Coal and Candlelight, and Other Verses

Spanning the turmoil of the First World War and the quiet rhythms of rural England, this modest volume assembles a mosaic of verse that captures both collective anxiety and personal reverie. The poet moves from sweeping images of ancient stone circles and mist‑clad hills to intimate moments beside a candlelit hearth, letting each scene breathe with a simple, musical cadence. A gentle humor and keen eye for the ordinary give the poems a timeless resonance.

The collection mingles solemn war reflections—reprinted from contemporary periodicals—with tender domestic sketches, such as a mother watching her infant in the glow of a lamp, and a whimsical portrait of Sir Bat‑ears, a scruffy Aberdeen dog who keeps the alms‑people company. These pieces reveal a voice that can shift from reverent solemnity to playful affection while maintaining lyrical clarity. Listeners are invited into a quiet contemplation of night‑time hush, fire‑light crackle, and the soft patter of a dog’s paws, making the book feel like a gentle walk through a landscape where past and present meet.