The Lesson

Today Elizabeth St John reviews The Lesson, a book of poetry by Bobbie Coelho. And there's a giveaway! The author has kindly offered 2 copies as a prize. To be in with a chance of winning, simply leave a comment below or on our Facebook page. 

Good luck!

I have always been interested in poetry, so when I was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2002 I turned to poetry to make sense of what was happening.

Following on from Finding the Light and Reflecting the Light, I feel I still have something to say. In this collection I've touched on a mixture of themes, some shocking, others light-hearted, and all personal to me. For example, one poem is based on the tragic events of Aberfan in 1966, while another was inspired by my sister’s wedding anniversary.

I hope you find something within The Lesson that resonates with you too.

Bobby Coehlo’s Anthology, The Lesson, is an exquisite collection of prose and poetry that speaks of the passage of time and all the ways we measure and capture memories and moments. Within each beautifully wrought piece of writing runs a common theme; time is insubstantial, life is fleeting, and that to be conscious of the precious moments – a wedding day, a granddaughter’s daisy chain – is to capture the essence of life itself.

Although no one likes to be reminded of inevitability of death, Ms Coehlo does so in a simple, direct and sometimes funny way, and her captivating choice of subjects evokes memories of love and loss shared by all. At the same, she is not afraid to confront death full on, and some of her more wrenching poems – a tribute to the Aberfan disaster, a musing on the battlefields of Ypres, cut to the quick.

Poetry is an opportunity to share memories, feelings and philosophies across multiple points of view, and in my opinion, Ms Coehlo’s work is an important reminder that all of us are on the same road to a common ending. She just expresses it better than most. Aptly named “The Lesson”, this anthology is one to be kept close at hand to read over and over. A memorable collection.

About the author: Bobbie Coelho was born near Norwich and now lives in Hampshire with her husband   She has two stepsons and two granddaughters. She has always enjoyed poetry, but after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2002, she was particularly compelled to write as a way of putting things into perspective. Bobbie ahs written two other anthologies: Finding the Light and Reflecting the Light: she is a is a great fan of Forces Poetry (flowforall.org), and has had work published in two of their anthologies, Voices of the Poppies and Poems of the Poppies.

“My wish is that when people read this book, it will make them think a little more and reflect on their journey and realise how luck we are to have the sun on our backs.

Links: Website; Amazon.

About the reviewer: Elizabeth St.John was brought up in England and lives in California. To inform her writing, she has tracked down family papers and residences from Nottingham Castle, Lydiard Park, and Castle Fonmon to the Tower of London. Although the family sold a few castles and country homes along the way (it's hard to keep a good castle going these days), Elizabeth's family still occupy them - in the form of portraits, memoirs, and gardens that carry their imprint. And the occasional ghost. But that's a different story...

Elizabeth's Historical Fiction series "The Lydiard Chronicles" follows the fortunes of the 17th Century St.John family through royal favor and civil war. Her latest novel, By Love Divided, continues the story of Lucy St.John, The Lady of the Tower. This powerfully emotional novel tells of England's great divide, and the heart-wrenching choices one family faces.

https://tinyurl.com/AmazonElizStJohn

https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethJStJohn/

https://twitter.com/ElizStJohn

www.ElizabethJStJohn.com

Hailing Foxes: a Gert Macky book, in asscociation with the poetry can, illustrated by the inimitable Dru Marland.

There is a copy of this delightful small book available for one fortunate winner. To enter the competition please leave the answer to this question on the blog or on The Review Blog Facebook page. The answer is somewhere in the review here.

What does gert macky mean in Bristolian?


Hailing Foxes: a Gert Macky book, in asscociation with the poetry can, illustrated by the inimitable Dru Marland.

