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poetry

A Poem by John Roedel – “In the face of war, I’m so small – yet, love is so big.”

March 4, 2022 By Janet Williams 3 Comments

Image by Michael Schwarzenberger from Pixabay

Recently a friend shared this poem by John Roedel. What an incredible poem. It moves me so deeply.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, I hope this poem gives you hope and comfort.

In the face of war, we feel helpless. We can’t do many things. Yet we can love. We can become a force of peace in the world. Thank you John Roedel for this beautiful, eloquent poem.

I can’t make the
world be peaceful
I can’t stall tanks
from roaring down streets
I can’t prevent children
from having to hide in bunkers
I can’t convince the news to
stop turning war into a video game
I can’t silence the sound of bombs
tearing neighborhoods apart
I can’t transform a guided missile
into a bouquet of flowers
I can’t make a warmonger
have an ounce of empathy

[Read more…] about A Poem by John Roedel – “In the face of war, I’m so small – yet, love is so big.”

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Tags: creative writing, good neighbours, hope, poetry

Tell Me a Story

February 28, 2020 By Mike Sedgwick 1 Comment

Good books will deepen your love of reading - Pixabay

At the back of a class of 5-year-olds, I watched a teacher telling a story. Thirty children sat silent and still with mouths agape and eyes fixed on the storyteller. The story, like most children’s stories, held a moral. It was Big Bell and Little Bell. Here was the power of storytelling.

story image by Tumisu via Pixabay

Most of us can remember being told stories. I remember a story about a man pulling a sword from a rock. Grandfather told stories of engineering feats that went wrong. There was a railway engine whose boiler burst as it tried to climb Lickey Incline near Birmingham and how bank engines were provided afterwards to help the climb. [Read more…] about Tell Me a Story

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Tags: poetry, Story, storytelling

Children’s Poetry Competition News

August 11, 2017 By Allison Symes 3 Comments

Feature Image - Children's Poetry Competition News

I mentioned in my recent post about Writers’ Co-operatives that the new local writing group I am now part of would be organising a children’s poetry competition.

I’m glad to now share details of this competition, which is being organised by Chandler’s Ford Authors and Hampshire Libraries in association with the Hiltingbury Extravaganza with prizes sponsored by Goadsby Estate Agents. [Read more…] about Children’s Poetry Competition News

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Tags: advice, Chandler's Ford Library, children's poetry competition, creative writing, Hiltingbury Extravaganza, poetry, The Hilt, writing

Review of 2016 – by Sandra Gordon

January 3, 2017 By Sandra Gordon 6 Comments

Performance Poetry at New Forest Festival - image from CFT archives from Sandra's earlier interview

Review of 2016
(not quite a poem)

You gave me Vice-Captaincy,
coffee with friends,
massages, the gym, weight loss.

You gave me a published poem
about a girl in white socks. [Read more…] about Review of 2016 – by Sandra Gordon

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Tags: creative writing, poetry, review, viewpoint, writing

Timeless Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet, Thornden Hall

August 5, 2016 By Allison Symes 4 Comments

Feature Image - Balcony at Verona - image via Pixabay

I went to see Romeo and Juliet at Thornden Hall on Thursday, 7th July. This production was by the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company and was streamed thanks to National Theatre Live. 

It was a wonderful production. [Read more…] about Timeless Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet, Thornden Hall

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Tags: arts and crafts, culture, entertainment, literature, National Theatre Live, poetry, Thornden Hall

The Poetic Life: Sharing the Muse – Sandra Gordon

July 22, 2016 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

The Poetic Life: Sharing the Muse - Sandra Gordon Interview Part 2

Last week’s interview into the poetic life with successful local poet, Sandra Gordon, showed her sharing her thoughts about poetry and naming some of her favourite modern and classic poets.

