IN MEMORIAM---HELEN BURKE
Oct 30, 1953-Apr 20, 2019
Helen Burke wrote poetry for 42 years; she also wrote short stories, plays, comedy sketches. She also painted and made visual art.
Her work has been widely published and anthologized. She won a number of competitions such as Manchester International, Norwich, Suffolk, the Yorkshire prize, Southport Comedy, Jersey, Devon & Dorset, Torbay and many others.
Her work has been published and distributed in America by www.origamipoems.com, based on Rhode Island, she has 15 chap books with them, having formerly read at Roots in Providence. She was an honorary member of Ocean State Poets.
She read at many literature and music festivals in the UK and read with former Poet Laureate ,Andrew Motion.She was a regular host on E.L.F.M Radio in Leeds featuring many of her own poems and guest poets and musicians. Her work is described as witty, surreal, humane and accessible,commented on by Gillian Clark and Paula Meehan for her last collection by Valley Press.
She performed a one woman show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. She also read in Europe and America, her work has been translated and read on Romanian radio, and she helped to edit work for Romanian poets.
Early work the “Book of Beyond” and the “Island of Dreams” are by Krazy Phils Press, “Zuzus Petals” also by Krazy Phils Press. Her collections THE RUBY SLIPPERS and HERE’S LOOKING AT YOU KID are both with Valley Press- available on Amazon and Kindle and also through Valley Press, in Scarborough. “And God said Let There Be Chocalate”, and “Americana” are both with Krazy Phils Press. She has two CDs The Gift and Here’s Looking at You, Kid, available from Krazy Phil again. (see krazyphils.com )
She had poems set to music by a large orchestra in Australia and has performed with jazz, rock and folk musicians, with an especial reference to Irish folk musicians .A poem, "The Healing Pool" was set to music by Kevin Keough and can be heard on YouTube. Her artwork has been featured in galleries both in the UK and in France.
HELEN'S POETRY
Little Brown Horse
And this is the little brown horse that my Uncle said ran wild
In the fields of Donegal, and no-one could catch
And this is the little brown horse that my mother said she fed apples
On her way to learn nothing at school …
And this is the little brown horse that my dad put all his hopes and dreams on
And is probably still running
And this is the little brown horse that I ride every day into battle
And the slower I go, the more he picks up speed
And this is the little brown horse that is you, coming in from work
With a smile and a kiss and a cream cake …
And you run like a wild thing in at the gate and you say –
It will be all right in the end.
And we lean like two horses – that can never be parted.
And I know – It will all be all right. In the end.
Left behind on the tube
A moose.
4 breast implants
A coffin
A stuffed fox
A live frog
2,600 pairs of false teeth
A wooden leg
A marmoset
A bears head, mounted on a plaque
An invitation to the royal wedding
Oct 30, 1953-Apr 20, 2019
Helen Burke wrote poetry for 42 years; she also wrote short stories, plays, comedy sketches. She also painted and made visual art.
Her work has been widely published and anthologized. She won a number of competitions such as Manchester International, Norwich, Suffolk, the Yorkshire prize, Southport Comedy, Jersey, Devon & Dorset, Torbay and many others.
Her work has been published and distributed in America by www.origamipoems.com, based on Rhode Island, she has 15 chap books with them, having formerly read at Roots in Providence. She was an honorary member of Ocean State Poets.
She read at many literature and music festivals in the UK and read with former Poet Laureate ,Andrew Motion.She was a regular host on E.L.F.M Radio in Leeds featuring many of her own poems and guest poets and musicians. Her work is described as witty, surreal, humane and accessible,commented on by Gillian Clark and Paula Meehan for her last collection by Valley Press.
She performed a one woman show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. She also read in Europe and America, her work has been translated and read on Romanian radio, and she helped to edit work for Romanian poets.
Early work the “Book of Beyond” and the “Island of Dreams” are by Krazy Phils Press, “Zuzus Petals” also by Krazy Phils Press. Her collections THE RUBY SLIPPERS and HERE’S LOOKING AT YOU KID are both with Valley Press- available on Amazon and Kindle and also through Valley Press, in Scarborough. “And God said Let There Be Chocalate”, and “Americana” are both with Krazy Phils Press. She has two CDs The Gift and Here’s Looking at You, Kid, available from Krazy Phil again. (see krazyphils.com )
She had poems set to music by a large orchestra in Australia and has performed with jazz, rock and folk musicians, with an especial reference to Irish folk musicians .A poem, "The Healing Pool" was set to music by Kevin Keough and can be heard on YouTube. Her artwork has been featured in galleries both in the UK and in France.
HELEN'S POETRY
Little Brown Horse
And this is the little brown horse that my Uncle said ran wild
In the fields of Donegal, and no-one could catch
And this is the little brown horse that my mother said she fed apples
On her way to learn nothing at school …
And this is the little brown horse that my dad put all his hopes and dreams on
And is probably still running
And this is the little brown horse that I ride every day into battle
And the slower I go, the more he picks up speed
And this is the little brown horse that is you, coming in from work
With a smile and a kiss and a cream cake …
And you run like a wild thing in at the gate and you say –
It will be all right in the end.
And we lean like two horses – that can never be parted.
And I know – It will all be all right. In the end.
Left behind on the tube
A moose.
4 breast implants
A coffin
A stuffed fox
A live frog
2,600 pairs of false teeth
A wooden leg
A marmoset
A bears head, mounted on a plaque
An invitation to the royal wedding