Farewell Say the Boys

Featured Poem

(A Sad Poem and some Happy News)

Last month I noted that many of my poems are like mini dramas.  Here is another one ; Farewell Say the Boys.  Like last month’s Lucifer, this poem is also an exploration of sexuality and love.  But the poems themselves are different.

The first thing I would say about Farewell, which tells of the parting of three close friends, is that the ‘I’ is not, necessarily, the poet.  The poem asks the reader to imagine themselves as the ‘I’.  And from that viewpoint, asks them to reflect if they have shared similar emotions in similar circumstances.

The poem, deliberately, has a simple structure, three four-line stanzas; the rhythm is gentle and lines do not end with a strong beat.  All this is meant to help reflect the atmosphere of the scene.  In Lucifer the protagonist, Lucifer, tells us all we want to know; he is up front.  In Farewell it is the opposite, the boys seem to be unable to say what they really feel; the poet does not tell us why, that is for the reader to wonder about.

And, yes, it is a sad little poem.

But here is some good news.  I applied in the recent Arts Council funding round for a Develop Your Creative Practice award; I have just heard that the bid was successful.  I have a big smile on my face.  This will help me upskill as a Vision Impaired director and also explore the impact of loss of sight for a poet.  Underpinning the project is the eventual translation of my collection of poems General Guidance into a dynamic verse theatre work.

Reading

I have returned to the series of detective Roy Grace novels by Peter James; these all have the word ‘Dead’ in the title. They are all set in and around Brighton.  These are easy and pleasant reading (if you like this kind of thing.)  The narrative moves fast and details of police investigation methods are fascinating.  I am on number 6 of the series at the moment.

I shall stick with them, with small breaks.  Next reading on my list is by language expert, David Crystal; The History of English in 100 Words.

Writing

I have written a number of new poems during the past month.  I have also revisited a few poems from several years ago.  I do not think it wise to constantly revisit poems, but I have been not following my own guidance (why not?)  Tightening up and sharpening up these poems has been greatly enjoyable.  And I think they are much improved.

I have also spoken at length with Tom, the composer I am collaborating with on our Music Play.  He is working on the protagonist’s main song which proves tricky.  And he has started conversations with a colleague who will help create a piano vocal score; this will enable us to move on to the next stage.