IN MEMORIAM
This website is dedicated to a very special person in my life, my mother. She a real martyr against intense prejudice. She is the reason why I exist.
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About my work
My work is inspired by the poets Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Emily Bronte and John Keats to name a few. I began my creative work with writing song lyrics. In the 1980's I gained an A Level in English, and then turned my attention to poetry.
I won a runner up prize for an essay on Peace in the early 1980's and launched my writing work with the motivation gained by this prize.
I got a favourable comment from a professional writer for a poem on the Virgin Mary and won a runner up prize for a poem written in the Spanish Language entitled "El Fuente".
More recently, I have gained a Pass with distinction in an online Poetry Writing course.
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About me:
Born in Nairobi, Kenya I had to leave my
homeland (my natural mother was a coastal Kenyan) in 1969 at the age of
16. I stayed for a brief period in
Nigeria at the time of the civil war. I
also stayed in Jamaica for about four years.
My father (of Iranian origin) had gained a teaching contract there at a
High School. My brief stay in Nigeria
was my first close hand experience of civil war.
I came to Reading UK in 1974, and have lived
here ever since. I am qualified in AAT
Accounts at Technician Level, although my work was in customer service.
Other than accounts, I am also schooled in
Literature. This includes course credits
in The Bronte’s, Shakespeare as well as in Literary Theory, gained from Oxford University at their Continuing Education department.
I began with writing crime fiction, as a result
of reading a lot of this type of genre; my favorites are still Raymond
Chandler, Dorothy L Sayers, and the Alfred Hitchcock mysteries. I now write poetry, being influenced by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, John Keats, T S Eliot and Emily Bronte.
My poetry has mainly been “message” poetry
concerning social issues, but recently I have broadened my scope to write with three
types of poetic structure with a few different genres.
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Photographs-Cambridge
The above photographs were taken in the city of Cambridge, UK.
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The picture above is of one of the Cambridge University Colleges.
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This sculpture was photographed on the Churchill College campus. It struck me as new and innovative. Simple in design, it symbolises some interesting geometric concept. It took some time for me to appreciate the skill behind the statue, not being an artist myself.
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From the Briefcase:
Poetry
The Rent
Damp is returning. I’m frowning
Seeking work, nothing coming Funds are low, the bank
Threatens more and more
With no one else to help
I’m trembling more and more
I’ve got to do something now
I’ve spent lots on education
To feed my intellect
Make my skills perfect
Spending plenty cash on food
Going here and there for a job
Rejections arrive by the score
Emptiness in my flat, my home
Bitterness cuts me to the bone
I’ve got to do something now
That clock looks shining
Clean, gold plated. Looks new
I ought to sell it. Pawn it
For many a dollar, not few
It’s getting late. I should rush
Almost sold it, face is in a flush
I’ve got to do something now
© “The Rent” by
Hasan Abdulla, 07/2016
#damp #funds #work #bank #food #flat #clock #skills
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Poem:
A Delicate
Being
Why is everybody picking on me? Always The teacher is hollering, shouting
“Why can’t you learn. Why don’t you see?
The answers are messy, and lacking
In any sense I can imagine”
Could someone please ask him
Why is everybody picking on me?
Going home on a summer stroll
Boy, it could have been fun
Soon the heat, took its toll
I hear a loud shotgun
I run for life, run for shelter
I bump into a police officer
He arrests me on the spot
I tell him, I’m drunk because it’s hot
Why is everybody picking on me
In the prison cells so tough
These jailbirds look rough
I take the medicine I’m given
Then released, and forgiven
Back home in his nest
A robin alone in his nest
To isolate him is a crime
We are two of a kind
Why is everybody picking on me?
© “A Delicate
Being” by Hasan Abdulla
#teacher #summer #stroll #heat #shelter #police #prison #home
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This is where I sometimes visit Oxford for lectures. This is a location of a division of Oxford University for the not so young.
