Had a memorable conversation with a child once who informed me there were four seasons. Please tell their names I asked.  'Okay' she said. 'Summer, Awesome, Winter, Spring.' She was closer to the truth than she realised, for the seasons are quite awesome, each in their own way, have fascinated poets, forever. December marks the beginning of Summer in Australia  and these poems hopefully capture a sense of the warm season. Summer means many things in Australia. For many, summer present means danger, drought and bushfires. I have at time been drawn to writing about this dark side of summer for it has been part of my lived experience.  While remaining fully aware of these potential dangers, summer also brings positives.  For many it means holidays, relaxed living and family time.   It is forever a season capable of mixed blessings, possessingthe same complexity as the human condition. Poets are continually drawn to summer musings and I am one such poet... Inyinnyi-...

  Dr John Cooper Clarke is an English poet who emerged from the punk era as a performance poet, actor writer,  renowned as having a sharp wit and a satirical style. He is known as 'The Emperor of Punk Poetry.'  John Cooper Clarke remains one of Britain's favourite poets and has been stirring poetic hearts and minds for decades.   Clarke's performances are characterised by quick and lively renditions of his poems, usually performed a cappella. He is often referred to as 'the Bard of Salford,' his home town. His quirkiness is reflected in his commitment to writing a poem about Elvis Presley every year. I enjoy his word play and use of rhyme. He has numerous books of poetry available.  I am sharing one of  his more recent Elvis offerings from the book, 'The Luckiest Guy Alive.' The Man Who Didn't Love Elvis A sad sack sitting in a sickly groove The band kicked- he couldn't move What was he trying to prove The man who didn't love Elvis He didn...