Michael Walsh

Poetry Heart to Heart

Volume Two

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Michael Walsh The writer whose work spans two centuries

“Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt. Poetry is a painting that is felt rather than seen.”

~ Michael Walsh.

BIOGRAPHY

Irish author and co-writer of over 40 books, Michael Walsh is an international journalist, broadcaster, author - and poet. His collection of over 500 inspiring, entertaining poems enjoys global acclaim. Born into a literary family, his father, Patrick, was battlefield companion of American war correspondent legend, Ernest Hemingway. His lifelong friendship with Sean O’Casey, Ireland’s foremost playwright, endured until their mortal deaths. Michael's mother, Kathleen, who also mentored his writing skills, was a friend of Dolores Ibarruri, Spain's Civil War revolutionary La Pasionaria. A consummate traveler, after visiting over 60 countries, Michael now lives in Spain. He described himself as first and foremost a devoted son of Eurasia.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

A poet does not work in isolation. The inkwell is his heart, inspiration the natural tapestry of landscape, beautiful women, and life. I pay tribute to my wife, Nadia, my son Craig and his wife Victoria, and my son Michael. I dedicate my verse to Face Book friends who, directly or indirectly, inspire so many of my compositions. Their continued enthusiasm is a driving force and source of both strength and enjoyment. They are, in a word, family.

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TITLES BY MICHAEL WALSH Amazon Book and Kindle editions of these Michael Walsh collections are beautifully and sumptuously illustrated. Each book features a little over 60 delightful compositions with appropriate beautiful images, artwork and photographs. These are guaranteed to please you and your friends and will make the perfect and much appreciated gift.

POETRY TITLES

HEART TO HEART Volume One HEART TO HEART Volume Two HEART TO HEART Volume Three

WHISPERING HOPE WINE THOUGHTS ALL I ASK IS A TALL SHIP IMMORTAL BELOVED

A SYMPHONY OF VERSE FORTY SHADES OF VERSE FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT SPEAK

NON POETRY

THE FIFTH COLUMN Volume One THE FIFTH COLUMN Volume Two

THE DREAM SNATCHER Spain's Most Notorious Fraudster. THE BUSINESS BOOSTER

YOU TUBE Michael Walsh's poetry-music has been compiled by noted Italian video impresario, Carlo Gallozzi. Such is the enchantment of these

exquisite poetry-video productions that the number of You Tube views quickly surpassed those of household name recording stars.

The Oldest Love Letter. Poetry by Michael Walsh The Girl I Met in May. Poetry by Michael Walsh My Auburn Ma Vourneen. Poetry by Michael Walsh

Ma Vourneen – (My Darling). Poetry by Michael Walsh

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TYPICAL TRIBUTES

“Your words come from within the heart; your pen is a conduit of Divine Inspiration. And this is true talent, because we feel this in our hearts, touching to your creation. Thank you.” ~ Larisa Pavele, Tula, Russia.

“After your poem, it was breathtaking but also I had tears, I felt fever. You touched so deep my heart till my soul. It was so beautiful.” ~ Ina Čaklā, Latvia. “I doubt if there is anything in English literature that surpasses the quality of your verse. In fact, I would say your Cattle in the Lea is incomparable.” ~ Tom Roberts; classical literature scholar. Wrexham. North Wales.

“Your poetry is beautiful, it speaks to one's soul. I hope many more beautiful poems are still to come.” ~ Diana Zobena. Riga. “You are really the last romantic in Europe: your poems are so lovely. You have created the world of your own, inhabited by your romantic dreams, fantasies, characters, imaginations, rhythms and melodies in accordance with the laws of Beauty. I should say: a rather closed world, But it’s a pleasure for me to be in touch with it a little bit.” ~ Irina, Volgograd.

FOREWORD What is behind the success of Michael's verse? He smiles, “To compose verse that people relate to. There is no greater pleasure than hearing it said, 'I never liked poetry until I read yours.” Michael has taken poetry away from the pretentious elite, rediscovered its charm, and, like a bouquet of thoughts handed poetry back to the people. His verse covers every human experience and emotion from womb to tomb. It is unique in that its sentiments are reflected by devotees of every nationality, faith and culture. A facet of his unique poetic style is his being appreciated equally by the wealthy, the impoverished, the soprano to the busker. A self-indulgent romantic, his rich assortment of verse is filled with humour, pathos, longing, nostalgia and poignancy. His first poem, composed when 24-years old, is as popular today. He never lost his extraordinary gift. He went on to 'write by candlelight' verse that will ache your heart. Take each verse as you would sip from a glass of the finest burgundy. Much of his poetry is inspired by personal experience. Behind each poem you read is the ghostly image of the person, the place or experience that inspired it. The poetry of Michael Walsh is the language of the soul.

