About

Rhymer’s Retreat. What’s it all about? Well might those of you reading ask. So firstly, I’ll give you a brief personal history and then I’ll tell how this blog has come about.Originally from Dorset in the UK, I was fortunate to obtain and enjoy a good education. Especially so as I attended a Grammar School – this during the Second World War and before ‘free’ education was universal in the country. My second piece of good fortune, was having an excellent English teacher – a Mr. Whitaker – as my tutor. Not that much of his teaching was fully appreciated at the time, however, he insisted the use of correct English Grammar was and always would be important, if one were to make their way in this world.

As years passed, I had various experiences around the world, having joined the Royal Navy for an extended period before going into farming for a lengthy spell. However, with a young growing family and UK land prices soaring, emigration seemed to be the best bet for a good future, so moved to Canada in 1966. Eventually I started up and ran my own landscaping business for several decades, which gave me little opportunity for writing and especially not Rhyming Poetry.

But always having had an interest in poetry and writing – an ardent fan of the likes of such poets as Thomas Hardy (a celebrated inhabitant of my own county as was William Barnes), Shakespeare and most of the established poets and authors of earlier years, when winter months began to pall as I grew closer to retirement, I again took to writing verse, in hopes I could achieve some success whilst enjoying my hobby.

I was also aware that technology was advancing quickly and computers were obviously going to play a big part in the modern age. Not wanting to be left behind decided I too must become computer literate. Buying one, was the final spur for me to return to what had for long, been an “on again – off again” hobby of mine. As long dormant skills were resuscitated, so my passion for rhyming verse grew. As my competence with the computer gained strength, so did my quest to compose rhyme!

Although I have attempted to write prose, blank verse and various other forms of poetry, few were deemed of sufficient quality, to excite my muse further. A few creditable exceptions might be posted on my Blog, later, but for now I shall confine my efforts solely to Rhymed Verse. It is my chosen genre and one I follow almost exclusively. From those earlier days, life has been my constant adventure.

After writing a large number of poems, I was persuaded, by family and friends who had read and supported my efforts for some time, to approach a reputable publishing company with a view getting a volume of my verse into print. After some hesitation on my part, this goal was reached in late November 2008. Told Blogging is a good way to showcase one’s efforts, so this Blog was born.

As my “blogging” days advance, so I will add more examples of my poetry for others to read and from which, I hope to garner some polite comment and/or reasoned criticism.