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An Evening
Rendezvous
Strolling along the river
Blue rippling waters, white swans
Floating downstream, together
In pairs. Warm sun on my cold arms
You were walking with caution
Sombre, attentive for any sign
My heart swelled with emotion
Looking at your solitude, like mine
We walked across each other
Yet managed only a smile
For a moment, I felt warmer
But we drifted apart, for a while
We come and go, with scarce a word
A love affair, few have ever heard
© “An Evening
Rendezvous” by Hasan Abdulla, 07/2016
#river #swans #waters #walked #solitude #love #heart
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Dream Girl
I’m floating as in a dream
Scents of rose blossoms, everywhere
She appears, my beauty queen
Like a mirage. Then she will
disappear
She haunts my night, my day
I hear her words of love
All along life’s lonesome highway
She remains my golden dove
She stands by me, all along
All through the days, and years
With her, I have no fears
My princess; she does no wrong
Yet all through please understand
She’s an image in a foreign land
© “Dream Girl” by Hasan
Abdulla, 07/2016
#dream #blossoms #queen #mirage #night #dove #foreign #princess
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Sailboat
The sailor, opening his drink
Sips his bottle of soda, he’s thinking
About a sailboat he had seen sink
Gazing at the sunset, he’s mourning
Remembers the parties on the boat
Always it sailed, always afloat
Pangs of sorrow, that are emerging
The sailor, opening his drink
Looks back at the past
Some things would always last
Tries not to be pitying
Sips his bottle of soda, he’s thinking
Of many an ocean liner
Yet none lovely and finer
Remembers as he takes his drink
About a sailboat, he had seen sink
The coast was warm that day
Strong winds blew its way
The sailboat drowned. Remembers
sombrely
Gazing at the sunset, he’s mourning
© “Sailboat” by
Hasan Abdulla, 07/2016
#sailor #drink #sunset #afloat #boat #ocean #coast
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A Day at
Work?
On a bright Sunday morning
Opening a door to a garden
The sun is hot, and rising
The flowers bloom everywhere
And church bells are chiming
On a bright Sunday morning
Life is still a burden
Going out today to work
Opening a door to a garden
The morning is long and tiring
With lunch, sipping a cold lemonade
The sun is hot, and rising
© “A Day at Work?”
by Hasan Abdulla, 07/2016
#sunday #morning #garden #church bells #life #work #lunch
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The River
Nile
By the waters of the Nile
Quiet, calm and serene
I paused to rest awhile
In an oasis of evergreen
Along the river flowing gentle
Watching the dhows glide
I felt of a stronger mettle
And I felt a peace inside
Watching the ripples of the water
Eating the fruit of dates
Warm and content, and later
Returning to the hotel gates
The sun slowly set, all the same
Nightfall came, a soft spell
The morning after, the time
For the return flight then came
Looking back and I mourn
The loss of that sojourn
© “The River Nile” by Hasan Abdulla, 09/2016
#the Nile #waters #oasis #evergreen #dhows #dates #hotel
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Outside on the meadow
Greenery begins to show
With flowers abundant; its summer
Out upon the lawn
It’s a brand new dawn
Outside on the meadow
Roses are in full bloom
Away goes the frost; the gloom
Greenery begins to show
Grasses have sweet fragrance
Trees reaching high, have radiance
With flowers abundant; its summer
© “Summer” by Hasan Abdulla, 10/2016
#meadow #greenery #flowers #summer #lawn #roses #grasses #trees
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The gift of God’s
dominion
Snow white swan of
the river
Sailing smooth, a
heart’s comforter
Graceful, queen in
my opinion
Song of my heart;
empress of fable
Among many, you
are a divinity
Found in canals,
rivers in the city
Bringing calm,
like no-one else is able
Graceful creature,
a work of art
Friend of so many
people
My love for you is
triple
The glow of a
happy heart
Swan, white swan
of the water
You make our life
sweeter
© “Swan” by Hasan
Abdulla, 10/2016
Photo Credit:
© Mukhina1 | Dreamstime.com - <a
href="https://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-images-white-swan-floats-water-image40119229#res11904572">White
swan</a>
#dominion #snow white #river #sailing #heart #fable #divinity #graceful
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Poem:
A Lone
Romeo
No man is an
island
We need not
walk alone
The sages
will often say.