I loved discovering the Poetry Foundation website as I researched some of those Sandra named.  I hope to make great use of this given the site gives biographies of poets and shares samples of their works. It could be a great place to go to if you wanted to read more of a poet’s work but weren’t sure where to begin.  The Poetry Society website is also full of useful information. [Read more…] about The Poetic Life: Sharing the Muse – Sandra Gordon

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Tags: advice, arts and crafts, creative writing, event, inspiration, interview, poetry, writing

The Poetic Life: Interview with Sandra Gordon, Part 1

July 15, 2016 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Sandra Gordon, near neighbour and local poet, has recently performed some of her poetry at the New Forest Folk Festival as part of the Lines and Squares Poets.

She has also received the exciting news her work will be published in The North magazine in July. [Read more…] about The Poetic Life: Interview with Sandra Gordon, Part 1

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Tags: arts and crafts, creative writing, inspiration, interview, poetry, writers

Easter at the Parish Church of Chandler’s Ford

March 5, 2016 By Hugh Benham 6 Comments

The Passion of Christ: Sunday 20 March (Palm Sunday) 2016 at 6.30pm – a selection of readings, hymns, and anthems sung by St. Boniface Choir.

Easter Praise: Sunday 27 March (Easter Day) 2016 at 6.30pm – readings, hymns and an anthem for Easter Sunday evening. [Read more…] about Easter at the Parish Church of Chandler’s Ford

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Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, Christianity, community, culture, Easter, education, history, music, poetry, religion, St. Boniface Church, tradition

Eastleigh Museum Summer Soirée with the Chameleons

June 26, 2015 By SO53 News 1 Comment

Summer Soirée at Eastleigh Museum

Players from the Chameleon Theatre Company entertained an audience at Eastleigh Museum with poems, monologues and a recitation of summer songs at a Summer Soirée on 25 June 2015.

The event was organised by the Eastleigh Museum Supporters Club, and the varied programme ranged from Dorothy Parker to William Wordsworth. [Read more…] about Eastleigh Museum Summer Soirée with the Chameleons

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Tags: Chameleon Theatre, community, culture, Eastleigh, Eastleigh Museum, education, entertainment, event, history, museum, One Community, poetry, travel

Sandra Gordon’s Poem: In The Garden

May 27, 2015 By Sandra Gordon 1 Comment

My name is Sandra Gordon. I’ve lived in Chandler’s Ford for nearly twenty years.

I moved to here from Kent but knew it a little from visiting family when I was a child.

I’ve worked at Hiltingbury Junior School, Otterbourne Junior School and Chiltern Tutorial School in that time.

Poetry is my passion. [Read more…] about Sandra Gordon’s Poem: In The Garden

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Tags: arts and crafts, blogging, Chandler's Ford, community, dog, pets, poetry, writing

Solar Eclipse and Charles Wesley

March 29, 2015 By Hugh Benham 1 Comment

Charles Wesley

Just after recent solar eclipse was over, the first verse of an Easter hymn by Charles Wesley came into my mind:

Love’s redeeming work is done;
Fought the fight, the battle won:
Lo, our Sun’s eclipse is o’er!
Lo, he sets in blood no more.

[Read more…] about Solar Eclipse and Charles Wesley

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Tags: Chandler's Ford, Christianity, church, community, Easter, music, nature, poetry, religion, St. Boniface Church

Limerick – Christmas

December 24, 2014 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

What I like most about Christmas Day
Is listening out for old Santa’s sleigh.
I hear the reindeer’s hoof
Land so hard on my roof.
At least that keeps the burglars at bay! [Read more…] about Limerick – Christmas

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Tags: arts and crafts, Chandler's Ford, Christmas, community, poetry, writing

Beyond The Sunset

November 6, 2014 By Vic Gold 13 Comments

The Poppy is one of the most beautiful wild flowers, whose origins go back to the beginning of civilisation. Poppies have a special richness and intensity about their beauty. A beauty that majestically resurrects itself to new life from late spring to early summer.

In the meadows and cornfields and along the waysides their glowing profusion excites the imagination like a symphony of nature. [Read more…] about Beyond The Sunset

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Tags: community, education, history, memory, music, poetry, reading, war memorial, World War One, writing

Eastleigh Bunting & Eastleigh Museum WW1 Poetry Evening

November 4, 2014 By Janet Williams 6 Comments

My son and I visited Eastleigh Museum during the half term holiday.

