On a random sunny afternoon, sometimes thoughts, ideas, musings from the past, present and future merge as you look skyward. The deepest blue sky and potent yellowy sun start to speak to you in rhyme. So you close your eyes and respo9nd in kind…maybe with something like this…
The third Bond Film still ranks in the memory for several reasons. The gold painted lady, the ‘ejector seat’ stunt and ‘that Jag’, then Bond on the table coming perilously close to becoming a soprano and not living to ‘sing that particular tale’.
At Christmas approaches I’m sure we’ll see the usual catalogue of Bond movies to remind how the whole ‘spy movie’ thing got started and seems here to stay.
For two great presents that will give you some welcomed light relief in these dark times here are two choices for your loved ones Christmas stocking!
For a more visual view of the Comedy Drama (with romance attached) Company of Fools is available on Amazon.com/Amazon.co.uk plus another 10 countries in E-book and Paperback see the link below for the trailer & to purchase a copy…(I welcome any/all reviews/feedback)
‘There’s no mystery to Black History‘ (that’s my little poetic saying). Parents from Jamaica. I have traced my ancestry back to the point when slavery was just abolished (around 1834).
And now nearly 200 years later in the UK my son and daughter are just learning about Black History in school. Wow. Is this ‘Titantic’ ship starting to turn? Who know, hopefully for everyone of colour, wherever we are all are, whatever status we hold, just maybe there are slivers of light appearing amidst the once long and eternally dark tunnel, that we have been treading.
As a would be poet, below is my first take on the many wonderful black inspirational people that have had endure; so people like me, don’t have to as much. More to follow throughout October (and maybe beyond) on other topics.
WHO ARE WE? (starting with the past)
We could be the person on the bus
Your name may be have been Rosa Parkes
Your life made to suffer by the colour of your skin
Yes; they have tried to eat us; those ‘white sharks’
We were the people without a voice
But Martin Luther made them hear
Look what they did to our dear proud brother
Because he made ‘them’ see what they all feared
We are the ones that move fast
Yes; Jesse Owens showed the dictator this
In the face of complete and utter oppression
It’s something that hasn’t quite fallen over the precipice
We have own Marvel Man from the past
No wheelchair in sight; but his name has an X
A voice for black empowerment
And contrary to many he wasn’t always vexed
A personal mentor; the first black female poet
If you don’t know; Phillis Wheatley was her name
George Washington recognised the talent
For every poet; she should be in your ‘hall of fame’
We need to be like our once enslaved Frederick Douglass
He fought to support those via the abolition of slavery
Putting pen to paper for all to read
His life, his very own Black History
We are the ones that Marshall the Good
Overturn the wrong for the right
Winning against segregation for the learning to occur
We thank him for providing; ‘out of darkness’ we too now have light
We are among the ‘greatest’ ones that had to rumble
The man with fists and feet of flight
Yes Cassius/Muhammed Ali knew how to move
You couldn’t stop him talking either; any day or night
We are the ones that have had to ACT
Mr. Poitier the consummate pro; won an Oscar
Imagine that in an era for his accolade
Showed that black people could also raise ‘the bar’
We should be Harriet Tubman the saviour
Literally saving over 300 enslaved souls
Nursing her community to a better educated life
She was dedicated, selfless and bold
We are the forerunner’s to make things happen
From a seat of power to make the change
Shirley Chisholm started the political race
And now her stepping stones has put us on the front page
We are the entrepreneur’s with a million in the bank
Madam C J Walker knew how to make ‘hair pay’
Making jobs for over 3,000 people at that time
Means we continue to use her genius every single day
We are everyone, everything, just like you
We have beautiful, hair, colour, skin and eyes
We are proud, clever, funny with intelligence
We are here, we are all together, let’s all keep aiming for that prize…
Company of Fools: Selling for Love & Life, Is a Tricky Business considers the unfulfilled ambitions of Justin Whalley, who dreams of success in love and career, but instead faces a series of disasters.
His upbringing and countenance are unremarkable, his family “close, but in a distant, unspoken way” which he mirrors in an adult life, which is quiet. Despite the fact that Justin has resolved to “not end up like them, content with very little, and had no freedom, no place to call their own,” the fact is that he’s in danger of doing just this, until he stumbles into high drama and death at work and comes to realize that romance and success come with price tags.