- Publishing Agent.

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“Poets are suspended between life as you know it and life as they know it.” - Michael Walsh.

СONTENTS

Heart to Heart Poetry Volume Two

• SERENITY

• GOLDEN WEDDING BAND

• FIRING SQUAD

• MARRIAGE REGISTRAR

• MISTRESS

• WHEN EYES EMBRACE • LATVIAN LAMENT

• EARTH'S SWEET CURVE

• NEVER A CHANCE TO SAY GOODBYE

• IMMORTAL FREE

• THE POET'S PEN TONIGHT

• REAPER'S CURSE

• VALENTINE'S NIGHT

• AT LAST MY ALL

• LET US KICK THE SKY

• WHERE WERE YOU

• REST MY HEART BY FOREST NOOK

• ARM-IN-ARM

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• A GARDEN NAMED NADEZHDA

• IMMORTAL FLAME

• TOO LATE TO TALK

• MY PASSPORT, SIR

• IF PINE TREES WERE STEEPLES

• BLUEBELLS IN YOUR HAND

• INFINITY

• ANCIENT FLAG OF LATVIA

• EMIGRE

• SPRITE

• CHILDREN'S POEM

• SANDMAN

• TICK-TOCK SLOW

• ARTIST'S SITTING

• A PLACE WHERE I'LL NOT GO

• CROSSROADS OF THE HEART

• WOMANHOOD

• CAPTIVE SOULS

• BISTRO THOUGHTS

• COQUETTE

• OH, YOU OF RAVEN HAIR

• MY FARAWAY FRIEND

• BAIBA PASSED THIS WAY

• A LITTLE RIVER RUNNING

• IMMORTALITY OF LOVE

• LULLABY POEM

• LIGHTHOUSE

• FOOTPRINTS ON MY HEART

• GENTLE FOLK

• GOODBYE SUMMER

• THE FORFEIT

• GENTLE BLOW THE BREEZE TONIGHT

• DREAMING BALLERINA

• A LAND THEY CALL YESTERDAY

• TOMORROW IS A COUNTRY TOO

• WHISPER BIRD

• HOBO

• MIRROR OF MY FATHER

• FAREWELL MY LEGS

• ENDURING WORDS

• SHOULD YOU BE MINE

• SONG OF THE MIRROR

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• SLEEPING POEM

• SOLILOQUY TO HEART SHAPED LIPS

• LOVE ALWAYS STOPS THE CLOCK

• JUST A MINUTE

• PEBBLES AT YOUR WINDOW

• WANDERLUST FORSAKEN

• DANCE OF THE SEVEN VALES

• POET'S PEN

• FINAL DESCENT

• WHERE POETS SLEEP

• THE BLUE ROSE

• EASTERN STAR

• HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LATVIA

SERENITY

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Love in silence, lost in thought, None but you shall count for naught.

In sleep between the tolling bell, My dreams of you cast magic spell,

But you, my muse must dream alone, that I might be of you.

When hearth is embers dying and the candle light is weak, My dreams will soar as bird on wing; my thoughts will ever seek,

The forest glade within your heart, A place where silence keeps,

A vigil true, my love of you, where bliss and rapture sleeps.

Serene shall be my thoughts of you, and if the candlelight, Should go to sleep before I do and bring to me the night,

Then you shall be my flicker-flame, Unspoken thoughts, a whispered name,

In dark and silence love is all, and you are all to me.

THE GOLDEN WEDDING BAND

And she kissed him goodbye at the gatepost, When he kissed her goodnight at the gate - For he knew he was leaving till morning,

But his darling she just couldn’t wait.

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Her kisses were placed true and tender, In her heart there was room but for one, And his kisses she hoped were forever,

How her kisses were Wishing Well spun.

I will see you, my true love, tomorrow, I will see you again she then said,

As he kissed her goodnight in the garden, But his doubt-heart was still filled with dread.

As she kissed him goodbye she was weeping,

Why the weep for the hours apart, For he kissed her so sweet by the posies,

And his kisses came straight from his heart.

If heaven would give me a token, For finger the third on your hand, Then let it be placed there forever,

Eternal my gold wedding band.

THE MARRIAGE REGISTRAR

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Your piece of paper’s worthless, sir, A rite, it is no more.

A scrap thrown from the table feast, Of those who each adore,

One person who’s supreme in life, To share together love and strife,

The couple wed without your pen, Not once but time and time again.

