James Garratt – A life lived and recorded in ink since 1992
My name is James and this personal website is an attempt to archive my writing which predominately is (under a loose banner) poetry
I started writing things down at the age of 17 in 1992, initially with no other idea of plan then to keep a record of my thoughts and feelings. Given my growing up experiences it felt like the perfect way to apply some self help therapy
when the years were much less,
we would sit around and hope for the future,
suckling on checklists.
“I was always just middle sets —
not the best,
but average…”
Let go of the chain,
but even then
I am entangled,
like everything is just too tight.
But on my own,
the crowds — all the crowds —
they just leave me feeling alone.
The constant noise,
a buzz, a hum,
I am sure that we all have one.
In the late Victorian era –
and in the early part of the 20th century
they built schools,
and they had wooden desks
but I lower my eyes to half-mast,
and I realise I am the captain of my ship
it is me who needs to take charge,
and resolve these relationships anchored in my past.
I look around at all these other people,
and they are in similar boats,
but I notice their smile
and how they create an aura of plain sailing
We hang onto a world
that is choked by its own papal smoke.”
The weight of ignorance
will cause them to drown.
The Boy Behind The Glasses. Poetry and Writing 