Pete Crowther

Pete Crowther Biography

Web pages www.wilgilsland.co.uk
Web pages www.lulu.com/content/214133#
Web pages www.flickr.com/photos/petecrowther/
Web pages http: //moonhare77.deviantart.com

Born in Hull in East Yorkshire into a seafaring family, he spent some time in the Royal Navy after completing his education, before a career as chief cataloguer at the universities of Birmingham, and Hull where he served under the poet and librarian, Philip Larkin. Now retired he lives with his wife in a small cottage sandwiched between the North Sea and the broad River Humber. He first started writing poetry as a hobby just three years ago. His other interests are natural history, Egyptology, and local history. He is a keen cyclist and motorcyclist.
Early this year (2006) , he had a selection of his poems published as a book, entitled “Calling the Moon”, by the on-line publishers-on-demand, Lulu.com (http: //www.lulu.com/214133#) . This book features poems written by the author between late 2003 and early 2006. There are many sea-related poems in the collection reflecting the author’s close association with and love for the sea. Other themes stem from his interest and fascination with Egyptology while readers may be surprised by the number of ‘rat’ poems; he and his wife have kept pet rats for several years and found them to be lovable and rewarding pets. The author likes to experiment with different kinds and styles of poems so that here will be found humorous poems, serious poems, long poems, short poems, narrative poems, found poems, collage poems, and both rhymed and unrhymed poems. Some are written in blank verse while others are written in a variety of formal styles and metres. He admits to having been influenced by the poet, Robin Skelton’s rich source book of descriptions and examples of poetic forms from all over the world, both ancient and modern, 'The Shapes of Our Singing'(2002) . A further book of poems, 'Dancing in the Wind' was published in 2007.

Pete Crowther Poems

The Best Poem Of Pete Crowther

A Biker's Funeral

(In memory of Stephen (Reggie) Pearce
of Kilnsea,1980–2005)

The wind blows cold through the churchyard trees
and sadly tolls the passing bell
as mourners shuffle up the leaf-strewn
narrow path between the leaning stones.

He was just twenty-five, so young,
so full of life, and love of life
and laughter — killed outright one night
in a head-on crash on his motorbike.

From far and wide we’ve gathered here
to pay respect to our young friend.
I’ve never seen the church so full,
oh death, how can you be so cruel?

Who will forget this funeral?
Four hundred strong in the nave we stood,
family and friends both young and old
and a phalanx of bikers in leathers and boots.

Between the holy platitudes
and hymns they played his favourite songs;
one had to smile to hear within
that ancient august church of stone

come belting out the vibrant tones
of modern rock and heavy metal.
Who can forget the coffin passing
in procession like a royal barque,

the biker’s helmet on its lid
resplendent in heraldic tones
— rich gules, azure, argent, or,
a shining light of knightly splendour?

Who will forget that send-off from
his fellow bikers when three score
or more bright gleaming motorcycles
with a thunderous roar led off the hearse?

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