Thank you ladies !

"Perfection is a full stop .... Ever the climbing but never the attaining Of the mountain top." W.G.

Bravo Ross! 

Tide was nearly full. Mist lay in a grey scarf along the line of the cliffs.
.. and they walked home hand in hand through the slanting shadows of the new darkness.

Thanks Ross, I hope he liked it. He said sweet things, but of course, he was a sweet man.

I do, however, think he took it in the spirit it was intended, a poem about him from someone who adores his work. He was very gracious.

A thoughtful, lovely and heartfelt poem. I'm just as sure that WG shared the same feelings the first time he read it too.

Thanks so much Smollet.

"Perfection is a full stop .... Ever the climbing but never the attaining Of the mountain top." W.G.

 Some of you may remember that I recounted how I came to have in my possession the Pen that WG used to mark up a manuscript- I was VERY young, & had written a Poem entitled 'The Pen of Winston Graham' &, at the urging of friends, sent it to him. Mr Graham, being the lovely man that he was, replied with a hand written letter on Saville Club note paper. He was very generous in his compliments (bless him) and enclosed a green ink (my fave colour) pen. When it arrived, it had attached to it an apology from the postal service, due to it being damaged in transit. Its damaged, yes, but I treasure it.  

 I'd like to think that my writing has improved since then. I sincerely hope so anyhow, because  for some years now I've been writing scripts, songs etc for public performance & film etc but the poem I sent to WG will always be dear to my heart. Re reading it earlier, I blush at its floridity, and its irregular construction, and decided not to post it here. However as it has an interesting story I reconsidered, so, with apologies, here it is. Btw, pls dont anyone feel that they have to follow in the  far too generous footsteps of WG and praise it!!!!! I was nobbut a bairn...

The Pen of Winston Graham                

With black ink on white paper

You lift me up above the rest,

Of all the words in all the world,

You mesmerize me with the best.

The Pen of Winston Graham

Can warm me like a fire,

Send scorching comets hurtling through

The crowded place we call desire

While all the stars in Heaven

Sing of vast eternity 

His voice explodes with diamonds    

Cutting light and life, until Love bleeds

The Pen of Winston Graham

Can chill me like a blizzard

On the bleakest day of all

Alone and in the wilderness

Where no one hears my call,

Im wracked by fear, dont leave me here!

My battered hands are numb

I try to raise them to my ears,

Is that my heart or am I in The Valley of the Drums?

The Pen of Winston Graham

Can elate or can destroy

Where passion waves neath horses hooves

Come crashing through the void.

Where rainbows come to arch their backs

Above the tears in my minds eye

Unsettling me with tragedy,

The sun shines; you decide just who shall live and who shall die

And far across the skyline where none of us grow old

I ride on the wings of an albatross to steal the pirates gold

As feathers kiss the ocean another tale is told

The curtain tore, I thirst for more

Your footprints in the sand

The Pen of Winston Graham is

The magic wand of sorcery

Within The Masters hand,

The magic wand of sorcery

Within The Masters hand