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.
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.)
Welcome to Daniel Craig as the new Bond (This means bond has been played by a countryman from our 4 UK nations – Daniel Craig – English/ Pierce Brosnan – Irish/Sean Connery – Scottish/ Timothy Dalton Welsh (and of course George Lazenby who was Australian) . We see Bond become a ’00’ by affecting two kills to gain entry – and then he begins to gamble with his life and money in the start of a running theme from this film up to episode 24…
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 Royalist Casino
Daniel is Bond; and is back at the start
Entry to 007 means two kills
Will he have the stomach;the heart
To ensure that he pays the bill
In Uganda, Mr. White helps Le Chiffre find a new client
Hiding the criminal cash in Skyfleet stocks
The money made and hidden makes them compliant
Now its time for the ticking of the clock
Madagascar becomes the place to be
The terrorist bombmaker is there
An explosive interdiction is there for all to see
Bond escapes by a whisker and a hair
In the Bahamas Dimitrios becomes the target
He loses his wife and his Aston Martin car
Now they’re in Miami airport – it’s like a market
Surely Domitrios can’t have gotten far
Bond puts Domtrios to sleep
But there’s a skyfleet plane about to blow
Bond stops the bomb from going ’bleep’
The airport bomber is all over the show
Vesper enters Bond’s world with cash
The Le Chiffre high stakes poker game
Her entrance makes right kind of smash
Rene Mathis helps keeps things sane
The Ugandan terror man seeks Le Chiffre
His millions gone up in Skyfleet smoke
In Montenegro they let him feel their heat
By cooking up a ‘Ugandan’ arti-choke
Bond becomes cocky – about Le Chiffre’s tell
He loses heavily in one swift move
The time has come to ring the bell
As poison enters Bond’s body- with little time to lose
Vesper now to the rescue
Is Bond now out of the game?
He bounces back right on cue
Felix Leiter subs the money – stakes the claim
The sweeping win lets Bond gloat
Le Chiffre in more trouble than he can cope
Vesper is taken as a deposit – a float
A trap for Bond is set – its what Le Chiffre hopes
This was Pierce Brosnan’s last outing as Bond – This time he is challenged to recognised a face from the past that has irrevocably changed – his enemy has changed and is supported by Jinx the CIA helper/agent who has her own agenda until they joins forces to overthrow the bad side…This time the theme tune to this film is sung by none other than Madonna (who has a small cameo role in the film!)
All episodes of the Bond Poetic are available as a Podcast (via Anchor/Spotify) and available on other podcast platforms like Apple and Google.)
Another Day to die…
Off to the to the North Bond goes
Diamonds are the cash for arms
Bond captured; won’t tell what he knows
The General means to do him serious harm
The death of the general’s son
Leads to tourture for over a year
Bonds scars cannot be undone
But finds being traded a price far too dear
Bond is convinced there is a mole
Someone working for both sides
Jinx helps Bond dig a hole
In Cuba is where Zao resides
They stumble on those diamonds again
Conflict ones on the the scene
The gene therapy room, no longer remains
As Zao and his cronies get away clean
So who is Gustav Graves?
A man of more than one face?
The fencing fight leaves Bond with a close shave
And Mr. Graves with a little ‘egg’ on his face
Miranda Frost joins the team
She represents the ice in the land they head for
In the palace where Icarus shines a light like a beam
Leaves Bond to rescue Jinx and get out of that door
And now the face of the ‘Moon’ is revealed
Graves is the general’s ‘dead’ son
Bond admits the scheme was exquisitely concealed
Now he and Jinx must fire their gun
The inside man is a woman
Frost proving she is cold as ice
Straight faced and dispassionate; the true deadpan
Bond faces two enemies in one – a seductress and her maniacal companion combine to threaten the world – as the ‘world isn’t enough’ for them. 007 is supported by a young Dr call ‘Christmas Jones’..i’ll say no more on that…
All episodes of the Bond Poetic are available as a Podcast (via Anchor/Spotify) and available on other podcast platforms like Apple and Google.)
Pierce Brosnan returns for his second outing as 007 in Tomorrow Never Dies as he does battle with a media mogul in the shape of Eliot Carver (Jonathan Pryce) in Germany any in the South Chine Seas…
All episodes of the Bond Poetic are available as a Podcast (via Anchor/Spotify) and available on other podcast platforms like Apple and Google.)
Living to Never Die; Anyday
Pierce returns for his second turn
Cheyrl lets us hear her voice
Another baddie is there to discern
Carver is the name; the new bad choice
The encoder is bought at the bazaar
Arms for those wanting a war
Bond intercepts; they don’t get too far
He leaves them by the front door
But war is on the map
China versus the UK
Carver wants to bait the trap
Then sit and report the ‘affray’
A stealth boat muddies the water
The UK want to fire back
Bond in Germany is a lamb to the slaughter
Paris helps Bond with a personal attack
Carver knows her true history
Kaufman makes that her last act
Bond sees her misery
Then makes Kaufamn’s life retract
With assistance from Wai Lin
They find the sunken ship
A rogue missile is Carver’s route in
To send the the Chinese government into a dip
Wai Lin is caught on the stealth boat
Bond sorts out a rescue
Stamper makes a mental note
Ensuring Bond doesn’t get through
The engines are now down
The boat is now exposed
A missile is launched;it doesn’t make a sound
Stamper is now trapped by his toes
Underwater Bond dives in
Wai Lin is chained for death
Saving her by the ‘skin’
Bond joins her; as they share their final ‘breath’…
We are introduced to a new 007 in the shape of Pierce Brosnan – Originally selected for the Living Daylights (that Tim Dalton starred in) but due to contractual issues with (Remington Steele – the TV series) Brosnan couldn’t break his contract (I believe) – anyway here he is in his first Bond movie that also introduced one ‘super’ actor Dame Judy Dench as the new M…
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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