THIS was the day (Jan 26) that BBC Radio Merseyside broadcast my review of the week's news in the form of a rhyming poem.
People seemed to like the poem - published below - and so I'm pleased to say that next Friday (2 Feb) and each Friday after that I'll again be versifying on the Breakfast programme, hosted by Simon O'Brien and Lucinda Moore.
These news-packed poems of mine will be broadcast quite early, mind, at about 6.45 on Friday mornings so you will have to be quite dedicated to get up so early to listen.

Writing the poems regularly will require a bit of a commitment, but I want to do it because in recent months I have rediscovered the passion for poetry I used to have when I lived in London.
And I know from the regular readings I've done in Wallasey over the past few months, and from the occasional outing to the Dead Goods in Liverpool, that poetry is incredibly special to many more people than is generally thought.
All sorts of folk write poetry, and they find it comforting and occasionally thrilling to do so. I know that because people often come up to me at readings and tell me so.
With that in mind, I have decided to launch a poetry club for Wallasey, based at the Little Brighton pub (known locally as The Ginny), in Rake Lane, New Brighton.
It will be a supportive environment for new and old writers to come along to and read their poems, and I thank the Ginny's landlords Fred and Shirley for providing the room.
Special thanks also go to Corky and Reckless Elbow at their Tuesday night sessions at the Ginny for letting me read my poems, and to the singer /actor Karl Lornie who also invites me up to do a poem or two between the music acts during his nights at Stanley's Cask (also held on Tuesdays).
The new poetry club, which will be called New Brighton Bards, will meet monthly. I'll be letting you know dates in this blog soon.
I feel it is important that Wallasey has a poetry venue of its own.
This old borough has been neglected in all sorts of ways culturally in recent years, but Wallasey people have a special spirit and attitude which I think will be very conducive to poetic expression.
And, of course, when the club starts going it will welcome poets from far and wide, and hopefully the occasional singer, too, for an accoustic set.
If anyone wants to take part and read their stuff, please let me know by sending a comment and your email address to this blog.
If you don't want the comment published, and simply want to make contact and get information, then please say so and I will honour your wishes.
Now, all that remains is for me to show you my poem about the week's news events that was broadcast on BBC Radio Merseyside (95.8 FM) this morning.

That was the week that ...

Race hatred burst back into the news
With Jade Goody’s unacceptable views
Shocking the nation and causing debate
Among people who thought they’d banished hate.

But no, they hadn’t, and so it was seen
When bullying and race taunts quite obscene
Were acted out at Knowsley Hey school
By kids ever willing to play the fool

And by doing so bring a heap of shame
To the area where that boy was slain
Eighteen months ago, causing great pity
For Anthony Walker in our city.

When race rows died down, strife it stayed
Top priority as the Government played
Radical cards in its ‘Respect’ campaign
To tackle the yobs who show us disdain

In Wirral, in Knowsley and Liverpool
By being violent and always cruel.
But will councils and cops have any luck
In making good, lives so very messed up?

These slogans and zones are all very well
But life on the street can be just like hell
When the thugs grow up not knowing what’s right
Or what will bring misery every night.

And I doubt that getting councils involved
Will in the end get anything solved.
Councillors talk and they pontificate
While life on the street fills up with hate.

So let members sup from the common tap
While workers protest and get in a flap
Over bottles of water, banned to all
Who work in cushy jobs at the Town Hall

Meanwhile, at Goodison real love was seen
For the man, the legend, of Dixie Dean.
Long gone now but he’s a champion true,
Respected by Reds, adored by those blue.

Somewhere in Widnes, a worry’s expressed
About a new unit for the depressed.
But mental health owners say they will consult
And that for campaigners is a result.

Then lizardy love amazed quite a few
Who were puzzled by babes at Chester Zoo.
Where a komodo dragon started a fad
For being a virgin, a mum AND a dad!

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