A Tribute to Gene Hackman

Gene Hackman had an acting career spanning the second half of the twentieth century and into the twenty-first. Winner of two Academy awards, over his career he had many other awards and nominations. I consider Hackman’s performances to be grounded and real, so in memory of a great actor, here are some of my favourite…

On a Winter’s Night

Bare-branched trees guard an old cobbled roadStones gleam wetly in the lantern lightDark clouds hang low full of storm and thunderYou breathe moisture in the ice-cold airWalking briskly, bundled in winter clothesThat don’t quite keep out the frigid nightLights from house windows behind their gatesGlow warm, inviting, promising cosy fires, slippers, hot chocolateYou see home…

Scream My Life

Things fall apart, they say And life is crumbling scaffolding Disintegration, dust falls like rain Where is there help when needed What do you do When everyone around you Needs more help than you? Unable to save each other We stare helplessly while foundations shake And collapse into the void So scream, my life There…

Economy is not Society

Governments have a strange tendency to use ‘economy’ as a synonym of ‘society’. They talk about protecting the economy as if it is the only measure of a people. It is not. The governments of small countries line up behind more powerful countries because they want to protect the economy ie the money. Politicians want…

With the Angels

You left on a Wednesday morning You were very sick and couldn’t stay I move around my home, confused I look around and all I can see Are the places you used to fill The absence of you My body is used to you And is constantly surprised When you’re just not there I remember…

Seven Days

Monday already? Where did the weekend go? Tuesday is Monday-light, still the start of the week Wednesday is so-called hump day, now we’re getting somewhere Thursday we start to taste the weekend so near Friday is the last slog to get through Saturday is glorious, fun and relaxation Sunday brings anticipatory stress of a pending…

Review “In Bruges” (2008)

“In Bruges” is a crime thriller with dark comedy elements, and stars Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, and Ralph Fiennes. It involves two hitmen arriving in Bruges, after a job that has gone wrong. They have been instructed by their boss to stay in Bruges until he contacts them. Ray (Farrell) is appalled by this, as…

Lying in the Grass

Grass grows tall on a warm spring day Butterflies and bees browse at the flower market Birds feed little ones and gossip in the trees Sprawling in the green shade Hidden among the tall blades Old  cat sniffs the breeze Yellow eyes blink sleepily Too nice a day to be on the hunt She’s just…

Just a Few Favourite Actors

As we watch films and television, over time we get to have particular actors that we like (and dislike). The following are a few of my personal favourites, and why I think they’re good.  Peter Cushing was a British actor who starred in over 100 films. He was best known for his work in horror…

One and Done

We have seen many days And will see many more But not this day Today is unique, as are all our tomorrows It’s a one-and-done deal We fill our lives with routine And let the days roll by Til suddenly it’s next week, month, year And we wonder where the time goes Would it be…