As new opportunities in business and love change his trajectory and his relationships, Justin finds himself out of his league in many ways, discovering more conundrums and complexity to living a vivid life than he’d imagined:
“We ventured our separate ways, with my mind flicking back and forth over Tom’s wife and her son. Vicky sat alone in some hotel probably crying or bored shitless. Chelsea at work and her precocious little Robert, who was slowly becoming a thorn in my side. Shaun soon to skulk off back to Dublin. And Errol rolling around with the leggy and the sexual ‘one look and you’re turned on’ Sally. Who said my life wasn’t exciting?”
J W Nelson does a fine job of taking an ordinary, common man with quiet ambitions and turning his life upside down. There’s a cast of characters that surround him in work and romance and affect his course in life; there are situations that leave him swimming against the tide; and too many possibilities leave him both excited and frustrated over his life’s unexpected changes.
Justin’s attempt to stay on course against this onslaught of change and challenge makes for a fun, engrossing romp through life that juxtaposes philosophical considerations with psychological growth:
“These transcendent thoughts are like smoke, here now and disappearing in a flash. Living in the moment, I had to remind myself. Focus on my true inclinations from the start. On my work goals. My life goal, utilising the experience and support from those around me.”
Company of Fools depicts an ‘Everyman’ changing the course laid out by family and his own expectations of what life is. Its tale of irony and opportunity, the mixed bag of success and unexpected obstacles, and the process of overcoming hurt and failure to enter a better life provides a gripping story that is poignant, funny, and thought-provoking all at once. It’s infused with British culture and changing relationships that keep readers both on their toes and delighted by unexpected twists and turns.
The 25th Bond movie finally arrived after several postponements and delays due to the covid pandemic. It also brought to bear the final outing as 007 for Mr. Daniel Craig, since he begun his stewardship in Casino Royale.
In some ways a final chapter has been written, with I’m sure a new one to take place at some point in the not too distant future. For now this is the Bond Poetic version of ‘No Time to Die’.
Death Has No Time…
The 25th film is the end?
Don’t be silly?
The next 007 is just around bend
As the hit theme song is tuned in by Billie
—
Swann still has a lot to hide
Her youthful nightmare won’t let go
In Bond she does not confide
As they escape the bullets from Primo
—
Five years go unnoticed; but is it a con?
James is now outside the spy club
Hercales is born; the new bioweapon
The killer could be a plant or a shrub
—
It’s Obruchev master plan
Backed by the head of MI6
Nanobots; DNA; touch; become deadpan
What was broken; can they now fix?
—
Steal back the mad scientist
The big bash for Mr. ESB; for sure
A new mad man turns on the mist
And ‘poof’, the old SPECTRE is no more
—
Ash has two faces
Leiter is no more
007 & Bond are now in a race
To get Obruchev; and even the score
—
Now the plan starts to go awry
From the hand of the master Safin
In prison; Bond is Blofeld’s last goodbye
As he uses the touch of miss Madeleine
—
Infected at Safin’s hands
Bond now knows his fate
Is he finally a father, the ‘man’
Or is he decades; far too late?
—-
Nomi and Bond plan their final attack
Safin’s missile nanobot base
Heracles bots made many; no slack
Will Madeleine and Bond get away safe?
—-
Nomi steps in to save mother & daughter
Takes them to a safe place
Safin tries to put Bond to a ‘bot’ slaughter
Bond fights back; putting Safin on his face
—
Mathilde and Madeleine talk to Bond
The missiles are in the air; deployed
‘The child is yours’; 007 is where he belongs
Only one choice taken; for Bond and the island to be destroyed…
See below an excerpt from the book Company of Fools – a comedy drama, with a hint of romance (if you can call it that) available on amazon as a paperback or e-book.
This is the story of one man’s genuine quest to find love, a good job and maybe start a family. His name Justin Whalley. The book is written in the first person as Justin regales his various attempts to obtain or keep one or more of his ‘life goals’.
The random excerpt is from the first page I turned to when opening the novel. Halfway through chapter 9.
“Walking through the cemetery at this early hour frightened me a little. It was winter and still dark, yet the liquid spirit made me feel brave.
Stumbling through the grave yard, I struggled to navigate where my mother’s grave stone could be. Going once a month still left me confused, feeling that I never truly knew where to look, when so many headstones looked familiar. Somehow, the cemetery always seemed different to me. Maybe the drink was having an effect.
The wind calmly whistled through the dense trees that surround the cemetery. I walked following a narrow path and then cut across some grass. This was ridiculous, I couldn’t see a damn thing.
