Day and Night: 40 Poems by David E. P. Dennis(1 Spiral Galaxy Series)

These poems in 'Day & Night', the first volume of David Dennis's poetry published in the Spiral Galaxy Series, touch on many subjects dear to the author's heart - none more so than opposing tyranny. In particular, the poem 'zbrodnia katynska' about the appalling massacre of some 22,000 Polish men and woman during the Second World War - a mass execution by Soviet NKVD personnel, is a poignant reminder of the appalling inhumanity we are capable of as humans - and the outstanding bravery of the Polish people. Other poems in a similar vein are: the execution of Jesus Christ - in the poem 'At this time of year it always snows', and the terrible killing of 'Neda' in Iran. This death of Neda Agha-Soltan on June 20, 2009 was captured on video broadcast over the Internet. It was described as "probably the most widely witnessed death in human history". Having studied Iranian culture and flown over Iran, David is deeply sad at what is happening now, to a country with so much to offer the world, in art, poetry, history and intellectual achievements. There is also a poem called 'Elena' reflecting the dreadful time the Romanians suffered under the Ceaupescu regime - and the poem 'Texting Claudia Pia Fidelis' compares the experience of Roman Legions with those of UK Army personnel in Afghanistan. A second theme in these poems is that of science and discovery. Poems such as 'Universal High Speed Camera' and 'The Eye of Heaven' raise points of wonder about science. The book's title poem - 'Day & Night' asks you to think about String Theory and multi-dimensional 'bag'-spaces (Calabi-Yau manifold) as being like a tiny creature giving birth to our universe. Some poems are gentle and descriptive - like 'Angelita Spagnoletti' about a lonely Italian woman in Amalfi - and 'Messina Terminator', about a man watching the evening clouds at the Straits of Messina. There are poems which deal with sad insanity, adultery and treachery: 'Dadd in Persia' about the mental problems of the artist Richard Dadd, who killed his own father; 'I don't have the energy to hate you' - about a child killed by a hit and run driver; and 'It never knew my wife' - about the accidental and 'adulterous' killing of a child in Cheltenham. These poems were written specifically to make you think about existence, if you can spare an hour or two. Above all, the poems express the sentiment that our lives are short and we must try our very best to get every last ounce of value out of them, before we go back to being rocks again. If you have enjoyed my work, please let me know. All the very best to all of you. David

Table of Contents:
Poems in order 1. At this time of year it always snows 2. Lament: Britain BC 3. The Eye is Blind 4. Sleep on 5. The Wave's Shadow 6. Far Distant 7. Danish Charcoal 8. zbrodnia katynska 9. The Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living 10. Day and Night 11. They Won't Cut Him Down 12. Messina Terminator 13. How can I See? 14. Angelina Spagnoletti 15. Roldal Penstocks 16. Daffodils in the Dark 17. The Eye of Heaven 18. Low Water at Godrevy 19. Start With Black 20. Neda - The Sacrifice 21. Namaste 22. There, there 23. Universal High Speed Camera 24. There Are No Kind Gods 25. That Shalott 26. Black Monks don't fly on the Sabbath 27. Typhon 28. Night Bees 29. It Never Knew My Wife 30. Texting: Claudia Pia Fidelis 31. Deadwood Stage 32. Foot on the Drain 33. The Primal Hope of Ineluctability 34. I don't have the energy to hate you 35. Dadd in Persia 36. Memory - It's All Delicious 37. Elena 38. On Peny Y Gadair Fawr 39. The Radius Squared 40. Day and Night Must End

About the Author :
David E P Dennis has had an unusual and exciting life. He was born inside the University of Bologna, Italy. He served in the Royal Air Force for about 25 years, travelled and climbed widely - and was a government inspector of training. David is a writer and artist (painting in alkyd oils) and photographer with his own section on Saatchi & Saatchi Online. He designs book covers and website background art and was featured in the Sunday Times Literary Exhibition at the Oxford Literary Festival this year. He is a member of Earlyworks Press Literary Club. He also writes technical books for FE colleges and work-based learning providers - and fiction and poetry for Amazon Kindle. Additionally, David is Chair of the national registered charity IIH UK which supports those suffering from Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension. He is married with three children and six grandchildren and lives on the south coast of England within sight of the sea. David's website is: http://www.daviddennis.me