The journey of life through the eyes of a Thame poet

A THAME poet and philosopher?s latest book has earned the praise of a BBC TV presenter and the Mayor of London.
Pam Rhodes, long standing presenter of the BBC?s Songs of Praise, says of Eric Gladwin?s book: ?Eric Gladwin is a wordsmith weaving together experience, empathy and vision in verse which becomes more than mere poetry. The book is wonderful. The work in it takes my breath away. Well done!?

Eric?s collection of poems has been released recently by Trafford Publishing and entitled ?The Beauty of the Feminine, Love and Family.?

Thame?s MP until recently, Boris Johnson, now the Mayor of London, has read Eric?s work and said: ?This book of poems touches in a thought provoking way on a variety of subjects and its main themes make it an interesting and enjoyable read.?

The book does indeed touch on many aspects of love and family life, imbuing that journey we all take through life, with both a spiritual and a humanistic glow that only the poet can do for the rest of us humanity, by looking at things through a metaphorical pair of upside down binoculars.

Eric?s observations and questions transport the reader from the poet?s acute appreciation of a woman?s naked body, ?stripped of the camouflage of fashion?s art, Free? Knowing.. Of the deepest of all things feminine? – through flirting and courting, to special moments of love when observing a child playing, or the burning feelings of loss when they leave home for the first time:

?They mourn.
As their forefathers mourned
As those now grown will mourn in turn
And those that follow them..
Perhaps this price should not be grudged
For this loss in the flesh
Is the Young?s fulfilment
And a joyousness?.?

There are too some less optimistic moments caught, as in ?The Child and the Chick?:

?Golden chick, in small boy?s hand
A light upon his face
Mark well the look that will be gone
For, as a man, that is his fate.?

Yes, such subjects as these in our more sceptical times are in danger of being called ?corny? but Eric?s treatment of these things that touch us all despite our armour, draws us in to his view of love and nature and what he calls ?the healing of the sun?. And we cannot help but be touched at some level that may surprise us.