, I like the idea of being part of a slightly odd club! I’m going to be at St Mary’s, Twickenham and have met the current fellow, Jini Reddy, who is lovely. I’m daunted but excited.
Please do show some more of Chris’ work over the next few weeks. I’m so sad he destroyed so much but glad you rescued some of it. And yes, please do keep the surprises coming. It’s such a joy to open the Substack every weekend!
I really enjoyed this 🌸. Look forward to more
Bless you Anthony
Hello John, it’s Saturday evening, a good friend has just gone home and I put this on and shut my eyes and listened. I think I’ve forgotten the joy of hearing poetry. And you read so wonderfully. More please and some of your own too. And I also loved your brother’s artwork - beautiful! Have you got a lot of his work?
Hi Marianne- I hope you are well. Bless you for being so kind - I’m very out of practice with the last 12 months especially, but it’s fun to share and will help me start building my reading aloud abilities back. More soon - we’ll perhaps make this more regular and see where it goes. I have three main pieces of Chris’s work. And a collection of 12 early small sketch/grafitti like pieces. There was a lot more but I think he destroyed much of his work in his illness before he chose to leave us… so I’m very lucky to have these. If I had more I’d put a little exhibition on in my studio…
Yes... please read more poetry! This piece... just hit me hard in the heart... lots of emotions. Inspired to get back into Neruda... it's been decades.
Thank you John xx. 🙏🏽
You’d love this particular book I think Drew. Is published by Copper Canyon press in US… yes it reminds us of the greater work of the poet and artist- much love
John, this has been an amazing reading. Especially with coffee as inspirational soft-kick !!
You are so kind Bob. I need a lot of practice reading again - thank you for your graciousness
Thank you for starting my Saturday morning with this beautiful poem. I too am drinking hot black coffee and looking at the chilly gloom of morning, trying to return to writing after a break that stretched on too long. This poem spoke to my heart and reminded me of the why.
Awesome Rachelle - the Why is where it’s at. Here’s a coffee cup raise to ya