Where were you when vows were made,

In lovers’ arbour, forest glade? Absent from the lovers tryst,

I thank the Lord this marriage missed, Your pen, your unromantic desk,

Your office, sir, is quite grotesque.

Our Registrar was Him above, He alone decides on love,

You are a pen, a quill run dry, We scratch our heads and wonder why,

You register but nothing more, Our vow is ours, it is our core.

Oh, vanity is struck a blow, Such pain as love alone can know,

Buffoons will scratch a pad and sigh, You’ll be together ‘till you die.

But ink that writes upon the heart, Will read true lovers never part.

What vanity is yours to say,

When Lord above sets out the way, For we will see you once not twice, But every day and night we splice,

Two hearts that beat, two souls unite, Not you but us in gentle night.

So I did marry, sweet my bride, ‘twas never you, sir, by my side.

Cast your worthless pen to ground, Crumple paper, sweet the sound, But it can never sweet compare,

With vows and kiss from lovers bare.

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THE MISTRESS

Beguiling, she was smiling when she took her leave of me, For a promise is a promise if it’s kept,

But I wondered at her sorrow, Why she never once looked back,

Then inwardly I knew and how I wept.

Enchanted, I was smitten with her keepsake on my heart, Enduring as a pledge or wedding ring,

They would beat in time forever, To her footsteps as they fade,

For the flights of fancy now upon the wing.

Captive to her beauty, held hostage to her fate, No freedom would I barter in its place,

When she gave a cheerless sigh, As she whisper-kissed goodbye,

My fingers caught the tear drop on her face.

Her heart in two was broken but I held the smallest half, And another’s heart tomorrow would rejoice,

Then for me just sweet recall, Of the maid who gave her all,

Till crucified by hard and painful choice.

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INFINITY

Once in heaven, back to earth, Where there is life anew;

Re-born to live his mortal life, Of trials and love of you.

He took the splendid journey,

Through the passage made for love, Awaiting at the end a light,

Two angels blessed with love.

The seraphs that were chosen, Mother, wife to guide,

Were sent by God when God was just, To be his mortal bride.

Would he return to heaven,

Or better mortal be? Fate would know the answer,

That he returns to Thee.

Eternal life in heaven Timeless when on earth,

His soul was passed between the two, When roaming birth to birth.

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THE POET’S PEN TONIGHT

My fingers, how they wander By the pastures and the brook, Tonight I know they’ll amble

Down the paths of love we took. This poet’s pen is wistful, true

Perhaps you feel its dreaming too, For did not I one twilight night, Take this same path with you?

The poet’s fingers ramble where,

His soul-light shines the way, Reflecting on your every dream,

On whispered words you say. The poet’s pen knows why and when,

You dream both night and day, Then writes the words of love and life,

That light your troubled way.

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When poet’s fingers trace a chart, Through evocation’s muse,

And ink pours freely from his heart, What path shall then it choose? The poet’s pen inspired by you,

Enthralled by all you say and do, And so shall tell the lovelorn pen, It matters not, nor matters when.

MICHAEL WALSH COLLECTION OF SOME OF THE FINEST POETRY BY A CONTEMPORARY POET OF INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION

AVAILABLE AMAZON BOOKS AND AMAZON KINDLE

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OTHER TITLES OF INTEREST

Michael (Walsh) is much more than a poet. Judged ‘Writer of the Year’ by the Euro Weekly News editorial panel, Michael’s reflections on the world, the good and the bad, are enjoyed by a readership estimated at over half a million newspaper readers. If you enjoy Michael’s style you are sure to find the ‘Fifth Column’ newspaper column collections equally engaging and inspirational. The Dream Snatcher is his exclusive biographical firsthand account of Mediterranean Spain’s most successful fraudster.

The Business Booster

For twenty years, 1988 – 2008, Michael Walsh, who had successfully retailed, and owned several businesses, was head-hunted by the Guild of Master Craftsmen, and the Federation of Master Builders. Both superlative quality assurance regulatory trade associations required a business assessment executive with the skill and integrity to assess and mentor new business members. Over those twenty years, Michael became something of a legend himself.

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The Business Booster, compiled during his semi-retirement, draws on those experiences. As a business guide it is unique. It is essential reading for any new or existing business. Michael Walsh is confident that by reading and acting upon the advice given, any business will break free from the herd and surge upwards and forward. The Business Booster is the best possible investment any small to medium sized business can make.

AVAILABLE AMAZON BOOKS AND AMAZON KINDLE