As it’s World Poetry Day, I thought I’d share one of my pieces with you.  Please let me know what you think of it. Feedback is always welcome.

Where Concrete Meets Community

This is a library.

But it’s more than just paper and ink.

More than simply a building. 

It’s the heartbeat of a neighbourhood;

A refuge wrapped in bricks and mortar.

Here, the air is thick with possibility,

And the scent of many eager hands, turning

Pages that whisper secrets to those who will listen.

Kids find adventures among the stacks

While waiting for parents, safe from outside chaos.

It’s where the unemployed

Tap keys with quiet desperation,

Searching for a lifeline in pixels.

Resumés crafted like lifeboats

Hoping to sail into a new beginning.

This place holds more than books, it holds us.

Our stories, our dreams, our fears.

Community event events bloom here,

Conversations weaving us closer.

A tapestry of shared experience.

And yet, whispers of its impending end

Echo through these rooms

Like a distant bulldozer rattling.

A threat feels like a storm on the horizon,

A future dimmed, if we do not act soon.

Use your library. Breathe life into its purpose.

Because once it has gone,

We lose much more than just a building…

We lose a piece of ourselves, cohesion,

A light in the dark, and a sanctuary.

(c)BobChristian2023

Here’s a collection of some of my recent photographs. (our cat may features a bit) all (unless stated otherwise) are taken on an iPhone 11 using the halide app

Let me know what you think, drop me a comment or an email etc

On Friday I had a therapy session to work through my emotions over Ollie.

Ollie as most of you know was a rescue kitten, he’d been found with a female younger kitten together abandoned.

I say therapy, i went to visit my old friends at The Ink Inn in Ivybridge. I wanted a tarot card tattoo, to mirror one on my other arm. It was to memorise Ollie as the bravest cat I’ve know. So as you can see below, it turned out just great.

The Star card for those of you who’re unfamiliar with tarot cards, follows on from the tower card.The tower card represents destruction. The Star represents hope, and strength. This I feel is a fitting tribute to such a selfless and heroic creature.

Stay Safe x

You may remember in December, I was lucky enough to have a piece of mine called “The Illusionist” featured in a new literary and culture magazine called Aeos.

I’m very pleased to announce that I’ve a piece called “Who are You” in this new issue, and it’s now on sale via the link below.

https://aeos.bigcartel.com/?_gl=1%2Aiy5bxl%2A_gcl_au%2ANDgyNTU3MjIzLjE3MzQwMzI5MTI.%2A_ga%2AOTA3MzIxODE2LjE3MzQwMzI5MTM.%2A_ga_QZ4HDFTSEZ%2AMTczNDAzMjkxMi4xLjEuMTczNDAzMjkyNS40Ny4wLjgyODgyMDU0&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabxli5VmoHSfrF9fDS3bDw_g3akHiLVxHhH-WCxt_1btRUcaSRBLLNln4Q_aem_UsYVHVDKkvkDx-ye_2XQ6w

While I must make it clear that I work for Optima Low Vision Services, I am not in the sales team, nor have I been asked or given any incentive whatsoever by them to create this post. 

As an autistic person, I have always worn sunglasses in social or difficult situations as they act like a two-way mirror (I can see out, but my eyes can’t easily be seen)  and this helps me to manage eye contact with other people. Not only do I often find that eye contact is physically painful, but it increases my feeling of vulnerability. I have therefore worn sunglasses inside and outside for a long time during social events.  However, I have found that sunglasses can make it more difficult to see in low light and this creates a few problems, as you might imagine. 

So, when I came across what looked like a pair of sunglasses in our stock at work, I thought they looked good and I bought a pair. However, I realised quickly that they are actually filters, and are far superior to sunglasses for me.  

Because the lenses of the filters are not as tinted as sunglasses, they can be used in low light situations, and I can see completely clearly both inside and outside. 

 This makes it much easier and more comfortable for me to engage in and manage conversations and social interactions indoors, or when it’s overcast or twilight, outside. At the same time, the tint on the filters is at prescription level and is therefore sufficient to protect my eyes from harsh sunlight, which is very important for people of my age. 

I have found that the filters help me to navigate difficult social situations with much greater ease, and are much more effective for me than sunglasses have been. They transform intimidating environments like travelling on my own on a packed train for several hours, or potentially stressful social interactions, both inside and out, into more manageable experiences. They’ve made my social life much less stressful. 

In addition, the lenses come with a choice of frames and colours to suit everybody. 

If you are interested in having a pair, please check out the website: https://www.optimalowvision.co.uk/

Stay safe

BC 

In December last year, a small group of poets I belong to online, (I say small, but there’s 400 or so) came up with an idea. Each person could submit up to two poems to the group each month for a year, and a prompt would be sent each month to remind you, if you took part. Then at the end of the year, all of those pieces submitted would form an anthology – the group’s second, as far as I know. The resulting book would then be sold to raise money for charity.

This is the second, and hardest, of the two projects I’ve embarked on this year. I’m pledging to create one poem each month during 2025 to help the group with this worthy cause.

The other project I’m involved in is an anthology called “Fragments of an Unquiet Mind”. This is an anthology about mental health – a subject with which I have some experience. I have written about it in many forms through the years. This will also be sold for charity.

I feel very privileged to be able to be involved in projects like these; joining with other poets to make a real difference with my scribbles.

This is an open letter, I sent to my sperm donor sorry biological father, after years of wanting to say how I felt towards him. (Note I’ve edited out names & places to protect innocent parties)

Father

Well, I say ‘father’, but let’s face it, you haven’t been a father to me, have you?  You walked out on us all, but worse, only a few years ago, I was told that after Grandad, your father, died, you had instructed your legal official that I am “not a member of the family, he’s just someone who’s tacked my name onto the front of his surname, for financial gains”. You formally disowned me as your child. 

