markwoollacott.com
Poetry 2000-2009

To read any of my poems, simply click on any of the poem titles listed on the right of this page.

  • Portraits From The Past: This poem was inspired by the Fayoum (sometimes written Fayum or Faiyum) Mummy Portraits, which were painted during the late first century BC or early first century AD to third century AD in Egypt. They were painted in encaustic paint (usually coloured pigment mixed with cold or heated beeswax) or in tempera on wooden panels or stuccoed linen. These beautiful portraits were popular for their life-like realism and were probably painted by Greek or Roman settlers who had adopted Egyptian burial customs. The portraits were placed and bandaged in place (like a funerary mask) over the faces of the deceased. This type of art belongs to one of the most highly respected forms of art in the Classical World.
  • The Angel On The Empire: This poem is about a couple who encounter a heavenly angel in New York City.
  • Discovering Alchemy: This is a long poem, composed in the style of Dante's Paradise from the epic poem The Divine Comedy. Like the Divine Comedy, Discovering Alchemy is very much a love story - fiction, in journey form - in which the poet becomes inwardly transformed through adventure, compassion, tragedy and love; and writes directly of his experiences in the first person. The poet is taken on a journey around the world by a woman, named Cassandra. She is like Dante's Beatrice, who, in the poet's eyes, encapsulates all that is compassionate, beautiful, virtuous and spiritual. The poem is divided into cantos, made up of three-lined stanzas, and is to be read like a story.
  • There Was A Man: This poem tells of a man who is looking for a sense of purpose in a world that seems hard, cruel and unjust.
  • Misery: This poem is about the plight of the world today and how people are sometimes let down by poor leadership in certain countries.
  • Mountains: This poem was inspired by the Langdales and nearby mountains, in the Lake District, Cumbria, during winter time.
  • Symbols and Pictures: This poem relates to the subject of divination.
  • Crossing Rivers: This poem is a metaphor for inner emotional healing and about peacefully resolving past difficulties: it is about moving on emotionally, starting afresh, letting go of unwanted issues.
  • Walking: This poem describes a journey which I undertook on foot through the Swiss countryside, during November 1992.
  • Angels: For many years I have believed in the existence of angels, and this poem reveals my own feelings about them.
  • In Dreams: This poem is about the subject of precognition.
  • A View Of The Sea: This poem is about the beauty, tranquillity and charm of the stunning shoreline at Hartland Quay, North Devon. It describes a journey I made there some years ago.
  • Where Does Love Begin? This poem is about romantic love.
  • Fairest Song: This poem was inspired by the composition Once Upon A Time In The West by Ennio Morricone.
  • People: This poem is about the perception of unhappiness in society.
  • Compassion: This poem was inspired by a dream, in which I found myself walking from a place of emptiness to a place of compassion and beauty.
  • Lady Rose: This poem is about a minor goddess from classical Roman mythology, called Lady Rose. She is the goddess of roses and she appeared to me in a vision on 21st October 1989.
  • Euterpe's Gift: This poem was inspired by Euterpe, the muse of music. She is one of the muses from ancient Greek mythology.
  • World Of Love:
  • Exiled From Our Beloved Garden: Written in April 2005, this poem was inspired by the story of Adam and Eve, and forms part of a much greater work entitled, The Parents Of Humanity.

 

20 Featured Poems
28th November 2009

Inspired by the beautiful art of the famous Egyptian Fayoum Mummy Portraits.

2nd November 2009

This poem is about a couple who encounter a heavenly angel.

August 2009

A love story in the style of Dante Alighieri's The Divine Comedy.

23rd May 2009

This poem is about a man who is looking for a sense of purpose.

21st May 2009

A poem about the plight of the world today.

13th December 2008

This poem is about the mountains of Cumbria.

17th November 2008

A poem about divination.

5th November 2008

This poem is about resolving past difficulties.

30th October 2008

This poem is about a journey through central Switzerland.

28th October 2008

This poem is about celestial angels.

18th October 2008

A poem Inspired by the subject of precognition.

9th August 2008

This poem is about the coastline near Hartland Quay.

9th August 2008

This poem is about the charm of romantic love.

9th August 2008

Inspired by a piece of music composed by Ennio Morricone.

8th August 2008

This poem is about the perception of unhappiness in society.

7th August 2008

This poem was inspired by a dream in which I experienced profound compassion.

5th August 2008

This poem is about the Roman mythological goddess of roses.

11th July 2006

This poem is about Euterpe, the Muse of Music.

2006

This poem is about the charm of romantic love.

April 2005

Inspired by the Biblical story of Adam and Eve.