Taking each step slowly, I then found no solid ground. My whole body careered forward and downward. I screamed at the top of my voice.
There I was falling into what must be a newly dug eight foot deep grave. I landed hands first, then body. Flat out. once I regained my my senses, I turned to face, looking upward out of the grave. The darkness seemed to be swirling, moving as though some creature had just thrown me in.
I stood up and dusted myself down and immediately started to call for help.
‘Help! Help! Can anybody hear me?’ Of course no one replied.
I tried one or two more attempts to leap upward but the depth was too steep. Well that’s what I thought. Without warning, down there in the depths of this new grave , a voice spoke to me. ‘Don’t bother mate, I’ve been here all night and can’t get out’.
You’ve never heard a scream ort yell like it. My throat was sore from that yelling and screaming and boy oh boy, when I thought eight feet was too high, I could have jumped three or four times that if I had to.
I don’t know how, but I found a spring that allowed me to escape what could only be described as a spiritual experience, in some way. I know some people have the power to talk to the dead, but this was too close a call”.
Book by J W Nelson (for aged 16+)
Other books: Pentagon Pirate Gang : The Secret of the Orchard (Young Adult) – available on Amazon and in in book shops from spring this year (2022).
YES…its that time again, however from now on, beyond the usual anxious, over excited, frantic and sometime manic rush of Christmas, hopefully you’ll all find time to relax albeit briefly and enjoy a good old read – One of these might take your fancy or all 3!
Your Starter : with Christmas fayre – ‘Poems for the Festive Season’ – 25 poems taking you from December 1 (or whenever you start reading it) to December 25. Humorous, poetic, spiritual, relevant, of its time. (he says) – For all ages; something the whole family can enjoy.
Your Main Course – for the Young Adult and everyone else older – comes the Adventure, mystery ; (the first in the series) – Pentagon Pirate Gang – The Secret of the Orchard ; this sees 5 students from mixed backgrounds attend their special summer school at the School of Fruit Teaching (S.O.F.T.) in the depths of Sherwood Forest and uncover a secret that has been hidden for decades, plus they learn about an even older occurrence that has its 50th anniversary at the same time…what will become of them and the secrets they uncover?
Available an an E-book, paperback on Amazon and soon in high street bookshops
Your Desert: For adults – the comedy drama that crosses paths with a romcom bringing you one man’s journey to attain, love and happiness amidst a high pressured sales environment in a ‘ Company of Fools’. Meet Justin Whalley, his team, friends and the frenetic path of uncomfortable and embarrassing situations, in his attempts to achieve what seems impossible…
Your 4th course – I can only ask if you do purchase any of the above please write a review and thank you n advance in you do buy any copies and please tell your friends and family if you enjoyed it…Happy Christmas to you all..J W Nelson
Out now on Amazon in 12 countries is the adventure story that throws 5 young students attending a summer school in the middle of Sherwood Forest into a world of adventure, action, and good old skulduggery as they compete to open up the secrets the head mistress and the deputy head have been trying to hide…
Coupled with a 50 year occurrence that seems to have returned and no one knows why yet, but the newly formed Pentagon Pirate Gang are determined to find out…
Copies should be available in the books stores in the next couple of weeks.
This is a Young Adult/Middle Grade book that I hope will have a global appeal for its mixture of main protagonists, a story that hopefully captures life at a special school (School of Fruit Teaching – S.O.F.T) as the PPG begin the learn what real powers lay in the middle of the orchards that surround the school and the effect it has on them, the schoolmates and their parents…
A Young Adult book is due out soon…Pentagon Pirate Gang: The Secret of the Orchard..
In the middle of Sherwood Forest, in Nottinghamshire there is a school. The School of Fruit Teaching (S.O.F.T.). 5 young students aged 8-15 embark on a mammoth investigation at the schools summer camp. The secret and many more have been kept from everyone except the people hiding it – The headmistress Mrs Blackfruit and her deputy and right man Mr Thornby.
As the investigation unfolds the newly formed Pentagon Pirate Gang learn that a 50 year old occurrence seems to have returned once more to cast further danger upon them and the other unsuspecting summer school students, and the parents of the five students that have taken up the mantle to put themselves in a zone of danger, mystery and adventure, that is just beginning…
More information on the release of Pentagon Pirate Gang: The Secret of the Orchard will be available soon. (available in book stores and online at Amazon)
Other books by J W Nelson – E-book – Poems for the Festive Season (Amazon only – all ages) and Company of Fools – (available as an E-book and Paperback – on Amazon – adult comedy drama/romcom).