My only memories of you are of an almost bipolar-type parent. One minute you were coming in from work all smiles and laughter – play fighting; the next, throwing plates at the wall and using it as an excuse to storm out and go to back to the pub. The rages and violence to mum and me only stopped  when you finally snuck out of the family home while I slept, on the night before Mother’s Day. A nice touch. 

You had left to go to your new family – your new girlfriend, her kids and my half-sister. You let me stay with you, until she made you choose between them and me. Of course, you chose them, and you left me at my mother’s, in the garage, with a damaged watch and some money to ring you if mum didn’t turn up. She did, of course. She always did turn up. 

I’m angry that you discarded me so easily, without a thought.

I’m angry at the repeated broken promises you made to me as a young child. Repeatedly failing to show up to spend time with me at weekends. I’m sure you always had an excuse handy, but I waited for hours for you and you never showed up.

You refused to pay your fair share for your children… me and my little sister. I remember so clearly how you would wait until the very last point… until the bailiffs were taking action to make you pay the maintenance you were required to pay. Then, and only then, making the minimum payment, so that the games could continue.

When I split from the mother of my two children, I went without food to make sure they had what they needed. That’s what a decent parent does, but I guess you don’t understand that.

All that combined is pretty low by anyone’s standards, but to have yet another child by a third woman, and tell her she’s an only child when she is actually one of FOUR, is simply cowardly and disgraceful. Your own parents told me they thought that was despicable.

I’ve nothing against my half sisters, it’s not their fault. It’s yours. You have denied your children the chance to know each other as children, and fed misinformation to the youngest. Fake news has nothing on you.

Anyone might think that I’d be messed up by all these things and your serious drink problem. I’m the eldest and remember much more about your behaviour than my little sister. Well, I’d like to say two things to you……

1) Thank you, for showing me how NOT to do things as a parent. I’m by no means the perfect father – I have made mistakes like any man. But I have learned from my mistakes and accept responsibility for them. You do not, and never have. I have learnt from all of your vile behaviour about how to look after and support my offspring financially and emotionally. I know how to be a decent and loving father and grandfather. You have missed out on so much.

2) Despite everything negative that you’ve done, and all the things you haven’t done as a father, grandfather and great grandfather, I wish you no ill will. I’ve had my own tough times but I’ve become a well-balanced, happy and stable individual. I’ve made a successful career, have a wonderful life near the sea.

I want you to know that I forgive you. I feel sorry for you and your struggles with alcohol. It’s a battle you’ve fought hard since I was a small child and it’s an illness. I hope that one day you’ll get some help, and maybe find clarity, strength and some inner peace from the demons that still haunt you.

A few weeks back I had the privilege of being asked to photograph a family wedding. I love taking photos as a hobby and have got more into the mechanics of what makes a good picture. I enjoy it so much, that I am considering the option of doing it for other people, formally.

Here is a handful of the photos I’ve taken recently, and I would be very interested in your feedback.

This weekend I was honoured to be asked to perform a piece of poetry at my little sisters wedding, I’d got a piece written and ready to go, as I was planning on surprising my sister with it, at the reception.

I’ve not performed publicly since before covid, but I figured what the hell, how hard can it be, apart from the stage fright, which it turns out I still have. It wasn’t that bad, all things considered. So anyway without further ado I give you the scribble dedicated to my little sis.

Andi & Adam

On your wedding day, dear sister of mine,

May love and joy forever entwine.

May your heart be filled with endless delight,

As the two of you embark on this beautiful flight.

May your bond grow stronger day by day,

As you travel through life’s unpredictable way

May laughter and happiness be your guide,

As you navigate your journey, side by side.

May your love shine bright, like the morning sun.

May your union be as eternally strong.

May your dreams come true, both big and small,

And may love be the anchor that won’t let you fall.

As you say “I do” and you start this new chapter,

Know that I will be there, your forever supporter.

I wish you a lifetime of love and of bliss,

On this day and every day. Love you, little sis.

Bob Christian 2024

Recently I shared an old memory to one of my personal social media platforms. This included a picture of me not long after starting high school. It’s not a great photo and it’s before I had corrective surgery on my ears, as I couldn’t hear behind me as my ears stuck out.

I wasn’t diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder until I was forty years old and school wasn’t a place I really enjoyed as a result of those unknown issues, this topped with daily beatings, physical and emotional abuse from my so called peers. Made my teenage years a misery, that I’ve long since moved on from and made peace with things.

Over thirty years later some of the comments on my post were from kids I went to school with. Reminding me about some of the stupid mistakes and trouble I got up to from age 11-16. There’s two things that these people seem to conveniently forget.

The fact that after leaving high school, I’ve had a long and successful career in engineering, including science based, R&D & aerospace. Whilst also finding time to pen 5 anthologies of poetry and a well received book on witchcraft with my co author Daisy Burton. Means nothing to these guys.

I’m not the same shy, awkward little hobbit sized little bastard I was back then. Life changes, evolves & moves forward. I’ve risen from the ashes of my past to become, a respectable member of society & a member of the gentlemen’s brotherhood or Freemasons. While those who we’re supposed to go on to big things in life seem to have rested on their laurels so to speak.

The moral of this tale is that we ALL make mistakes as children, we all do stupid things while we’re growing up, you show me someone who claims they didn’t & I’ll show them a liar. The true test of a person’s character is whether or not 20-30 years down the line they’ve learnt a lesson from these incidents. If not we’re doomed to repeat them until we do.

I guess even after 30 years high school never ends..!

Stay Safe X