I’m not doing very well keeping this regularly updated at the moment. Sorry. But I got my latest assessment grade back (another merit, so I think I’m just a merit-level student now) and I can share the audio/video links to those, as well as the written/typed versions. I do have a bunch of other poem ideas and poetry and music links ready to type up so I’m hoping to get them ready and scheduled for posting from tomorrow.
Rough poem 21:9
21:9
Distant me
Train distance
three years from home,
a new life and
knowledge away.
Cast back on the
skin of the past so
they might recognise you,
still love you,
acknowledge you.
Tip-toe until confidence
-and yes, ego-
force your foot flat,
your strides long
and unapologetic.
See their eyes glaze
over in disappointment
at this stranger,
this person
they can no
longer control.
I’m home,
now watch me
strut.
Rough poem 21:8
21:8
Distance away
Car distance away
from purpose and independence.
Lamppost distance away
from fresh air and freedom.
Front door distance away
from total isolation.
Kitchen distance away
from positive thinking.
Sofa distance away
from giving up entirely.
Home distance away
from knowing that
I matter.
The Sterling Brown Project
A project developed to set Sterling Brown’s poetry to music.
The Book of Hours: Sheltering From The Rain In A Country Church by James Norton and Lucy English
A perfect example of a poetry film. Poem written and read by Lucy English, film by James Norton.
The Book of Hours: Sheltering From The Rain In A Country Church by James Norton on Vimeo
Hannah Silva
Hannah Silva describes herself as a sound poet. She uses music to help write/organise her poetry performances. She integrates the music into her poem performance.
Mark Abbot
Mark Abbot is a local poet in Wakefield, close to where I live. He owns a label and releases poetry soundtracks.
New Poetry Commission by Matt Abbott | Arts Council Collection
Two Little Ducks | The Last Word Festival | Roundhouse
New poem for Nationwide Building Society’s Voices campaign | Matt Abbott Poet
Update
My assessment has been handed in! So I’ll be able to update regularly again. They’ll be a lot on poetry and music, because it will probably be the focus of my dissertation next year. My assessment pieces involved Soundcloud and Youtube, but I won’t post the link here in case it gets flagged during marking and causes problems. My poetry film/video is on my regular Youtube account, so if you’re interested you can search for it on there. Once it’s been marked near the end of May I will post the links here.
I really enjoyed working with non-copyrighted music and writing poetry for it, so it’s something I will continue. I’ve bought a microphone and web cam, and am setting up a mini-studio in the spare room in the next few weeks (waiting for a carpet right now) so I’ll be recording poetry videos/readings/music collabs once that’s ready.
I also want to try focus on fairy tale poems more, but we’ll see. Work is going to be busy this summer, with covid restrictions easing, and I’m determined to get back into running/a healthier lifestyle. Exercise helps control my anxiety issues, but so does writing, meaning I plan to keep up both.
Hope everyone is well, and I’ll post again soon.
Update
Sorry for the lack of activity lately. I’m back at work full-time (yay!) and have another assessment due on 21st April. I have a lot of music and poetry links/ideas to post, and a few poem ideas. I’m also trying a new type of poetry reading video, which I hope to share more about soon.
I’ll try to post some stuff soon, but it probably be pretty irregular until my assessment is over.
I’m also a co-editor for our university’s anthology, which has been a great learning experience. It has left my life rather hectic right now (no time for any video games). Plus we’re having some major work done on our house next week (all the windows are getting replaced, and getting a new front door, back door and conservatory upgrade).
Hope everyone is well!
Poem idea
21:7
Moments of deep silence
fall upon the world,
while you remain centered
in a forest with a lake.
You never let your reflection fall on water,
too rippled, too revealing
but now you can’t move away.
Either side, you’re back into wilderness.
Scribbled Thoughts 