February 2018 #2, a request goes out...

I am currently concentrating on my new book - 'Past Horrors'. This is a collection of just Two short stories for the older reader; one quite dark about a troubled soul, and the other a lighter tale of fantasy and history.

In editing and enhancing the first story in the book - 'The Horror' - I realised that I have cited one of my favourite poets' poem; "My own heart let me more have pity on". This was by Gerard Manley Hopkins, a Jesuit Poet and Priest (1844-89); and a writer I came across in my early teens and one that I love to this day.

His work truly is unique. His subject are mainly religious and nature; but his ideas about rhythm (especially the 'sprung rhythm'), and the 'curtail sonnet' he created, as well as his ability to run ideas and rhyme from one line into another; has been a special influence on me for many years. Anyway, I still have a few of his collections of work and in reviewing my story I recognised that I was using a piece of a poem that I don't have copyright for and am unsure if it would fall under 'creative commons'.

Thus, I've tracked down who I hope is the copyright owner and sent them a pleading missive (I'm such a little pleader) requesting that I be given permission to use a part of this poem for my own story.

I'm hoping of course that it will be a 'yes', but I'll keep you informed as it unfolds over time...

Stay safe all,keep reading

A R C