Leon A.C. Qualls

It is with great pleasure that I direct you to two poems by a cherished friend of mine, the talented poet, Tammy Ho Lai-Ming.

These poems are especially close to my heart, for reasons I couldn’t possibly share. They are intense poems of pure emotion, which could only have been written from the depths of her soul.

Tammy is the co-editor of Cha: An Asian Literary Journal and I definitely recommend that you check out their latest offering, The China Issue, which is absolutely sublime and features a refreshingly honest and well-written editorial by Tammy.

Also, check out her personal website to find more about this multi-talented lass of writing. You wont regret a single moment.

Click on the banners below to access her websites and enjoy!

Website updated 16 October 2011

I really love this song.

Website updated Monday July 18 2011

A few people have asked for the words to the poem I read in the audio section of this website and sooo, here it is….

Can you imagine if we were together; would we ever sleep?
A deep sleep, with dreams to keep, ah shite, REM, light
dozin’ for those insomniacs, like us, enjoying the buzz, tasting
the fuzz of life, the wife, the strife, too much as such.
My days and nights are haunted by your diction, I hope not
fiction. Lest I trot down the memory lane of pain
with nothing to gain, you feel me? Feel me again.

Before I met you, I kept my eye glued on the clock,
hand on the glock, ready to shoot the grandfather
should he tick-tock to a stop. Two hours left in the day,
no time to play, sleep on the way. Then you came,
the tiger of time was tamed, by the palpitations
amongst the accusations of expectation;
Chest tightening. I didn’t sign up for this.

Fuck me it’s cold, that’s why I’m so bold, to take out and wear
my tammy. Ain’t it jammy? How did I find her, find here,
chase around the sphere of love, too much shoved down her throat,
stranded on the boat, sinking ship, can we still float?
Let’s stop talking, do some walking, your place or mine?
A glass of fine wine, like a swine, hand on the breast, you know the rest,
use your imagination, this needs no explanation.
But if you insist, I’m fine to list.

A night of big Os, with the tongue a-flow, lapping up the milk,
skin like silk, wet like butter, ‘taste me again’ you mutter,
heart flutters, ready to spasm, orgasm, happy days
melt away in my mouth, deep down in your south. This is no greed,
simply a need; you show your appreciation, time for celebration,
with the cork, ready to pop, can’t stop, explosion, wet sticky devotion,
in your face, that’s the place, a loving mace.

A simple cheerio will not do, time to tattoo, trademark you,
on my leg or on my back, will this hurt? Below or above your skirt,
you wonder where to place me, an ink me for all to see? Maybe.
The needle ends, time to send you back home, work on your tome
write a poem, about me and the intensity of my propensity
for romantic immensity. What a ride, but that aside,
to concur, looking back, it’s all a blur.

Website updated 21 February 2011

Happy Lunar New Year to everyone!

Website updated 3 Feb 2011

Website updated 31 January 2011

Website updated January 26 2011

Website updated January 17 2011

THERE is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore,
There is society, where none intrudes,
By the deep sea, and music in its roar:
I love not man the less, but Nature more,
From these our interviews, in which I steal
From all I may be, or have been before,
To mingle with the Universe, and feel
What I can ne’er express, yet cannot all conceal.

Lord Byron

Website updated 29 October 2010

Hey lads and lassies,

Last week, me and eight other aspiring writers took part in one of the most scary (yet fun!) events of the Edinburgh Book Festival, namely DRAGON’S PEN. We poorly wee writers were sent onstage to face the fierce, fire-breathing Dragons: Charlotte Higgins, Guardian journalist; Francis Bickmore, Senior Editor of Canongate Books; and Lucy Luck, Literary Agent.

The premise of the event involved us pitching our novel-idea to the Dragons, and hoping we’d make it out alive in one piece. Fair play to everyone who got up there and pitched; it was a packed Spielgeltent (with a great crowd!) and the Dragons were for the most part unflinching, so it was quite the scary experience.

At the end of the night, it was Anna Stewart who was slayer of the dragons, with a pitch that was a perfect blend of humour, substance and interest. She was definitely the deserving winner!

I really enjoyed the experience, enjoyed arguing with Charlotte and will take heed of the invaluable advice given by Francis and Lucy.

A big pat on the back for the other eight contestants who all did a fantastic job of promoting themselves and their work (in order of appearance): George Anderson, Alison Summers, Elaine Reid, Amy Burns, Anna Stewart, John Fagan, Jonathan Whiteside and Josephine Jules Andrews.

And finally, a big thanks to Anna Burkey and Ali Bowden of City of Literature for the opportunity, and of course, for always promoting and thinking of new writers.

If you would like to watch me pitching to the Dragons, here it is:

And to see the Dragons’ response to my pitch, here it is:

To view photos of everyone performing on the night, click the photo below!

To hear what Dragon Francis Bickmore thought of the event, click HERE

And to read what Dragon Charlotte Higgins thought, click HERE

On a personal note, it was grand to see my pal and former tutor Trevor Byrne in the crowd. He’s a brilliant writer from Dublin, and if you haven’t read his roaring book, Ghosts and Lightning, what are you waiting for?

So that’s me for now. The writing journey continues! Enjoy what summer days are left, people…and remember what Shane MacGowan said: If ya can’t be good, be careful!

Website updated 5 September 2010.