Original Song Lyric: My Love

Unfortunately, I never dated any of my early songs; I simply scribbled them out onto any handy scraps of paper - I was usually in a hurry to record them before they were forgotten. Once I was satisfied with the lyric, and that usually meant with the melody as they often came out of my head (?) together, I carefully copied them out into a hard-backed note book using a fountain pen (remember those?) and in my best writing. I reckon I could have been a doctor with that skill level.

The same  applied to the guitar accompaniments really, in fact the chord structure often suggested how the melody progressed. However, in this case I rarely bothered to make a note of the chords and any instrumental flourishes. I never developed longer instro pieces because it was all about the songs at the time. Surprising, you may think since my main inspiration was Hank Marvin and The Shadows. But both sides of my music were kept apart and never the twain did meet. But I digress ...

Over the years, I must have written hundreds of songs, a lot were never written into the notebooks because they were inferior for one reason or another or reminded me of another song which I may have heard on the radio or TV. I was scrupulous about that. But certainly not all survived to find favour by winning a place in my notebooks. I now have to rely on events, people and places to try and date the songs, that is why the dates I quote, when I do, are so loosely defined. Nowadays I write song much less frequently, and they are immediately typed into the computer where I keep a journal since they can be easily edited. I am also adding my older songs to this journal slowly but surely. Which is what sparked the idea for this whole project.

But for now, here is another of those very early songs, I have no memories of any sort about this song; why, when or where it came from. It is entitled, "My Love":-

MY LOVE

My Love, 

What have I done to hurt you, won't you tell me?

What have I done to make you turn against me?

oh my Love, Oh my Love

My Love, 

Did you really mean those things that you said to me?

Did you realise how those things cut right through me?

And hurt me, deep inside

(bridge)

Won't you give me another little chance?

Tell me where I went wrong.

I'm ready to take all of the blame,

If you tell me where I went wrong.

My Love,

What's it gonna take to get us back together?

There's really such a lot could hold us two together.

Oh my Love, stay my Love

Oh my Love, stay my Love ….

Hear the song on my blog, Guitar Bashin' or maybe on the musical story A Ukulele Journey. It may take a little while to post to both sites as it is now past my bedtime, well I am getting on a bit. Back with more on this project and more original lyrics soon,

Published My First Book Of Poetry

I have finally done it!

I struggled through the process at CreateSpace, the site owned by Amazon to publish my first poetry book. I am waiting anxiously to see a proof copy before it goes on sale.

I say I struggled, but really the process itself is quite simple however I have always struggled with the images which accompany my poems. I originally posted copies of my first three ebooks on Scribd anad made them freely available for download. I have also embedded them into posts on this blog in the past. The images did not create a problem either on line or in printed copies.

They are mostly my own photographs which are at a resolution of 72dpi, but they are large so need to be considerably reduced for the ebooks. However, CreateSpace prints books at 300dpi and so rejected the intial images. I had to create images which were reduced but by a smaller amount for the createSpace proofs. hence I want to see how they really look.

Next time it should be much easier, having understood the issues. Or I could simply publish without the supporting images, which I don't really want to do.

I have selected my second volume (as published on Scribd) to be my first on Amazon. I have my reasons. However, I will be making the Scribd ebooks available for a fee once the physical books appear on Amazon. The e-books contain 37 - 40 pages but some of that is photos and notes about why I wrote a particular poem. If you want a copy of the ebooks then head over to Scibd and download soon whilst they are still free.

I don't honestly believe I will sell many copies of these books, although there are a couple of useful non-fiction books which are already written and which I will be adding to before publishing as physical books. I have higher hopes with these.

I would love to have a decent physical copy of the poetry books in my hands however, call it vanity but I do love books and have a large library. Much to the chagrin of my long-suffering wife.

I will mention this again when I get the proof copy of that first book, so don't forget. If you are interested, head over to Scribd and download whilst still free.

A New Collection Of Poetry from Artyfax

I have now caught up with the task of publishing my poetry as e-books on scribd.com. The latest collection is number 3 and brings things right up to date. I have a few very new ones which have been posted in this blog; and I have a large number of song lyrics written 1960 - 1980. I may at some stage try to get these included in a collection but I am not worried about these, most of the better lyrics found their way into volume 1.

Here is the new volume:-

Nightmare and other poems by John Dyhouse

Don't forget, if you like what you read here, you can get the free download at Scribd. Wish me luck with volume 4.

Back With A New Poem - A new day

It has been a while since my last post, I have been enjoying the environment at Bubblews. It is an income sharing site which allows posts on any subject (with the usual limitations to keep it family friendly) and will accept anything from 400 characters to full length articles. If you are used to submiting articles to this sort of site, you will miss the formatting which you are probably used to but a new version is promised on this new site over August.

It is growing fast, not least because it shares 50% of advertising revenue with the writers (aka bubblers). It is a cross between a social media site (and interaction on the site is also paid) and an article writing site, which explains the wide variety in posts accepted. Check out a few of mine from my Bubblews profile page, I write more than many bubblers but many are beginning to understand about the concept of getting views from google and a passive income. Not conducive to internet marketing! No affiliate of referral links are allowed.

I am currently making $50 per month, although the potential is for much more. The only question is how much time you want to spend making money. It is probably the site with the fastest rate of potential earnings that I have seen. On many of the sites paying for views, monthly rates are less than an order of magnitude smaller than this.

But to the main reason for this post - I am back! I will be posting on this blog again. I have had fun on Bubblews but do want that little extra freedon of writing on my own (?) blog.

So without further ado, A poem written since my last post (and there have been one or two), my dry period seems to have been overcome, although I am wary about making claims about this, so enough said.

A new day - by John Dyhouse

A blue sky
A great sky
A what am I going to do today sky.

