Month July 2016

Resolution – dVerse

freyathewriter 17 Comments

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In flight,

far above candy floss clouds, ant cities below,

alone, yet surrounded in economy,

I worked out the ending.

3 pages of A4 and me.

 

Tonight, over at dVerse, we continue to celebrate the 5th anniversary of this wonderful community. Bjorn, our lovely Swedish host for the evening, interviews Samuel Peralta (he introduced me to so many forms – such a talent!) and invites us to write a Twitter poem – 140 characters or less!

The background to my offering this evening is this – I’ve had a novel in-waiting on my laptop for some time – only at best half-finished. I printed off the manuscript and used my work-related flight to Jersey and back today to read through it and work out how I was going to finish it. Three pages of A4 paper later and by Jove – I’ve got it!

I can’t wait to restart!

Please do head on over to dVerse, enjoy the interview and read the other offerings. And take part! Why not?!

Fidelity – dVerse

freyathewriter 31 Comments

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Artist: Claudia Schoenfeld

He holds his guitar as a lover,
Stroking the maple, the cherrywood,
And most of all, the singing strings.

His sleep is filled with chords,
His duvet undulates beneath his fingers,
His mattress sighs at his sweet nothings whisper

Yes, all of his guitars are his one true love.

 

Courtesy of dVerse, where we continue to celebrate 5 whole years of poetic gloriousness, I have learned today about the form that is the sevenling. I have tried my hand at it – using music as the inspiration as requested – I hope it’s sufficient enough to be considered one!

We also have a fabulous interview with Claudia, who is not only a poet, but an artist as well. I have just found out that she is an urban sketcher too – I try my hand at it, mostly whilst waiting for trains, or on trains, as part of my way of relaxing on the daily commute. The picture above is one of her vibrant works! Thank you, Claudia, for allowing us to use one of your paintings today.

Sweet sister death – dVerse Quadrille

freyathewriter 46 Comments

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You never told me, father,

how to prepare for this journey,
dismissing your own war-wound,
saying ‘It’s nothing’.
I am bitter to my shattered bones,
staring into the chests of my comrades

my enemies,
spatchcocked like the chickens

cold-slabbed in your butcher’s shop window.

 

Hurrah! the dVerse pub has re-opened after the summer’s hiatus. We have a fantastic interview with Brian Miller, one of the  co-founders, to celebrate 5 years of dVerse. In much more sobering news, we have also learned that the lovely Viv passed away on 5th July. She was always very supportive of my work in her comments, so I am terribly saddened to hear of her passing. My thoughts, along with everyone else’s, go to her family and loved ones at this time.

Tonight, we are hosted by the lovely Grace, who has invited us to write a quadrille – 44 words, no more, no less. I love the form, it really makes me work to get my meaning across.

I watched a documentary on BBC iPlayer about the poet David Jones, who’s epic poem  about the First World War, ‘In Parenthesis‘ is considered to be one of the finest of its time, of all war poetry in fact. The title of my quadrille is taken from a phrase in Part 7 of his work, and my poem has been informed somewhat by him, and the subject matter of his work. If I had even an ounce of his talent, I would be delighted.

I’m a bit of a war poet fan, and although I had heard of him, I hadn’t read David Jones’ epic work. The documentary, which was both about him and his poem, has enthralled me and my family. I have ordered a copy of ‘In Parenthesis’ and am desperate to start reading it.

Anyway, please do hop on over to dVerse and take part if you can. Or just enjoy the work you find there!