Paul Whybrow
Full Member
- Jun 20, 2015
I've long enjoyed reading poetry, which has been a source of comfort, wonder, humour and inspiration.
When I returned to creative writing in 2013, I did so by penning poems and short stories, moving on to novellas. Several poems became the catalyst for longer forms. In two years I created 400 poems and song lyrics, which gives you some idea of what a logjam of ideas I had bouncing around in my bonce!
Some were never intended for public consumption, being more of a therapeutic exercise. Most were OK, though, when I searched through them with a view to entering writing competitions in 2017, I came up with a shortlist of only ten. Here's one of them:
There's something about writing poetry, and to a lesser extent song lyrics, that helps my mind to find the correct words and phrasing if I ever get stalled (not blocked!) while in the throes of writing a novel. Poetry is such a synthesis of what something looks like or how someone feels that unnecessary detail gets discarded.
It's a powerful form of writing. As Rumi observed:
Poetry can be dangerous, especially beautiful poetry, because it gives the illusion of having had the experience without actually going through it.
Another thing about writing poetry, is that it tempts me into doing more editing than in any other form; a poem never seems to be quite done—even a quick read suggests words that I could substitute.
Helen Dunmore died recently, writing her final volume of poetry while undergoing treatment for cancer. Inside The Wave deservedly won the Costa Prize for poetry and overall book of the year. One poem from it has been widely quoted:
My Life's Stem Was Cut
My life’s stem was cut,
But quickly, lovingly
I was lifted up,
I heard the rush of the tap
And I was set in water
In the blue vase, beautiful
In lip and curve,
And here I am
Opening one petal
As the tea cools.
I wait while the sun moves
And the bees finish their dancing,
I know I am dying
But why not keep flowering
As long as I can
from my cut stem?
I'm fond of love & lust poetry, in particular the work of Brian Patten, Wendy Cope, Sophie Hannah and Sharon Olds—clicking on their names will show an example of their poetry.
Do any of you write poetry?
Have you been inspired by a poem, that helped you through a tough time?
Can you still recite poems you were made to learn while young?
Who are your favourite poets?
When I returned to creative writing in 2013, I did so by penning poems and short stories, moving on to novellas. Several poems became the catalyst for longer forms. In two years I created 400 poems and song lyrics, which gives you some idea of what a logjam of ideas I had bouncing around in my bonce!
Some were never intended for public consumption, being more of a therapeutic exercise. Most were OK, though, when I searched through them with a view to entering writing competitions in 2017, I came up with a shortlist of only ten. Here's one of them:Take Away The Buildings
Imagine yourself laying down in bed,
Without the walls, floor and ceiling.
No building at all, just you hovering
Mid-air, with layers of other sleepers
Dispersed around you, at different heights.
Others in your block of flats are walking
Through air, sitting and staring at televisions
With no floor beneath them, feet up on a stool.
Some lay nude in a bath, or squat in contemplation.
Ninety feet above ground level, they float unaware.
Seeking exercise, your neighbour runs up absent stairs,
Treading on empty space, climbing to the heavens.
Restless, you roll out of bed, walk to a missing edge
To gaze out of a window that's not there, all privacy
Gone, you see all around you, all the way to the stars
There's something about writing poetry, and to a lesser extent song lyrics, that helps my mind to find the correct words and phrasing if I ever get stalled (not blocked!) while in the throes of writing a novel. Poetry is such a synthesis of what something looks like or how someone feels that unnecessary detail gets discarded.
It's a powerful form of writing. As Rumi observed:
Poetry can be dangerous, especially beautiful poetry, because it gives the illusion of having had the experience without actually going through it.
Another thing about writing poetry, is that it tempts me into doing more editing than in any other form; a poem never seems to be quite done—even a quick read suggests words that I could substitute.
Helen Dunmore died recently, writing her final volume of poetry while undergoing treatment for cancer. Inside The Wave deservedly won the Costa Prize for poetry and overall book of the year. One poem from it has been widely quoted:
My Life's Stem Was Cut
My life’s stem was cut,
But quickly, lovingly
I was lifted up,
I heard the rush of the tap
And I was set in water
In the blue vase, beautiful
In lip and curve,
And here I am
Opening one petal
As the tea cools.
I wait while the sun moves
And the bees finish their dancing,
I know I am dying
But why not keep flowering
As long as I can
from my cut stem?
I'm fond of love & lust poetry, in particular the work of Brian Patten, Wendy Cope, Sophie Hannah and Sharon Olds—clicking on their names will show an example of their poetry.
Do any of you write poetry?
Have you been inspired by a poem, that helped you through a tough time?
Can you still recite poems you were made to learn while young?
Who are your favourite poets?
