NEW COMPILATION "CACTUS HEART" RELEASED TODAY!
Hi,
This week we're turning our attention on a new mini-compilation which I have just released this week called CACTUS HEART. The main reason that this book exists is because of the photo that appears on the cover, which I took during a trip to Los Angeles back in the Summer of 2011.
Here's some information on it and where you can get a copy should you wish to...
CACTUS HEART is a book of “lost poems for lost loves”; a compilation of prose and verse selected from all the collections that I’ve released since 2001. Some of them are funny, some of them are sad – but all of them have a certain spike to them; rather like that cactus again! Come on in, dear reader – and rest your broken heart!
Paperback link: http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/cactus-heart/18847348 £5.99
Hardback link: http://www.lulu.com/product/hardcover/cactus-heart/18849097 £9.99
And here's a list of the poems that appear in the compilation - including which collections they originally appeared in.
JUNKFOOD (2001)
CIVIL TONGUE (OFFICE ROMANCE)
ROLLERCOASTER (2002)
SHE NEVER HAD ANY LUCK
THIRD TIME LUCKY (2002)
BREAK MY HEART
DOWNSTAIRS FROM UPSTAIRS
EATING FOR ONE
GAD-A-BOUT / STAY-AT-HOME
GET OVER YOURSELF
TRYING
GO 4TH AND DIVIDE (2003)
DECORATING MORRISSEY
GOT IT ALL
HE SANG
LOVE AND AMNESIA
THE ROCKPOOL
RUNNING DOWN CORRIDORS
SHE TAKES OFF HER RINGS
THERE ARE NO DISCOTHEQUES IN THE STARS
THE AUTUMNAL E.P. (2003)
MY LOVER IS LOST
LOVE SONGS FOR THE BITTER AND TWISTED (2004)
IN TWO MINDS
JEALOUSY DID HIM NO GOOD
MUGSHOTS (2004)
KEEP ON GETTING IT WRONG
NEVER AT HOME
THE ONE LEFT BEHIND
POETIQUETTE (2005)
FEELS LIKE THE END DAYS
IF DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER…
POEMS TO MAKE BEARS GROWL (2006)
DARLING, TIME FOR A WORD
I WANT TO MEET YOU AGAIN (FOR THE FIRST TIME)
RHYMES BEARS STEAL PIES FOR (2007)
THE INFATUATION DANCE
WE DON’T DANCE TO LOVESONGS
WHAT I SAY (AND WHAT I MEAN)
SHY YETI’S INCREDIBLE PIE-CRUST COLLECTION (2008)
THE BALLAD OF A GO-GO BEAR
I KNOW WE’LL NEVER BE TOGETHER…
IF POEMS WERE PIES (2009)
WHATEVER
CAVEMAN LOGIC (2009)
BE MY VALENTINE
THE SHY LIFE (2009)
GOODBYE, YET NOT FAREWELL
I LOVE YOU, BUT…
I MUST’VE BEEN REALLY BAD…
MAKE ALL YOUR LIES TRUE
DO YETI WEAR PYJAMAS? (2010)
TRYING TO GET BACK ON TRACK
YETI HUGS AND OTHER HORRORS (2011)
WE’RE AN ITEM NOW
THE VAMPIRE COWS OF SCUNTHORPE (2011)
CHEATING TIME
HOW FOOLISH OF YOU NOT TO LOVE ME (PART 1)
THE LIGHT AT THE END…
SHE HAD EVERYTHING
FUNERAL FOR A SHOE (2011)
UNEARTHING THE PAST
ARE WE THERE, YETI? (2012)
CACTUS HEART
GLUE TO MEND A BROKEN HEART
YOU’RE NO FRIEND... LET’S BE ENEMIES!!!
Before I go I've also posted a piece called LOVE AND AMNESIA which is included in CACTUS HEART. It first appeared in my 4th collection GO 4TH AND DIVIDE (2003), which will be getting the 10th anniversary treatment next year. It's a prose piece and rather a creepy one, to be honest! I hope you enjoy it!
Before I sign off I'd like to leave you with a link to another old poem from my "long-lost" POETRY IN MOTION album which I recorded in 2008/2009. It's called THE SOLEMN SALAMANDER and has been loaded on my SOUNDCLOUD profile just this week.
Here's the link: http://soundcloud.com/shyyeti/the-solemn-salamander
Next week I'll be talking a bit about what I hope to be reading on Radio Wey on Saturday 11th February. It's going to be a slightly early Valentine's Day show - so expect a few sarcastic love poems!
More soon...
Yeti Hugs,
Paul xx
LOVE AND AMNESIA
They talk of love and amnesia…
The hospital says this is what it is…
They say there is a chance he will never recall…
Never remember anything leading up to the accident…
The fall…
Tumbling face-first downstairs with that sickening…
Inevitable CRACK.
When his head hit the hall tiles…
I related my official story to all the official people…
“I found him when I got home…”
That was the story I told the hospital and the police…
But the truth is…
He found me with his best friend –
In the marital bed…
In fully-fledged unfaithfulness.
That was the reality.
Nothing more…
It was over.
The day the ambulances came.
The marriage - the affair - the lies.
At least until…
The hospital says he has amnesia…
They say there is a chance he will never regain his memory of that day…
Now he’s home.
They say he has blocked out the trauma…
His fall – the shock of it - banished.
He’ll not remember.
But sometimes – in his eyes – I see…
Perhaps… Just maybe…
He does…
But we say nothing.
I’m here now.
With this sad and silent man.
The faithful wife - the mother - the carer.
Held a guilty hostage…
Because he knows I know he knows…
Because neither of us have forgotten and –
Neither of us will say a word.
LOVE AND AMNESIA is copyright Paul Chandler 2012. This post is also Copyright Paul Chandler 2012.