The inimitable Dru Marland, who made it all happen

About Hailing Foxes:

Unseen in the street plan of any city run the paths of the wild creatures whose lives are lived alongside ours, and which occasionally cross our own. And sometimes a door will unexpectedly open to that other city,  showing us something startling and unforgettable; foxes, falcons, mice, whales, balloons, reckless pilots, lost ships. All we need to do is pay attention.Hailing Foxes follows Inking Bitterns, our previous book of poems and pictures about wildness; and this time we look at what’s around us in Bristol, in this year when the city is Green Capital.

As a little point of interest, 'gert macky' ... means 'very big' in Bristolian. The excellent Tangent Books publish a Dictionary of Bristle, if you really want to try going native.

Dru Marland is arguably the most inspirational woman I know. Poet, artist, dreamer, blogger and mender of anything mechanical,  Dru, short for the rarely used Drusilla, lives on a canal and is father (yes, you did read that right) to Boat Teenager. Her story can be read here Being Drusilla

This small book is a compilation of beautifully written poems mostly about nature and mostly around the Bristol area and it is stunning illustrated by Dru. Here is the preface and what Ben Banyard has to say about the illustrations:

 The Illustrated Fox

With a chime of brush on jam jar

she drew the Totterdown fox a field,

stroked its snout to query Dundry's spire

coloured the grey of Three Lamps

showed it Chew and Blagdon water.

Its nightly mooch of Tesco's bins

splashed midnight Wraxall blue

but she left Brunel's bridge as a beacon,

a North Star to divine it's flyover home,

let it dream of free range chicken.

The poems, written by twenty different wordsmiths, range greatly in style and scope, but all have one thing in common, true mastery of the genre and a love of the area and nature.

It is a perfect book to have on the bedside to read a poem or two from if you feel a bit low and want to enjoy the big world outside. It is also an attractively priced and very acceptable gift and generally sells for £5 plus postage. A brilliant stocking filler for any one of any age that loves something unusual and different. The clear and colourful pictures would appeal to adults and also to small children and be a lovely introduction to a less Disneyfied look at life.

I found this from Jinny Peberdee unbelievably beautiful and felt I would like to share the page in its entirety.

© Jinny Peberdee
You can find what Jinny does when she is not writing poems by clicking here on her name 'Jinny Peberday'



Featuring poems from some of Bristol's finest poets - Ben Banyard, Pameli Benham, Colin Brown, Liz Brownlee, Stewart Carswell, Rachael Clyne, Dominic Fisher, Ruby Fowden-Willey, Kathy Gee, Deborah Harvey, Hazel Hammond, David C Johnson, Dru Marland, Jinny Peberday, Tom Sastry, Pat Simmons, Alan Summers, John Terry, Vanessa Whiteley, Shirley Wright - the book is a mini master piece and it has been a genuine pleasure to read and love it.

The book is available from multiple outlets but here is the link to one: Etsy This will take you to Dru Marland's selling page.

© Diana Milne September 2016

Louise E. Rule Interviews Bobbie Coelho for The Review's Author Interview

Louise E. Rule interviews Bobbie Coelho for The Review's Author Interview

Bobbie Coelho has written a beautiful poetry book called Finding the Light. When you open the book the first thing that you read is her short biography:

Bobbie Coehlo

[B]obbie Coelho was  born near Norwich and now lives in Hampshire with her husband and two stepsons. She has always enjoyed poetry, but after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2002, she was particularly compelled to write as a way of putting things into perspective. Bobbie is a great fan of Forces Poetry (flowforall.org), and has had work published in two of their anthologies, Voices of the Poppies and Poems of the Poppie[s.]

"My wish is that when people read this book, it will make them think a little more and reflect on their journey."


Welcome to The Review's Author Interview Bobbie.

You say on your Amazon Author's Page that writing poetry has saved you from negative thoughts and that you feel that, in these difficult times it could be a route for others too. Would you like to tell the readers why writing poetry has saved you from negative thoughts?

I found that poetry helped me to put words to my feelings; not only that, but I could use the poems to hopefully give people a way of empathising with me. Parkinson's Disease is very misunderstood, poetry has also helped me explain what it is like.

