The Natural Party of Government?
I understand why rich people might vote Tory, but I can’t understand why poor people would do it. Is it aspiration or delusion? Here’s an instant poem on the cost of living crisis.
Spoken Words
Out and about again yesterday evening – more Hudds Lit Fest, this time a Spoken Word night hosted by Talking Zebras. They meet a couple of times a month on Saturday afternoons at the Wickham Arms in Cleckheaton. I might go tomorrow.
http://www.talkingzebras.co.uk
My purpose with all of this is to hone some stagecraft, but it has made me realise that I’ve been in a bubble, not really exposing myself to other people’s poetry. This was partly deliberate, while I found my own voice. I think I was worried about being influenced by others and ending up sounding the same, but I don’t think that could happen now.
I’ll confess that I did think that Spoken Word as a genre all sounded too similar, but that might just be because a lot of what gets on to the radio is London-based.
It’s totally different up north and I’m really enjoying listening to such a wide variety of styles.
Huddersfield Literature Festival Poetry Open Mic
Backwards, to the Future!
Freedom, is it?
Despite all these storms, spring is in the air (just about) and it’s helping me to feel a bit more positive and creative. The truly awful behaviour of this government doesn’t help, though. This poem is to ‘celebrate’ Thursday. I’m glad that Boris feels proud of releasing us from all restrictions, including the sensible ones that were protecting public health. I’m sure the timing had nothing to do with his own parliamentary difficulties and the need to keep his lunatic backbenchers on side. So, off we go, into the unknown, where only the rich can afford to test and isolate, and everyone else is left to wander around infecting others. What could possibly go wrong?
The Warm Glow of Wood
With a heavy-bagged stagger,
I drag my hand-gathered haul
Home, to burn for warmth.
These dry winter days expose
So much combustible waste.
They say wood heats you twice,
But I find it’s thrice:
Once more for dragging it back!
The Joy of Shameless Self-Promotion
In 2022 I have decided to pour myself into Lateral G, performing, producing and publicising my work more effectively. I’m back at full focus, writing all the time, and there’s a huge backlog of work sat waiting for release. But still I can’t help writing about whatever is happening to me right now, and as part of the great promotion, I’ve been learning about marketing and all that nonsense, so I had to do a poem about that too.
Behind Those Walls
(1)
https://www.bmj.com/content/358/bmj.j3885
(2)
https://news.npcc.police.uk/releases/update-on-coronavirus-fpns-issued-by-police
(3)
https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m1669/rapid-responses
I’d like to credit Rosa Poet with the excellent idea of referencing in poetry!
If you like my political poetry, go and check hers out – link below.
MRI Review – Two Stars
Here is a new experiment in poetry and sound – something I’ve been wanting to try out for a while myself, but have managed to do even better, and get a collaboration going with someone who really knows what they are doing. Luckily, the artist formerly known as Boris Donkson (but soon to assume a new electro-acoustic alias) was fairly keen. Have a listen, preferably in stereo for the full effect, and let me know what you think in the comments.
I’m looking forward to doing more poetry with soundscapes, first for Boris Donkson’s degree project, where I will have less control of the poetry – and then maybe some more of my poems. I am excited by this: it is how I imagined it might sound!
Do you think video as well would be too much?
Lateral G 