Those who suggested, with gentle persistence, that I do this blog perhaps thought that I would write about daily life or celebrities or what Nabokov called the current highly irritating world situation. Alas, instead there is this outpouring of concentrated thought and feeling.
The best way to navigate your way around here is to decide what you like best from the category titles at the right of the page … and thus click on Poems or Travels or Reviews of minds and authors etc. This way, with Poems you will avoid the shallow critical prose of self-importance and current affairs. Likewise, with Reviews you will be able to chew on opinion and argument, which is always good for the teeth.
I have placed here only a sprinkling of my unpublished poems. Readers whose interest is not satisfied may easily discover my two books of poetry, Trespasses and The Deer Of Tamniès. Other poems dated between 2002 and 2006 may be visited at http://www.poemhunter.com/martin-turner/. A recent issue of the excellent 10 x 3 plus has generously allotted me seven pages.
What I haven’t done is to include my professional writing here (I am a child psychologist). There is thirty years of that, all readily available elsewhere, and I deserve a break. Life seems to happen incidentally and in the meantime, growing in the crevices like the lace of Alpine waterfalls (Hilton Park Rank services, Waterloo station).
To my amazement, this blog has already attracted over 3000 visitors. They come and go like space travellers alighting on a small, unknown planet, seldom leaving even a footprint. I have been reconnected with old, lost friends, have received information about a missing bassoonist, and been approached by someone writing a biography of one of my mother’s friends. One poem on another site has been viewed an astounding 1378 times ― frequently attracting favourably ratings and comments. Such is the power of the internet.
These are the static moments of a moving life, a traveller’s testimony. Love is the perception of individuals, said Iris Murdoch,[1] and I hope I cast a loving eye on the diamond with uncountable facets that is life.
[1] See: Iris Murdoch, The sublime and the good. Essay in the Chicago Review, Autumn 1959; reprinted in Murdoch, I., ed. Conradi, P. Existentialists And Mystics: Writings On Philosophy And Literature. London: Chatto and Windus, 1997, pp. 215-216.
Martin TURNER's Weblog 
July 3, 2008 at 9:07 am
We have been approached about orchestras in Iran and the possibility of European touring – do you still have links with Iran?
Are you based in London?
It would be really good to meet up again.
All good wishes
Oliver
September 5, 2008 at 3:37 pm
[…] Dad recently had some of his poetry published in 10×3 Plus. Unfortunately the material is not […]
September 22, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Martin
One of the Stockwell branches of the lamented, and occasionally lamentable, South London Yuppies for Verse Collective received news that you have not been well.
We are sorry to hear that. If there is any solace in knowing others to have their own cross to bear, we can provide it. Hazel has been off work all year being treated surgically and chemically for breast cancer.
Please remember us to Farah.
With love
Paul
September 27, 2008 at 6:07 pm
As a fellow poet in the upcoming issue of 10×3, I was led to your site by Sue Ann’s comment about your work. I will be spending more time here. Thank you.
November 28, 2008 at 5:53 am
Great Site! I found it on AlphaInventions, which is a great resource – I have been there less than one week, have received hundreds of hits, and I have found a dozen new blogs to add to my reading list – like yours! Keep up the great work!
Anthony M. Freed
YourMortgageOrYourLife.com
Information-Security-Resources.com
January 30, 2009 at 12:09 am
Re: Priscilla Morgan, New York City
Biography in process.
I am trying to reach the Martin Turner, son of Tessa — possibly the poet Martin Turner born Westminster, London, 1948 — who as a young man about to enter Oxford in 1966 was friendly with Priscilla Morgan of New York, as he sought to come to the U.S. and write about Bob Dylan. I wish to arrange a phone interview or correspondence.
I will greatly appreciate a reply. My thanks, PETER MORAIS.
December 5, 2011 at 8:35 pm
Martin
I would appreciate a credit for my photo of Christopher Logue used at the top of the page – either that or you can negotiate with the National Portrait Gallery.
Regards
Eric Hands
January 19, 2016 at 2:09 pm
done, apologies for delay. DT
September 29, 2014 at 4:52 pm
Dear Martin I came across your poem ‘At the Royal Society of Arts’ in Trepasses. As Honorary Secretary of the William Shipley Group for RSA History and former RSA Curator/Archivist I’m interested in any references to the Society and to Barry’s murals. I would like to include your poem in a future issue of the WSG newsletter. What was the lecture you were attending? Best wishes Susan Bennett http://www.williamshipleygroup.btck.co.uk