Here is a Poetic summary of the 24 James Bond films thus far (as we’re currently being entertained by film no 25 ‘No Time to Die’. (I’m hoping to see it this weekend)
You can view all 24 Bond Poetic poems (one per film from Dr No in 1963 to Spectre) on this blog or listen them on my podcast – https://anchor.fm/horace-evans8
As we are in Black History month – what does mean to be a father of colour? You could its the same as most other fathers. However looking at at from a personal viewpoint – most Caribbean men my age – their grand parents ere not around in the UK. Maybe your uncles were not either. Plus my parents were in a ‘new country’ here in the UK having left their homes in Jamaica.
What this means I that the ‘extended family’ that say other family who history is from England – will have local aunties, uncles, grandparents maybe nearby. I didn’t and many black father’s won’t either.
It just means there is ‘more weight’ for us to carry as ‘Black fathers’ in a world as we know is difficult for black people to navigate anyway. (for more evidence of this I encourage anyone of any colour to read Michael Holdings thought provoking book : Why We Kneel – How we Rise.
Finally the last few films come to a head of sorts as we learn the ‘author of 007’s pain’ has been the oldest of enemies SPECTRE run my the infamous ESB (Ersnt Stavro Blofeld)…can Bond survive his toughest mental and physical test?
All episodes of the Bond Poetic are available as a Podcast (via Anchor/Spotify) and available on other podcast platforms like Apple and Google.)
The SPECTRE of Defeat…
Bond consumed with M’s death doesn’t want to fall
The answer could lie in Mexico
We hope the ‘writing is not on his wall’
Without approval that is where Bond goes
The new M, cuts Bonds ties
Mallory has his own fights to win
A sinister intelligence plot emerges – the nine eyes
Max Denbigh is no saint – but likes to sin
Sciarra’s wife is the target to aim for
Bond has the Octopus engraved ring
At the secret meeting Bond walks through the door
A name from the past is heard – kill the ‘Pale King’
Hinx replaces Sciarra as the new man
He chases Bond in his DB10
The next stop needs a new plan
007 is on the run again
The Pale King is ‘Mr White’
In Austria there is a chill in the air
A gun and thallium means it’s over for him – good night
His daughter’s life are his final fears
Search for L’ Americain Bond is told
Dr Swann comes into view
Can 007 keep his promise to be bold?
To protect her with every bone and sinew?
Q meets Bond with info from the past
L’Chiffre, Greene, Silva were all the face
How much further will his life last?
The past is the present for Bond to embrace
In Tangier Swann fights through a wall of pain
Her father has evidence of Spectre’s central home
Yes they are here and on the Saharan plain
Its the next stop for 007 to roam
Hinx meets up to test Bond’s devotion
The train fight is a touch of first class
Hinx is ejected- poetry in motion
Bond settles for a martini – in a glass
Tangier is next on the list
The desert is calling 007 and Swann
A classic 1947 RollsRoyce appears from the mist
Taking them both the meet ‘the one’
Oberhauser is steps into the fray
Boasts about his control over Nine Eyes
Bond just about lives another day
Swann saves him from being fried
Yes Oberhauser is really ESB
Bond’s ‘brother’ from a young age
He died once to set himself free
SPECTRE is the platform – yes his very own stage
The explosive escape leaves ESB scarred
To London to take the program off-line
Max is caught; then falls through the bars
Swann is re-captured, and is anything but fine
The MI6 building is ready to blow
One last stunt from Ernst Stavro Blofeld
Bond has a three minute choice – where does he go?
Daniel Craig as 007 stars in the biggest grossing Bond movie ever – over $1billion in sales and its also my personal favourite of the last two decades (plus Goldfinger). The storyline still links together from the previous two films (loosely) and another spike form M’s past comes back to haunt MI6 is spectacular fashion
All episodes of the Bond Poetic are available as a Podcast (via Anchor/Spotify) and available on other podcast platforms like Apple and Google.)
Quantum is Daniel Craig’s second outing as 007 – a change in focus for the bond films more action and drama rather than a focus on nifty gadgets from Q. This played into Daniel Craig’s demeanour in this stunt filled actioner.
All episodes of the Bond Poetic are available as a Podcast (via Anchor/Spotify) and available on other podcast platforms like Apple and Google.)
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