Wilfred Owen,the WW1 war poet visited my town prior to the Great War. All that is recorded of his visit is the fact that he lost both his luggage and his temper. My poem and orchestral piece are an attempt to recreate his mindset at the time.

1 MP3 Songs
ELECTRONIC: Virtual Orchestra, CLASSICAL: Contemporary



Details:
Wilfred Owen's Luggage by David Foley
â¦..and it is saidâ¦. that on an uninviting November night, Wilfred
Owen arrived at Penrith station en route to the Lakes. All that history
records of his visit, is his annoyance at the lack of concern
expressed by the locals regarding the whereabouts of his luggage.

A dull porter made some excuse
As I stood hard staring,
The guard's lamp had long since winked and the signal nodded.
Having travelled in elation, escaping from the suburbs of the mind,
Hungry to feast on the silence (at one with herb and stone.)
I shall learn poetry here.
Instead: I overhear my razor vowels slicing the night air
Falling blunt against sinuous apologies and grunted half concern.

To feast on the silence; the waterlight, the sudden squall, my early
Powers falling in heavy footfalls on crags and scree-
Words unsure underfoot.
To seek out unfashioned blocks of thought
To work them over in the studio.
To quarry confidence.
Instead , my ranting wrent the still air.
When in some tranquil distant hour,
Some glowing cityscape before me,
I will draw on this conflict
And through times distilling glass,
Transform this night of loss and argument and find my old
man 'stout of heart.'