Roy
I wrote this one for Roy Harper. It came out while I was sitting watching TV one evening. I had just written my book on Roy and my head was full of it. I imagined him as a kid daubing hammers and sickles and swastikas on the Town Hall, running away to join the army, feigning madness and suffering ECT, later being locked up in prison and heading off busking round Europe. There was a lot to fit in. He’s had quite a life.
Roy is his own man – a man who gets up there on stage and speaks his mind on every subject. He is passionate and has strong views. He isn’t afraid to say it as it is.
There are not many people around who are prepared to speak out against the environmental madness, the crazy controlling society, war, poverty and religion.
Heaven knows we need them. Roy’s epic songs have kept me sustained through decades.
Roy
Household dissenter,
Absconder and antagonist;
Army runaway
And asylum breakouter;
Prison inmate,
Jazz marathon poet
And convention flouter.
Travelling busker,
Songwriter;
Dauber on the city walls.
Gig talker,
Hitch-hiker,
Singer with the biggest balls.
Awkward and acerbic,
Sweet and melodic,
Laughing madly in the gale.
A stormcock,
A harper,
Creator of the epic rail.
Opher 21.6.2016
I’m an Indie writer. I write what other writers don’t dare. I write what is in my head.
My books are available on Amazon in paperback and digital formats. They are world-wide!
In the UK you might like to browse through on my link below: For overseas visitors please refer to your local Amazon. You’ll find me there.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Opher-Goodwin/e/B00MSHUX6Y/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1475747471&sr=1-2-ent
In the USA:
In the USA – https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=opher+goodwin
Here’s a few selected titles:
Rock Music
- The Blues Muse – the story of Rock music through the eyes of the man with no name who was there through it all.
2. In Search of Captain Beefheart – The story of one man’s search for the best music from the fifties through to now.
Science Fiction
1. Ebola in the Garden of Eden – a tale of overpopulation, government intrigue and a disaster that almost wipes out mankind, warmed by the humanity of children.
2. Green – A story set in the future where pollution is destroying the planet and factions of the Green Party have different solutions – a girl is born with no nervous system.
Kindle & Paperback versions:
The Environment
1. Anthropocene Apocalypse – a detailed memoir of the destruction taking place all over the globe with views on how to deal with it.
Education
- A passion for Education – A Headteacher’s story – The inside story of how to teach our children properly.
There are many more – why not give them a go! You’ll love them!
Led Zeppelin has a song, Hat’s off to Roy Harper.
Hi Keith -Yes – Page and most of Zep play on a number of his albums. He did the vocal on Have a Cigar for Pink Floyd too. Keith Moon played on his stuff too. They all rated him.
Not sure about Zep.
Great poem though, but I would change the line to read “laughing madly at the gale” simply because the Stormcock sits facing into the weather.
I disagree! Don’t change it… “Laughing madly in the gale” is my favorite line.
Harpers own words, not mine! His own self-description.
What? That’s unlike you Andrew to like poetry.
I’ll have a think about the line when I’ve sobered up a little!
Dauber on the city walls,
Nice, captured a snapshot there.
Cheers Neil
A fitting tribute, how we need alternative voices! Is the book available?
It’s all ready but I have a publisher interested. Will see if that takes off first.
Reblogged this on Opher's World and commented:
This is a poem I wrote fairly recently for Roy. It is difficult to sum up such a complex character in a poem.