Verses of Here and After ... and magic that man has long forgot'

GORDON Crimp is a Devon man, having lived in the Plymouth area most of his life and in the Walkham Valley in recent times. He has an interesting working career including being a diver, from which he has now retired. His poetry is inspired by the by the land he sees all around him — the austere grandure of Dartmoor, the rolling, green terrain of Devon, a county clearly which means much to him.

Also, the people he knows and sees, their fads, habits, idiosyncrasies, feature in his work along with perceptive, deep thinking appraisals of the world around him; a spiritual man, he is adept at delving into the 'meaning of it all'.

He does not always discover answers, but the delving alone leads to quality verse. This is his first published anthology of poetry having for many years just jotted down, in verse, his thoughts, observations and feelings in somewhat haphazard form. Whoever persuaded him to bring it together in 'Verses of here and after' has done us all a considerable service.

There are more than 20 poems, all different in subject matter and mood but all penned with deep thought and shrewd observation. There is a highly evocative and slightly scary one about Wistman's Wood; while Dartmoor is also the subject in the delightful, 'Sheeptor'; the ancient somewhat eerie woodland of Wistman's has never been better described in either poetry or prose. While his descriptive skills are to be seen in many of his poems, at least an equal number show the cerebral, deep thinking, spiritual side of the man. Much of his approach to life is encapsulated in 'Nothing but a dreamer,' sets the tone and the quality of what is to come. His style shows his shrewd selection of words while the imagery they create makes much of his work powerful and gripping.

'Nothing but a dreamer' sets the tone to a degree whilst powerful 'Questions on your mind' will stimulate thoughts — and possibly uncertainties — in even the most assured. And in these days of credit crunches and financial calamities, two entries - 'Poor Man's Gold and 'Plastic Gold' — will strike cords with folk, the author making observations and realising issues which so many of us try to avoid for our own comfort and ease of mind.

Readers of poetry tend, possible, to have a more individualistic approach to the text than those who read novels or short stories; devotees often seek a personal theme in the lines which they scan. Generally this can be divided into either those who seek evocation and beauty in the words or on the other hand look for 'messages', that which speaks of hidden truths, and, perhaps, provides guidance — even inspiration — as to the way forward in life. This book will prove a most satisfying, enjoyable, even inspirational read, for both 'schools'. More please.

Verses of here and after . . . and magic that man has long forgot' by Gordon Crimp, is priced at £3 and is available from local bookshops.

Ted Sherrell