We saw a WW1 exhibition called Soldiers’ Journey. It is a multi-venue exhibition that portrays Hampshire’s critical role throughout the First World War.

I was attracted by beautiful buntings, which adorned the walls on the walkway to the hall.
[Read more…] about Eastleigh Bunting & Eastleigh Museum WW1 Poetry Evening

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Tags: community, crafts, culture, Eastleigh, Eastleigh Borough Council, Eastleigh Museum, education, event, history, hobby, museum, One Community, poetry, travel, World War One

I Take You Not For Granted

August 10, 2014 By Sally Owens 5 Comments

The dairy puts the milk in the bottle,
My mum puts black jam in her tart,
I put my words down on paper,
But you put the hope in my heart. [Read more…] about I Take You Not For Granted

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Tags: arts and crafts, Chandler's Ford, community, pets, poetry, Sally's Corner, writing

Writing Class? Inviting Class.

August 2, 2014 By Sally Owens 2 Comments

Although I wasn’t chilly,
I knew my memory had no form,
What on earth was a five minute drop
And how would it make me warm?
[Read more…] about Writing Class? Inviting Class.

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Tags: arts and crafts, Chandler’s Ford community, community, poetry, Sally's Corner, writing

White for Easter

April 25, 2014 By Hugh Benham 6 Comments

Janet’s post Easter Day – From Tragedy To Triumph is a fine account of a very memorable Easter celebration.

In most years the daffodils have been yellow – this year’s late Easter probably helps to explain the change of colour.

White is, however, a traditional colour for Easter.

In his poem ‘Loveliest of trees’ [Read more…] about White for Easter

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Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, Christianity, culture, Easter, education, history, languages, music, poetry, religion, St. Boniface Church, tradition

“Oh, To Be In Chandler’s Ford / Now That April’s There”

April 4, 2014 By Mike Sedgwick 12 Comments

“Oh, to be in Chandler’s Ford / Now that April’s there.”

(Sorry about that misquote, Mr Browning.)

Recently someone told me that Chandler’s Ford had no soul. He went by the name of Mephistophilis on the chat site. I asked him to define soul but he declined.

The soul must be in the gardens. [Read more…] about “Oh, To Be In Chandler’s Ford / Now That April’s There”

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Tags: Chandler's Ford, gardening, hobby, nature, poetry, wildlife, writing

Supermarket?

March 5, 2014 By Sally Owens 2 Comments

Supermarkets? Raspberries image. Poem by Sally Owens.

I’d like a tube of mending glue,
For my heart is broken clean in two.
I see you’ve a shelf called: “Mend with precision”;
Do you have a box of peripheral vision?
I’ll take a repair kit for a lost sense of smell;
I’ll take a tin of motivation as well. [Read more…] about Supermarket?

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Tags: arts and crafts, Chandler's Ford, community, memory, poetry, Sally's Corner, writing

The Unexpected Gift

March 3, 2014 By Sally Owens 1 Comment

A budgie flying past one day,
Over a garden in Kent,
Did the thing that birds must do,
A little gift he sent. [Read more…] about The Unexpected Gift

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Tags: arts and crafts, Chandler's Ford, humour, memory, nature, poetry, Sally's Corner, wildlife, writing
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Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal by Joan Adelaide Goater

Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal by Joan Adelaide Goater

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s by Martin Napier

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s by Martin Napier

My Memories of the War Years in Chandler’s Ford 1939 – 1945 by Doug Clews

My Memories of the War Years in Chandler’s Ford 1939 – 1945 by Doug Clews

Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research by Margaret Doores

Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research by Margaret Doores

History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse by Andy Vining

History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse by Andy Vining

My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley by Roger White

My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley by Roger White

Do You Remember The Hutments? By Nick John

Do You Remember The Hutments? By Nick John

Memory of Peter Green by Wendy Green

Memory of Peter Green by Wendy Green

History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park by Dave Key

History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park by Dave Key

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Reviews of local performances and places

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