No one is a
loser
We need not
be forlorn
The poets
will sing away
I’m still
looking for my love
Don’t put
all hopes
On a green
willow tree
The sages
will often say
Just learn
the ropes
And climb to
her side
The poets
will often sigh
But wishes
are like unicorns
So many
obstacles, many thorns
I’m still
looking for my love
All that
glitter is not like gold
Appearances
are deceptive
The sages
will often say
Be yourself,
and be true
Love her if
she loves you
The poets
will always say
I’m still
looking for my love
© “A Romeo”
by Hasan Abdulla, 09/2016
#island #sages #love #unicorns #thorns #glitter #green #willow tree
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More Poems:
A Flight
Rome, capital of Italy
Flying there on a plane
Away from life so lonely
I’ll go where stops the pain
For I love with strong passion
A dark eyed glamorous girl
I love her with strong devotion
Stronger than stones of pearl
The departure lounge is restive
My heart is light, festive
Flying to Rome, to Italy
So ends a life of drudgery
Away from cloudy skies; persistent rain
To be with the light of my life again
#Rome #Italy #plane #passion #pearl #departure #cloudy skies
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Condor
A condor, flying; cruising across the sky
Gigantic; searching for fertile pasture
Majestic; to vie with, we can only venture
Across the Orinoco, and the Atacama
Over the Andes; Only it knows why
A condor, flying; cruising across the sky
Long is the journey to travel
The mysteries, it can unravel
Gigantic; searching for fertile pasture
At long last, it’s journey’s end
Fertile pasture, as only God can send
Majestic; to vie with, we can only venture
© “Condor” by
Hasan Abdulla, 07/2016
#pasture #condor #sky #Orinoco #travel #majestic #fertile
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Summertime
Wheat grows high; golden brown
Warm winds on the prairie
Like caresses of nature’s hands
Sunshine glows on the lands
The cotton buds in bloom
Gaiety in each house, each room
Flowers grow bright and colourful
Gone are the gremlins, no more trouble
Skies of blue, clear and light
A canopy of pure delight
Children playing, old men singing
While my banjo is playing
Country roads, quiet and serene
Green grass, trees full of leaves
With birds and nests; like a dream
And the best that’s ever been
© “Summertime” by Hasan Abdulla, 09/2016
#wheat #golden #prairie #cotton #flowers #skies #banjo #countryside
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Spring
There are flowers everywhere
Fresh, milder breezes blow
Spring is here; magic in the air
Bluebells, daffodils and delphiniums
Roses, water lilies and rhododendrons
There are flowers everywhere
Winds are calmer, and warmer
Melting away the ice and snow
Fresh, milder breezes blow
Expressions of delight, and relief
In the hearts of people, the belief
Spring is here; magic in the air
#flowers #breezes #bluebells #daffodils #roses #rhododendrons #winds
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"Everyman, I will be thy guide,
In thy most hour of need,
To walk by thy side" (from The Bible)
I took this photograph because of the tranquil and welcoming appearance of the building, one of the main Catholic churches in Reading, UK. It is located just opposite Prospect Park.
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A Tree in Prospect Park in Reading, UK.
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I took this self portrait with my Acer Tablet, at a local town cafe.
