Reading Facebook today, I was taken aback by Louis de Bernieres’ comments on being interviewed by Carlo Gerber at the Seamus Heaney Centre in Belleghy, Ireland:
“At the end, at ‘question time’, someone asked me to read a particular poem of mine, which was very flattering. That’s never happened before. I feel that if the Irish like your poetry, then you must be a good poet, as no-one else has an equal flair or love for it (apart from the Greeks).”
As I lived in Middleton, Ireland, happily immersed in their poetic atmosphere for 14 glorious months, I replied:
“It’s true, if the discerning Irish like your words and call them ‘poetry’, you’ve certainly earned the title ‘poet’. Wear it proudly. (I’m off to buy your book.)”
So I signed in to my Amazon Kindle Bookshop (my shelves are groaning and I’m finding it increasingly harder to give my books a good home).
Louis de Bernieres’ latest ‘Of Love and Desire’ caught my eye and one click later it was on my home computer. I settled in to surf a few pages… (I work from home so it’s difficult to stick to the task in hand – I’m very easily distracted.)
Work challenged my right to sit and enjoy reading, so I left the screen open but reduced it to comment on Louis’ note again.
“OK, after a very quick sampling of your book of poems ‘Of Love and Desire’ standouts so far: ‘I travelled south’ made my heart skip on the last line; ‘For Sylvie, who believed in reincarnation’ made me want to cry but stayed perfectly on topic; however my favourite so far resonated strongly and one I won’t forget: ‘Put out the light’ – this poem glittered! Thank you. I shall dip into your words often and savour with great pleasure. “
And I will…
Perth Words... exploring possibilities. 
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