On open mic nights Christo would as soon (or rather) read poems by his favourite poets than read his own compositions. And for some reason the guest blogs he wrote for the Dead Good Blog never contained any of his own compositions.
But he was passionate about poetry, read widely, commented constructively and wrote, albeit not prolifically. It has been a pleasure to read again, curate and present here some of my personal favourites.
Wyred For Sound
 |
| Christopher James Heyworth |
From above the thread of stream
silent yet sibilant sidles seaward
Skippool and Wardley's wresting
the shake snake-handled sidewinder.
Over there is where Illawalla dressed
in Hindu glamour as Mumbai let us
dream we were briefly Maharajahs
John Travolta-ing for Saturday Night
Shebas sashaying mouthing medleys.
Falstaff
Sir Anthony sidles into
the little space left in
my memory as the rather
gaunt and sallow History Man
who so horrified us
when so shallow but
costumed and padded
with gross belly and
straining belt commands
this stage as Falstaff
misleader of Hal, liar
personified, but Life-
lover as dimpled as
Dionysus - eat, drink,
make merry one and all
for tomorrow we die.
Thank You Stanley Cornflake
As a uniform, he always wore
the grey ironmonger's coat
immaculately pressed and bore
clipped hair neat as well as a
close shave.
Mr. Cornthwaite (all of us
minions called him only Mr.)
was no "Do It 'Cos I Say So" boss
but with patience would teach
and preach retail folklore:
Cooks' staples stored well inside
our mini-market shop advanced
for its 50s' existence; shelf-stacking
to re-arrange for early use-by at the
front; fast-moving lines checked
hourly if not sooner; trusted staff
becoming the Tasting Squad for
new fresh produce being considered
for supply - The Cornflake (never
uttered in his hearing) circulating
to ensure not only that his ever-clear
commands were reflected in full shelves
but also that staff were coping not
rushed or overwhelmed.
The best Warrant Officer cares
just as much commands as
my de-mobbed Warrant Officer
father used to tell me when I asked.
Sir Anthony sidles into
the little space left in
my memory as the rather
gaunt and sallow History Man
who so horrified us
when so shallow but
costumed and padded
with gross belly and
straining belt commands
this stage as Falstaff
misleader of Hal, liar
personified, but Life-
lover as dimpled as
Dionysus - eat, drink,
make merry one and all
for tomorrow we die.
Thank You Stanley Cornflake
As a uniform, he always wore
the grey ironmonger's coat
immaculately pressed and bore
clipped hair neat as well as a
close shave.
Mr. Cornthwaite (all of us
minions called him only Mr.)
was no "Do It 'Cos I Say So" boss
but with patience would teach
and preach retail folklore:
Cooks' staples stored well inside
our mini-market shop advanced
for its 50s' existence; shelf-stacking
to re-arrange for early use-by at the
front; fast-moving lines checked
hourly if not sooner; trusted staff
becoming the Tasting Squad for
new fresh produce being considered
for supply - The Cornflake (never
uttered in his hearing) circulating
to ensure not only that his ever-clear
commands were reflected in full shelves
but also that staff were coping not
rushed or overwhelmed.
The best Warrant Officer cares
just as much commands as
my de-mobbed Warrant Officer
father used to tell me when I asked.
Warwick Words
Thursday morning and I board
the Preston train, a dumpy DMU,
but less of a cattle-truck today.
Over the bridge or beneath
lines to Platform 5 to wait:
Branson's Scarlet Pendolino
will glide in soon bound
for Birmingham - wonder
who I shall meet and share
travelling moments with ?
At the caverns of New Street
I must wend to Moor Street
and a Chilterns train trundling
me south for Warwick's 1,100th.
birthday weekend and 100 years
since trains of Lancashire PALS
cattle-trucked themselves to
Flanders fields never to return.
Money Talks...
...and what it said back then on the railway bridge
at Bloomfield Road (no longer there of course)
was "You can spare me – it means only one less
penny ice lolly from the corner shop !" (no longer
there of course) and the train will make me huge
(steam no longer here of course) and the others
will laugh and cheer as you scramble down to
the line place me centred and climb back up
here again before the train shoots through to
Central Station (no longer there of course).
Gigantic copper-coloured disc and this recall.
Still talking half a century after.
War Poets
Poulton Library and
Adele & I are here to
share with whoever
arrives some thoughts
concerning War and
Literature. Linda sets
us up with chairs and
table, and first here is
delightful surprise: Pat
who I taught thirty years
ago - there will be no
need for me to dig a
trench and put on a
jacket bullet-proof
with tin hat on my
head - Philip Larkin
Alun Lewis, Sassoon
and Wilfred Owen
give staunch support
to Jon Stallworthy's
World War One tome
Anthem for Doomed
Youth: Twelve Poets
but doomed not us
this century later.
Travel
On the hailed ferry from
Wardley's Creek to jetty
at Cockle Hall I scull back
days to nosing through
ducklings on The Cam punting
past King's College Chapel on
Blue but no longer 'blue'
Our son
grins from ear........to..........ear
as Kompany
lifts the trophy
for all to see:
blue moon
here but
we are
no longer
BLUE
Ungrown
During this sort of fallow period
my inventiveness has been
hibernating within for the months
that are beginning to feel endless
where are the fresh shoots ?
Do I need a salvo to stir
the soil so that like poppies
long lying in wait under
too undisturbed soil pop their
red clarion call being vivified ?
Here I chop down pen not *****
and loosen the words waiting the
flowering of fresh inspiration.
There - just a flick of the wrist.
The Backs with puntsman
Eliot reminding us: When
we can see the backs of leaves
rain is waiting in the wings.
Our son
grins from ear........to..........ear
as Kompany
lifts the trophy
for all to see:
blue moon
here but
we are
no longer
BLUE
During this sort of fallow period
my inventiveness has been
hibernating within for the months
that are beginning to feel endless
where are the fresh shoots ?
Do I need a salvo to stir
the soil so that like poppies
long lying in wait under
too undisturbed soil pop their
red clarion call being vivified ?
Here I chop down pen not *****
and loosen the words waiting the
flowering of fresh inspiration.
There - just a flick of the wrist.
All poems (c) the estate of C J Heyworth
3 comments:
Lovely to read Christo's poetry. If he was there at all meeting, I knew I would be in for a treat with a conversation with him. We shared not just a fondness for words, but art - L S Lowry - and music, particularly the Moody Blues. I couldn't convince him that the MB's Graeme Edge was a poet, not even by showing him Graeme's book of poetry. Happy memories. Thank you, Steve, for including him.
A remarkable soul - much missed. We shared the car journey to many events. I have really enjoyed reading this selection of Christo's poems. Rhank you Steve Rowland fir this blog.
What I remember most about Christo is his voice.
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