On your Goodreads Page you say that your favourite poem from Finding the Light is The Essence of Me. It is an extremely profound poem Bobbie, If I may quote a small portion:

[M]y spirit could last evermore

But my body is not playing - you know the score

Many a person has written me off

But no one can make me sto[p]

All your poems seem to have a statement or message regarding determination of some kind. Would you agree with this?

I think a lot of them strike a chord with some people; it makes them think. Most of my poems have a story behind them, but the main message is; it is always later than you think. Don't put off doing things - do them now. Enjoy life, every day is a blessing.

You also say, Bobbie, that the poem you are most proud of is What is a Soldier to Me? Of which this is a small excerpt:

[W]e mark our loss with the poppy flower
Every November, but I still feel the power
Of the truest saying from Shakespear's pen
A Band of Brothers - the greatest of Men.

Please tell the readers why it is your favourite poem?

The poem came as a result of a competition I ran when working as an Army library assistant. The title of the competition was "What is a soldier to me?" I wrote my poem after much consideration and the Army's love of history. I thought the men today are of the same stock as those who fought at Agincourt, Flanders, and Normandy, etc.

I saw this poem as the only way I could say thank you to the forces who protect us. I am also saying that I understand their close ties of 'brotherhood' and the sacrifice they make.

Do you have a special time of day and a special place where you like to write Bobbie?

I don't have a special time of day, but I do like to compose on my computer. The words seem to flow smoothly.

You say on the back cover of your book, Finding the Light, that you have always had an interest in poetry. Would you like to tell the readers which poets have made an impact on you?

The very first poet who had an influence on me was William Blake. I always like The Tyger, when reciting it, you can hear the padding of the tiger. Similarly with The Lamb. Then followed John Masefield, because I liked Sea Fever. But my favourite was always Not Waving, but Drowning, by Stevie Smith, because that seemed to describe me in my life. 

Would you like to tell the readers a bit more about the poem, Bobbie? Why you thought it seemed to describe you in your life?

The reason for that is that I've always felt I don't fit in anywhere: maybe I connect with people through my writing rather than in a social sense. I find it difficult to make small talk, which I feel are the waves of society and against which I can't reach across. It leads to a feeling of being in too deep and being unable to cope.

I also like Gillian Clarke. When I first read Miracle on St. David's Day it made me cry - and still does.

Poetry has a long history, almost as old as time, being originally recited or sung. it can be a way of saying something that would otherwise be difficult in the telling. How difficult was it for you writing your poems?

It has never been difficult, but two poems in particular, being Freak and White Flowers would not leave me alone until I had written them. The words kept going through my brain.

I think of poetry as potted emotion and feeling. After a particularly bad incident in the town where I live, (a group of people were pointing at me and whispering). I hurried home with tears in my eyes, and two lines going through my brain; 

Tell me, 
how long does it take to realise you're a freak? 

It was the first time I realised that I was now different.

The lines of this poem are a bit shocking: I don't think I could put that in a book so shockingly and make people sit up as I have done here. 

Similarly, White Flowers: the background to this is the Beslan School Siege. This happened at roughly the same time as the Tsunami in Thailand, but strangely the school siege affected me more. I saw a picture on the news of a man rocking, crying over the coffin of his daughter. It made me think of the things he has been robbed of; seeing her grow, her wedding, etc., but most of all, he's bean robbed of hope for the future and that is the cruellest thing that could happen to a parent. I could not have expressed this in any other format with such feeling. The rhythm of the poem emphasised the bullets as the children were shot.....


Having read Finding the Light, I would like to say that it has certainly made me reflect on some of my life. I would like to thank you very much for joining me on this interview Bobbie, and thank you for your candour.


Bobbie Coehlo's book Finding the Light can be found on amazon.co.uk
Bobbie can be found on Facebook here

Louise E. Rule is author of Future Confronted
Louise can be found on Facebook here

Finding the Light by Bobbie Coelho

Please see below for giveaway details!

Well this made a change.  The first volume of poetry to come to The Review Group.  And a fairly polished production it is.