The sun's out
No clouds of doubt
Obscure the warming rays, so put the flags out.

I feel good
Of course I should
A day like this inspires all hearts not made of wood.

A day to live
A day to give
A day to gather hope and just be positive.

A little tiff
Then make a gift
Settle that argument don't dare to think, "what if... ?"

A new day
A new way
So show your grateful thanks without more delay.
 

And if you are interested, I am almost ready to compile poems written over the last 12 months onto a new e-book. My first collection of poems from my early days of songwriting, yes they all started as song lyrics, is already available from Scribd as a free download. I may chance my arm and actually charge a small fee for the new volume. Now that is something new!

Helpless, a new poem

It has been some time since I managed a poem of any length and this one came out of the blue, a complete surprise.

it is not in my usual style, no rhymes, no rythm and lines of different length; it came about after a problem with my son who some time ago suffered from viral encephelitis and we were unsure wether we would lose him for several days.

But out of his suffering, I found that I could work out my own feelings of sorrow and almost utter helplessness to help him as I started writing this poem. I have only just finished typing it from my notebook, editing as I typed so it is still in a state of flux and may change but I wanted to post it as it stands because of what it means. Hope that you like it.

HELPLESS – by John Dyhouse

When someone you love

Hurts so very much

And nothing you do can ease the pain

You feel so very helpless

As youngsters a hug, or a kiss may help

But life can deal some tragic hands

Which can’t be thrown-in or the cards exchanged

Makes you feel simply helpless

Several days in critical care

In a coma on life support machines

What can you do, wait and pray

Feeling so alone and helpless

Thank god for the nurses and doctors

Battling to save the life of our son

Thinking the worst but hoping for more

You feel so uselessly helpless

In time the virus is beaten, the battle is won

And now we await for results

What damage will show as the patient awakes

Oh Life makes you feel so helpless

Good news, all motor skills still seem Ok

No physical side effects lurk

But as time passes will we start to see

A sting in a venomous tail

Tiredness, fatigue, those invisible foes

Make life a hard battleground

Anxious, depressed and nothing can help

You feel so achingly helpless

You feel the pain and see the tears

The struggles of everyday life

You offer your help but nothing’s enough

You’re just so saddened and helpless

Though life must go on and we learn to adapt

It doesn’t make living it easy

When people can’t see the pain in your heart

And don’t understand how their action can hurt

You feel so incredibly helpless

New Poems: The Artist's Role & Buddist Chant

Back in quickly to post two more of my daily poems. Not sure that I would rate any of these as world beaters but it is beginning to be easier to start writing on different subjects. Today, I focus on artists and buddhists. Also I am developing a process or/and a routine which I am sure will benefit me in the days (months ?) to come. I would love to know what you think of them, and look forward to any criticsm in your comments.

The images are often of the subject of the poem but the monk was selected rather than the cover of the CD I was listening to at the time.

26^th June

 The Artist’s Rôle 

 

Abstract abstraction

Collage perfection,

From imperfect parts

To a meaningful whole.

Textures contrasting

Directional casting,

Calm and contentment

The artists true goal.

A skilful creation

By well practiced action.

A bold affirmation

Of the artist’s proud ole

A colourful flourish

But never too garish.

Artistic appraisal?

It’s food for the soul.

 This is one of two pictures hanging on a hotel wall by the same artist. I enjoy creating collages and rather liked these works. What better way of celebrating them than to write my next poem on the subject of art.

 I found this more difficult to write because I had actually chosen a subject this time. Lots of editing and rewriting but eventually arriving at something I can live with.

In trying to find a rhyme with “whole” in the first verse, I actually found lots of possibilities and decided to make this a feature of the poem. I used a rhyme on the last line of each verse. A different rhyming form for me but one I think works quite well.

27^th June

A Better Life

Shining sounds

Of people singing

Clashing gongs

And bells a-ringing.

Imagining

Some far off temple

Mystic views

A world of fable.

Holy monks

Will chant and raise 

Voices aloud

In simple praise,

To their God

Whose all forgiving

Goodness

Will reward them all.

Alternative last line for this poem:-

“Their reward will bring”

The song came to mind whilst driving back from a short break; my wife had put on a CD of Buddhist Chants and this set off a few thoughts which I completed after the journey.

I will be saying more about my process in the very near future, although I may well be writing a Squidoo lens (=article). I will be posting  the  link on here though.

Writing Poetry

I have written Poetry/lyrics for many years without considering the technicalities. I used to be subjected to poetry at school and obviously picked up a little understanding of the gendre, and of course I was like any other teenager in the sixties a listener/consumer of pop music.

So I became aware of rhyme, metre and other issues and thought I knew what worked and what didn't. But with a little time on my hands now, in my 65th year, I am determined to try and learn a little more. Will it make my poems/lyrics any better? Well, that I don't know but I am going to find out.

I have just found a web site (creative writing) which offers lessons in various aspects of creative writing including : how to write poetry. I shall be following the lessons and hoping to write something of my experience in getting to grips with structure, techniques rhyming schemes and many more. I also hope to be adding a few new poems rather than trawling through my old, sometimes schoolboy, efforts. Not that I believe they were not or are not worthwhile, I am proud to have written them, but I want to write something with more of an intelligent outlook, something more personal ........ ?????  Do I really mean that? I am not sure what I mean really, but hopefully you will be able to judge for yourselves.

So for my first "new" work, I offer a piece about waiting - something I truly find is a pet hate of mine.

It actually reminds me of The Cat In the Hat, or at least the style that Dr Seuss, the childrens author used to write in. I read many of his books to my son's when they were small. If you don't know his writing, check out his biography page, but remember these are for small children. Horton the elephant, the lorax, I remember them all so well.