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West Side
Story
The hustle, bustle of city life
Morning comes along; a hazy sunrise
People commuting, marching in strife
The vehicles roar all day to work
No time to talk, time to take flight
The hustle, bustle of city life
The nights drag on, sleepless
And morning after, none the wise
Morning comes along, a hazy sunrise
Work is hard to get, to keep
In competition, we are all knee deep
People commuting, marching in strife
© “West Side Story” by Hasan Abdulla, 10/2016
#city life #sunrise
#commuting #vehicles #work #sleepless #competition
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Bright yellow flowers in the city gardens in Reading UK
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The
River Margin
By
Hasan Abdul
Down by the
river’s edge
Waters flowing
very smoothly
Green is the
leafy hedge
Ripples on the
waters plenty
Here I toss my
blanket
And get my feet
wet
Love is so
fleeting
It’s the same
old story
We drift apart
after meeting
Here is where
love begins
And ends on the
river margin
Here by the
waterside
I met a lover
for my bride
But now she is
far away
Where she is, no
one can say
Now the trees
look down
The river banks
muddy brown
Skies once so
blue
Now with a
purple hue
Here is a love
story
Told by lovers
so many
Here is where
love will begin
And end at the
water margin
#river #waters #green #hedge #wet #waterside #trees #blue
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Red Tulips in the city gardens
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Oxford Memories
By H Abdul
City of the
University
Of the
oracle of knowledge
With many a
notable vestige
Of poets,
and a diversity
Of future
leaders, national and abroad
They came
and educated their selves
For
statesmanship, and a lot else
Oxford where
one is never bored
City of the
church spires
Where to
walk on the streets
The visitor
never tires
And
exploring the treats
The famous
libraries, the parks
The Bodleian
library, Christchurch College
City of
scholars, not dunces without sparks
City to gain
experience, and knowledge
© “Oxford
Memories” by Hasan Abdulla, 2017
#city #University #knowledge #diversity #leaders #church spires #libraries #college
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By those shores
By H Abdul
By the
shores of that great Lake
Where I once
dipped my feet
Enjoyed
candy floss, a treat
The images remain,
a memorabilia
Still have
them, for old time sake
Lake
Victoria, on its shores
The boats,
dinghies and trawlers
Anchor at
the edge of the waters
Lake
Victoria, that one explores
And takes a
ride on the steamers
A perfect
retreat for dreamers
Alas, the
great freshwater Lake
On the
corners of Kisumu
The waters
are now soiled, not blue
Its glory we
cannot take
The
scientists now raise the alarm
No safety or
rest for wildlife
Environmental
degradation is rife
We cannot
now stay calm
Oh for the
joys of the past
So certain
the Lake was intact
Let the
fresh waters last
Oh, let us
make a silent pact
To renew the
Lake to its glory
To make it a
cause for poetry
Oh let the
wildlife flourish
Why should
we let it perish?
© “By those
shores” by Hasan Abdulla, 2017
#boats #waters #Lake Victoria #trawlers #Kisumu #wildlife #environmental
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This Page: List of Poems
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| Holly |
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| A
Lone Romeo |
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| Rendezvous |
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| Rose
in Bloom |
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| The
Waterfront |
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| A Flight |
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| Condor |
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| Sea
Cruise |
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| Summertime |
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| El
Dorado |
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| The Rent |
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| A
Delicate Being |
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| Spring |
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| Satin
Robes |
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| An
Evening Rendezvous |
| Ride
that Pony |
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| Dream
Girl |
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| The
Forest Land |
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| Sailboat |
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| West
Side Story |
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| One
More Night |
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| A
Day at Work? |
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| A
River Margin |
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| Desert
Breeze |
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| The
River Nile |
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| It's
Summer |
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| Oxford
Memories |
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| It
is Dawn |
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| By
those Shores |
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| Sweeter
than Wine |
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| Swan |
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| Return
to Me |
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| Solitaire |
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Solitaire
Beaches all around; bright yellow sand
Palm trees growing, abundant and serene
So calm, tranquil, this desert island
The sunshine is warm, radiant
Green vegetation, abundant wildlife
Beaches all around; bright yellow sand
A loner all alone, an islander
With few belongings, a wanderer
Palm trees growing, abundant and serene
Away from urban toil, the bustle
No need has he to argue, to tussle
So calm, tranquil, this desert island
© “Solitaire” by Hasan Abdulla, 10/2016
Photo Credit:
© 12ee12 | Dreamstime.com - <a
href="https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-desert-island-palm-trees-indian-ocean-indonesia-image57238460#res11904572">Desert
island with palm trees</a>
#calm #urban toil
#island #desert #lover #wanderer #palm trees
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