Poetry Friday -Everything All At Once

I am currently involved in an engrossing writing project- my first verse novel. I am enjoying the challenge immensely. Because it set in Victorian England and Australia, the project has involved me in a significant amount of research regarding the lives of children at that time, as well as the language of the day. Because the story is partly fact based, it has lived within me for many years it has been percolating, you might say. It is now ready to emerge. My time in lockdown has helped to focus my writing efforts enormously.

We must also read what we are trying to write, in order to develop an understanding of the genre. For this reason I have for some years been building a collection of verse novels. The work of writers I admire is hopefully informing my own writing. This is a further example of research for my own project.

I recently purchased 'Every thing All At Once, written by Steve Camden. The author, Steve Camden is one of the most respected spoken word artists in the United Kingdom.

Steve has been performing since 2007, and has graced stages from Kuala Lumpur to California via Glastonbury and The Royal Shakespeare Company.

He has written three Young Adult novels for HarperCollins: Tape, It's About Love, and Nobody Real.

'Everything All At Once' focuses on a student's first year in Secondary school. It deals with the challenges of fitting in, finding friends, worrying and worshipping from afar. The book documents the rich tapestry of moments that descend upon new arrivals as they discover Secondary school life is both a haven and a jungle at various times. The poetry thread concerns itself with this topsy turvy world with interrelated pieces, but the poems have the ability to stand alone.

Here are two examples from the book:

Snow
Look at it
So beautiful
So perfect
So pristine
A hundred fields of perfect snow
So crisp and oh so clean

So straight along its edges
So smooth on front and back
So many possibilities
Somebody hold me back

The smell is so
Incredible
The colour blemish free
I want to stroke it like a cat
And make it purr for me

I'll build a world
I'll pen a song
I'll fill it with my mind
I'll pour out so much magic stuff
I'll make the pages shine

You either get it
Or you don't
So don't bother trying to moan
This brand new empty English book
Is mine
So get your own

Lunch Line
I'm standing in Line
behind people I don't know
queing for food I don't like

Can somebody tell me
where do I go
to get a refund on my life?

Steve Camden
From: Everything All At Once

Life Cycle -A football poem by Bruce Dawe

This poem by Australian poet Bruce Dawe epitomises the unique connection sporting tragics have to their preferred football teams, -an almost tribal allegiance. Each season supporters stare down the twin imposters- victory and defeat. They remain both loyal and hopeful of eventual triumph. This poem refers specifically to Australian Rules Football, but it's themes are universal. I share this poem on the eve of the 2017 Grand Final to decide the Premiership for this football season. My team, the Richmond Tigers have reached the play off to decide the ultimate victor. They have not contested the Grand Final match for 35 years. My hopes fly with them. This poem links two of my great loves -football and poetry... Life Cycle When children are born in Victoria they are wrapped in club-colours, laid in beribboned cots, having already begun a lifetime’s barracking. Carn, they cry, Carn … feebly at first while parents playfully tussle with them for possession of a rusk: Ah, he

Poetry Friday: The Safety Pin Poem

Poets not only write poetry, they also read poetry. In order to be able to write poetry, one must read it. Lots of poetry in fact... I want to share a short little poem by Valerie Worth. I bought Valerie's book, 'All The Small Poems And Fourteen More,' while living and working in New York, some time back. It remains a personal favourite. I love the way the poet shines a special light on everyday objects, transforming them into something unique and worthy of attention. Her close observations elevate her poems into the special category. Each poem in the collection celebrates earthly wonders. From eggs to garbage, from potatoes to pockets, each object is given special attention in the form of short poems employing keen observations. Valerie Worth demonstrates through her poems she totally understands the saying-'ideas exist in things.' The poem I have chosen to share with you (one of my personal favourites) is titled, 'Safety Pin'. S af

Opposite Poems

O pp o s ite P oem s In his book, ' How To Write Poetry,' Paul Janeczko presents the idea of opposite poems. Paul suggests they could also be referred to as antonym poems. This is wordplay and it's fun to try. Here are some examples Paul provides to help us see very clearly how these short little poems work. I think the opposite of chair Is sitting down with nothing there What is the opposite of kind? A goat that butts you from behind Paul Janeczko You will notice the poems are written in rhyming couplets. They can be extended so long as you remember to write in couplets. Paul shows us how this is done. What is the opposite of new? Stale gum that's hard to chew A hot-dog roll as hard as rock Or a soiled and smelly forgotten sock You might notice that some of Paul's opposite Poems begin with a question. The remainder of the poem answer the question posed. Opposite poems are a challenge, but it is a challenge worth trying. Not e

KatApel - katswhiskers.wordpress.com23 May 2020 at 19:28
Well this was a nice little surprise - to come over here and see On Track in such an illustrious stack. Thanks, Al. And best wishes with the verse novel. I too have a project on the go that is linked to the UK - just waiting for some finance and some freedom to further my research over there. It's currently on hold - and I'm busy working on picture books, instead! By the way - you may be interested in my Poetry Pep Up I will be running 1-5 June. That said, I fully understand if you don't want to be pulled out of your current project! I know what that feels like. :)
Molly Hogan24 May 2020 at 22:05
How nice to have a positive focus during these odd days! Good luck with your project!
Mary Lee25 May 2020 at 07:10
What an amazing stack of mentor texts!
Michelle Heidenrich Barnes26 May 2020 at 07:09
Writing a verse novel is something I've wanted to do for some time now, but haven't yet drummed up the commitment that such an endeavor would require. Best wishes with yours! I definitely detect the "spoken word feel" in Steve Camden's poetry. I'll have to check out more of his work.

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