Hi all. Sorry for the shameless self-promotion, but this Spring sees the release of my first book, a collection of poetry, and I’m trying to promote it a little online. Please check out:

http://mark-charlesworth.co.uk

&

www.myspace.com/sunriseandshorelines

I also have a Facebook, but not being particularly technically advanced, I’m not sure if you can link directly to profiles on there. The myspace is probably the best, as it has a few sample on in the blog; if anyone feels like commenting upon them, the site as a whole or adding me as a friend, I’ll be most grateful (and will happily dole out figurative pints to all!) There’s very little on the actual website there, but content is being designed for the official release. Once released, the book will be available on Amazon, via the site, or through me. I’m also speaking to Waterstones and Borders about the possibility of them selling it, so watch this space…

In the meantime, here’s a sample to be going on with:

Strange City (October 2005)

They held you in shackles on the night that you died,
your screams ran through streets of the city.
They swore that you cried tears of blood from your eyes,
while old men spat anger or pity.

So how does it feel to be falsely accused
of a murder you did not commit?
And how does it feel to be beaten and bruised
while your life slips away as you see it?

And when you awoke, how you wept for their lies,
to pay someone else's penance.
Left all alone in a cellar to die,
but you swore that you'd have your vengeance…

So how does it feel when you suffer for them,
victim to the noose where you fell?
Ghosts to the conscience of the bloodthirsty men,
you’ll see that they’re rotting in hell.

You chased over cobbles, and whispered in their ears,
drove them to guilt and played on their fears,
till the last took a knife lest his soul should be saved,
but he lies with the devil, not rests in the grave.