I was told that each of the poems in Bobbie Coelho's Finding the Light has a story attached.  Reading the poems, that quickly becomes apparent.  Most of them are quite short and each one captures a fleeting thought or impression, a memory, a moment.  The result is a sort of poetic scrapbook - scenes from a life, reflected upon and rendered in a neat verse.

Perhaps the best way to describe the collection is to acknowledge - as Bobbie does in the poems - that the poet has Parkinson's Disease.  Some of the poems reveal themselves as thoughtful, and sometimes anguished, responses to the condition.  A recurring theme is the need - realised as a result of being diagnosed with and living with infirmity - to seize the moment and to make the most of life. 

But too many poems on that theme would seem trite.  Bobbie never harps on the illness, never wallows in self-pity.  The awareness of her own frailty appears to have caused her to see things in a new light - both the things that are around her (flowers in a summer garden, a Remembrance Day parade) and those which rise up out of the memory.  And so what emerges is a sort of collage: one image, one idea after another, in no particular order, shards of a lifetime's experience.

Some of those experiences are painful.  "Lost" and "My Premature Baby" deal with a difficult subject, and yet they do so lightly - nothing too mawkish, the emotion welling up through the clear and simple words.  Other poems speak of the anxiety occasioned by having a loved one away on military service, the gnawing worry brilliantly conveyed by "The Knock", the simple pride in our Armed Services, and the traditions relating to our military history, which finds a counterpoint in "A Soldier of the Queen", with its realisation that when a soldier signs up, he or she signs up their whole family.

Friends and friendships are honoured, holidays recalled, snapshots in the family album.  The themes of the volume emerge gradually and impressionistically.  There is the occasional note of what's wrong with the world today? which will strike a chord with many a reader, and sometimes an explicitly Christian message, but otherwise the poems speak for themselves, and they do so with an immediacy that has to be admired.  There is fun to be had in reading through the volume: parents everywhere will agree with the pithy "Teenager" (pleasantly paired with "For Kitty on Her Birthday", which re-establishes the balance), and "Signing Off" is a brilliantly encapsulated statement on married life.  The arrangement of the poems in this neat and carefully copy edited volume means that every page contains a different mood, another emotion recollected in tranquillity.

These are personal poems with broad appeal.  My guess would be that what started as a need - occasioned by the onset of illness - to store memories and record thoughts soon became a therapeutic exercise, finally yielding a collection of impressions and reflections to be passed on.  Bobbie Coelho discovered that she had a facility for capturing that fleeting thing, a moment from a life.  Each poem, then, is like a butterfly caught on the wing and delicately preserved in a glass case.  The simplicity of the language is deceptive.  There's a radiance to each of these short poems.  Each one can be read, savoured, dwelt upon.

It is a rare and precious thing that Bobbie has shared with us here.

Bobbie Coelho was born near Norwich and now lives in Hampshire with her husband and two stepsons.  She has always enjoyed poetry, but after being diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2002, she was particularly compelled to write as a way of putting things into perspective.  "My wish is that when people read this book," writes Bobbie, "it will make them think a little more and reflect on their journey."  

Bobbie has very kindly offered a signed paperback copy of Finding the Light for a lucky winner.  To enter the giveaway draw, please comment on this blog or on our Facebook  page.  Finding the Light can also be ordered in paperback or Kindle edition from Amazon.co.uk.




Simon Andrew Stirling is an award-winning scriptwriter and historian currently lecturing in Film Studies at the University of Worcester.  He is the author of The King Arthur Conspiracy: How a Scottish Prince Became a Mythical Hero (2012) and Who Killed William Shakespeare? The Murderer, The Motive, The Means (2013), both published by The History Press.  Simon has just completed his latest historical investigation, The Grail: Relic of an Ancient Religion, for Moon Books and is about to start work on Shakespeare's Son: A Life of Sir William Davenant.  

If you would like Simon to review your book please click on the submissions link at the top of the page.