In the footsteps of the Bard
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
My philosophy
‘Where e’er ye be
Let your words gang free’*
That could be my philosophy
Whether in my car or in my shower
They’ll strike at almost any hour
When lying only half awake
My finest poetry I make
I’m Shakespeare, Keats, and Burns combined
If only I could access my mind
But usually they fade away
Before I see the light of day
If I could but hook up a printer
Controlled by brain wave to press ‘enter’
The result would make me look so good
A poet of the first magnitude
It’s so much harder when compos mentis
To write and utilize my senses
And so the normal verse I write
Is filled with rhyming couplets like
Those you see displayed within
My collected works so small and thin
Though they are all so personal
They’ve been confused with doggerel
And I’m quite sure that any critic of note
Would quite disclaim that I’m a poet
For I oppose the modern view
That rhyming verse is overused
And I believe my use of pun
Is much enjoyed by everyone
It does not take a classical bent
To interpret clearly my intent
I only wish to bring to you
My own poetical point of view
And if someone of intellectual mind
Couldn’t stand my meter or the way it rhymed
I’d wish on them this last bequeath
Good jawing as you Nash your teeth!
1984
* paraphrasing an old Scottish saying
When e’er to dream I am inclined
When e’er to dream I am inclined
I lie beneath a limb
As a gentle breeze wafts through the trees
And the flickering sun grows dim
My eyes then close in deep repose
My slumbers grow more tranquil
My chest it heaves as each worry leaves
To yield a peace for which I am thankful
This is the time, that moment sublime
When unconscious thoughts take over
So I gladly go along with the flow
As, at first, in a cloud they hover
Then quick as a wink before one can blink
I’m there quite immersed deep within it
The dream it is real, yes, that’s how I feel
For it’s live and right up to the minute
Its panoply is so rich that sometime I twitch
Be the dream of adventure or love
My body responds but the dream it absconds
As I wake, it has flown like the dove
But fond memories linger as from toe tip to finger
I’m filled with a warm, fuzzy feeling
That’s why I can’t wait to return to that state
And why dreaming is now so appealing
8.13.02
That magic word
She spots it and her eyes light up
Her heart begins to race
Like liquid flowing from a cup
She quickens up her pace
And if across the street it lies
She’d dart between each car
For once that magic word she spies
She’d hasten near or far
It conjures up a world wherein
One simply can’t go wrong
For wondrous treasures lie within
All going for a song
Yes, every woman’s dream consists
Of beating down retail
And the sign they simply can’t resist
Is the magic of a SALE!
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Book Details
About the Book
The book is in two parts. First, there is a collection of light and humorous verse covering a wide range of human subjects. Many are celebratory in nature covering specific events in people’s lives like births and marriages (no deaths), awarding of university degrees, retirements and departures, to descriptions of conferences attended and inanimate objects like acid rain, and finally ending up with a fairly large number of limericks, most of which can be told to children. The second, and smaller, section of the book is an original collection of both American and Scottish song lyrics, which are mainly country and folk in nature. Why should you read this book? Because it will be an experience unlike any other!
‘A collection of witty and creative poems and song lyrics’ Steve Ritter, senior editor, Chemical and Engineering News, Jan. 2, 2006
‘A delightful read that has something of interest for everyone (including) a wonderful collection of copyrighted song lyrics’ Alan Warren, Book Review in The Catalyst, ACS, June 2006
"Inventive, warm, and funny, containing enough mischief to make the poems interesting" Frances Laird, author of ‘Swan songs'
"Witty and wide-ranging--Ogden Nash, watch out!" Helen Schenck, Princeton University Press
“Reading this delightful little book gives me an inferiority complex - how can an author be simultaneously so witty, creative and innovative?” Alan G. MacDiarmid, Nobel laureate in Chemistry, 2000
‘He has an amazing ability to write humorous and occasional verse about any topic under the sun -- and perhaps beyond the sun as well!’ Dr. John Shea, editor of PennMedicine
‘I have been dipping into your book of poems at random and they are an awful lot of fun! Thanks for writing them.’ Prof. L.A.Girifalco, University Professor, U of PA
‘I read your book and it is really enjoyable’ Prof. Stephen Z. D. Cheng, Univ. of Akron, senior editor of ‘Polymer’
‘Undoubtedly "an experience unlike any other!" It was a big hit’ Prof. A.T. ‘Charlie’ Johnson, Dept. of Physics, U. of PA
‘This book offers a pleasant insight into the author’s wit and charm’ Rita Armstrong, editor www.scottishtartan.org
‘I have been reading your book and have to congratulate you on a superb sense of humor. I found "The Betrothal", "Tempus Fugit", and the age poems entertaining, very witty, and humorous. I like your perspective on life. Robert Kolb, President, Latina Inc., NYC
'I enjoyed your book, especially the poem 'When E'er to Dream I am Inclined' Prof. Bryen Lorenz, Chair, EE Dept., Widener University
About the Author
Andrew McGhie is a scientist by vocation but whose avocation is that of a poet and songwriter. He caught the latter bug at age thirty-seven, which was precisely the age that