Publisher's Synopsis
The compiled works of Barrie Cooke. Born in December 1925 at Port Talbot, during his career in the RAF he meet his beloved wife Joan Cooke, know to all as 'Vicky' and mother to his three children David, Christopher and Grahame. Upon his death in September 2011, and then his wifes death in March 2017 these poems were passed down to me. Today it is a very small world, filled with so much online hate, bullying and hearsay, I do not want the love, purpose and admiration of these works to fade into extinction. May his books serve as a lasting reminder of the great achievements of Barrie Cooke. Published with the kind permission of his late wife Joan (Vicki) Cooke who sent me the original poems, I promised at that time I would publish them. After giving me her permission to publish his works, but not until after her passing, I have/will publish all his literature. Vicki always spoke so highly of Barrie, I really wish I had known them both far more than I did. I have decided to publish these now as I am concerned, with the onset of Stage 3 Cancer and then the diagnoses of Unspecified Dementia that these wonderful memories and poems need to be published sooner, rather than later. On July 9th, 1943 and in fit of nostalgia and patriotism Barrie wrote; Away from all the busy streets;Along a mountain trail, Through a pleasant, wooded glade, Where the sun's rays often fail, To penetrate the leafy roof, That towers way up high, A lonely meadow stands aloof, Beneath an open sky. 'Tis there I find the real peace, That weary hearts oft yearn, 'Tis there all worldly worries cease, 'Tis there I would return. Reposing there I'd be at ease, And command a widespread view, Of vallies banked with leafy trees, And streams of azure blue, Of cottages where wreaths of smoke, Rise up straight and high, Rippled only now and then, When a little breeze passed bye. As, in my mind, I see this scene, The hand of nature wrought, The rolling hills, the pastures green, I know now why they fought, From covertuous eyes and grasping hands, They've fought for Scenes like this, They 're fighting now in far off lands, For the homes they love and miss, And when they return from the sweat and toil, They'll have earned the right to say, God put the British on this soil, And here we'll damned well stay. The compiled works of Barrie Cooke, Book 1 contains all his beautifully written love poems to his wife Joan Cooke. Barrie also self published two books while he was alive which I plan to republish.
