TIDELINE

We are breathers of water

take sea air

We waltz in breezes

dream of waves

We break voices on shores

sink in the deep

We swim with sea horses

drink the ocean

We are poets of surf

skim on tides

We are dancers in sand 

dip toes in sun

We soak poems in North Sea

rock with the roll of it

We are fishes flying

scream with seagulls

We walk on coral streets

awash with words

We are sharks at the seaside

laugh with dolphins

We hear echoes of foghorns

lonely in dunes

We are singers of shanties

roar with ships                                

KEITH ARMSTRONG

ROOKS AT BUNRATTY CASTLE

We’re Macnamara’s crows,

rooting for sticks and twigs in Limerick days.

We peck the flesh from Lord Gort’s arse,

from the hangers-on to his rich pickings.

We sweep our turbulent wings across the Shannon,

swimming in the Atlantic winds,

flailing over the airport.

We’re building our own

branches of castles,

screaming rebel rants at you below.

Us rooks

have seen the Vikings and the Stoddarts

rave and die.

We are a black brood

swarming though history,

watching you feckless humans

scrap over misery.

See how our wings beat

with the moment’s surf.

How dark our hearts grow 

with suffering.

Keith Armstrong

SONGBIRD

If I had been a really professional poet,

I would be still rewriting this,

poring over the umpteenth draft,

burning the midnight quill.

As it is, all I want to say again is this:

that a songbird does not need an Arts Council grant

to sing.

Keith Armstrong

I WANT MY POEMS IN A BIG PRESS

So you’re in print with a small press

a little press for a short arse

Well I want my poems in a big press

a large press with big breasts

with poems that talk to the world

with spirit in every word

KEITH ARMSTRONG 

MEN OF THE NORTH

Doctor Keith Armstrong presents:

‘Men of the North’ (part of Local History Month)

From poet John Cunningham to wood engraver Thomas Bewick, political agitator and poet Tom Spence, painter John Martin to writer Jack Common - their stories told by Dr Keith Armstrong aka The Jingling Geordie who also performs his own poems dedicated to this splendid array of local talent.

Thursday 17th May 2011  6.30-7.30pm 

Bewick Hall, Newcastle City Library

Admission free

Further information: tel 0191 2774149