I have been interested in poetry from when I was a child. One of my favourite books was Brian Pattern's Gargling with Jelly. I grew to like it more through Enid Blyton's mystery books as there was a character called Ernie Good (nephew of PC Good) who tried to write poetry. His poems were always improved by the clever "Fatty" (Frederick Algernon Trotteville). When I was around 13, I started writing my own poems in a pretty floral notebook I was given. Life became busy after that into my teens and I didn't really write any. Then I commenced Teacher Training and began writing a few poems, inspired by the poems I was teaching- I even shared a few in the early days of this blog (not labelled so hard to find and labelled later. and here (not the best poems but soothing for me to write).
I bought some poetry books in my 20's. A friend of my Grandad's, from his violin making classes called Roger Downer had published 2 poetry books and he gave me some copies. I started learning some poems by heart when I got to know my Father in Law, the wonderful WOMOTM.
We had a push on poetry in school and I started setting some poems to music for the children in Singing Assembly to help with the push on poetry from a musical angle. I wrote a few poems as well.
Again, life became busy but I started to see poems around me. Do any of you remember the hilarious blogger, Lakota- Faith Hope and Charity Shopping? Well, we are still Insta buddies and she has been publishing her brilliant Children's poetry on her insta and in some publications. A musical friend of mine, Kate Wakeling is a published poet of 2 children's books (and adult ones) and we got in touch through Insta. I bought her two books for school- Cloud Soup and Moon Juice- both of which I really enjoyed.
On Sunday, I saw on her Insta, an advert for this event:
Poetry had come up again in a recent Reading Inset and so I really wanted to sign up for it- Poetry, as I said, has always been something I enjoy.
I mentioned it to Kate to ask about timings and she said it would be lovely to see me so I enrolled onto it. It ran from 4pm-5.30pm via Zoom. I joined in at school as I wouldn't be able to get home in time.
Ah, it was lovely to have poetry read to us, to talk about techniques and what works well. How the mundane can be made magical, how deep feelings can be explored, how feelings can be personified, how the ordinary can be made absurd and how ambiguity can be used well. Also how free verse can be really a great way into poetry and not getting too bogged down in a particular style.
We had 2 creative tasks based on 2 of Kate's poems, I shared my first one with the group which was based on Kate's Paeon: 11 uses for a Pea. My one was 9 uses for a Whiteboard pen lid. It was really enjoyable to sit and write and think in a different way and to hear how other people's creativity sparkled in the tasks- I really enjoyed hearing the voices and the words of this group of people I didn't know.
I came out of there feeling positive and inspired and looking forward to trying to get myself writing again.
It wasn't intended as such but felt like a nice early birthday present to myself. I had a million other things I should be doing but somehow this felt important!
If you are interested in Kate's books, children's poetry, writing events or general poetry, head over to the Emma Press to find out more!
https://theemmapress.com/events/
xx
What fun! I love reading poems to children. And still know many by heart, learned in school.
ReplyDeleteHow nice to reconnect with your love of poetry! My sister was a very talented poet.
ReplyDeleteI too have always had a love for poetry, and even dabbled in some myself. This workshop sounds absolutely wonderful, and I am so glad to hear it left you feeling positive and inspired! xxx
ReplyDeleteI like the simple poems that I learnt as a child. More complicated ones make me ponder and think about what the poet is wanting to convey. So glad a workshop has helped you enjoy more poetry reading.
ReplyDeleteI really struggle with poetry. My mum loved it and read it to me every night as a child but I've failed to inherit her enthusiasm for it. One of our friends is the Poet Laureate for the Black Country so I have to keep my lack of affection for his art a secret! x
ReplyDeleteI wrote poetry for decades (I actually studied it at university for 2 years), and my love came from a wonderful book of poetry for children that I received from my grandparents when I was young. Recommended poetry for kids: "Aligator Pie" by Dennis Lee, and "Where the Sidewalk Ends" by Shel Silverstein. I don't actually enjoy reading poetry as an adult, though!
ReplyDelete