Skip to main content

Singing as the Darkness Lifts 02/10/2023 (Episode 5)

Singing as the darkness lifts 02/10/2023

The sky held gentle cloud around a waning moon this morning. The light of a planet or star shone underneath and the air had an element of oak riding on it. There were small birds singing from the full 360 degrees before the jackdaw sounded.

The week included necessary appointments for flu jab and eye test – new reading glasses soon. There was soup made and shared with a friend and that gentle conversation that comes with being known. At the third myth poetry workshop with Anna Saunders the group shared a poem each and I was able to air ‘There’s a Doll Thumping in My Chest’. I am thinking that this will be my opener for my forthcoming reading at Gloucester and this poem will always have a special place in my heart because of its very origin. Matthew and Rhona and my diction and laughter ignited that spark. I don’t think I will give it out to people on National Poetry Day on Thursday though, that might call for a less dark poem.

My progress towards my coaching qualification continued this week and the first triad session was held. It was a very good day and I love the feeling of being a good coach. I will put a call out soon for pro bono clients so if it’s something you feel you might like to engage with then do let me know. I offer time and space to think, breathe and be in order to set future goals.

My new relationship with Mondays means that going away at the weekend is more comfortable for me at last. This weekend there was a trip to Leek for exploring, feasting and laughter with friends. This also included the unexpected sharing of a family room when a booking error was made which made us chuckle and gave us a new experience.

It was wonderful to read that my poem, ‘I Hate You’, was nominated for #BOTN (Best of the Net) at the weekend. I had just recorded it as my new poem of the month for YouTube as it is one of my favourites and it felt good to celebrate its publication in September by The Broken Spine. And there I was in a pub in Leek with a much needed soda and lime scrolling Twitter when I saw the news of the nomination. That made my heart sing. So many good nominations for Pushcart and BOTN and I am delighted to be among them again this year.

Here's to friends and all those moments that help us hear the singing as the darkness lifts.

'Family Room, Leek' #ElasticBandPhotos 


Here’s 'I Hate You' lifted from The Broken Spine website. Hugest thanks to Alan Parry for the nomination and the original publication.

If you want to listen to it read out loud (and I did receive a couple of nice comments about the reading over the weekend) then here’s the link:

'I Hate You' YouTube Link

Sue Finch’s first collection, ‘Magnifying Glass’, was published in 2020. Her work has also appeared in a number of online magazines. She loves the coast, peculiar things and the scent of ice-cream freezers.

I Hate You

said the cow.
Yeah, she hates you, whispered the grass,
hates you,
hates you, it swished on and on.

So I climbed the gate.
Get off, you’re too heavy, said the gate.
Yeah, get off, you’re gonna break us, 
said the padlock on the chain.

I stepped over a large muddy puddle,
marvelled at a greeny-brown cow pat.
Imagine creating that!
Then I remembered that the cow 
hated me
and I ditched my admiration.

Stop looking at me 
and notice how quiet it is, stupid,
said the cowpat.

I lifted my head to the clouds,
caught the eye of a bird I couldn’t name,
saw its beak begin to open.

I wondered if the silence would shatter 
like a pint glass, all splinters and nibs, 
or just split quietly down the middle
like surface ice on a pond.

There’s only one of you.
The unknown bird was staring at me.
I waited for it to cock its head.
It remained still;
a totem carved in the tree.

You want me to repeat that 
don’t you?
mocked a heron
standing on the path,
You think I have ancient grey wisdom
and the key to solitude.

I did.
And I wanted to carry on,
but as his wings opened like a prayer
and he lifted his legs to fly
I froze.

 Click here to acess the podcast version of this blog.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

SOMEBODY’S MISSING (Episode 82)

 SOMEBODY’S MISSING     PodBean Link for those who like to listen  This morning the air has been sung in fresh by the dawn chorus. It carries hints of green and fuchsia.   Alt text suggests that this week’s photo is a person sitting on a lawn with flowers. I say it is a photo of my lovely dad and the flowers we chose to celebrate his life at his funeral.   This is the first new month that has started without my dad being here. I’ve learnt that I want to tell everyone what I learned from him. I’ve learned that one of the best things I can think of to do right now is carry forward the very special parts of him to the best of my ability. I’ve also learned that writing some of this down in a poem felt right, but that reading said poem when we gathered together to say goodbye to him required a large hanky and plenty of time for deep breaths.   I am so glad he came into my life when I was young and built us a family to be proud of. There’s so muc...
Post a Comment
Read more

STEPPING OUT FOR SNOOKER BY THE SEA (Episode 74)

STEPPING OUT FOR SNOOKER BY THE SEA  PodBean Link for those who like to listen...    This morning the rain brings a gentle dampness, and the air holds the scent of sap and twigs.    Alt text says this week’s photo is two women taking a selfie. I say it is me and my sister taking a selfie having learned that it is best if we both sit down. When we stand side by side for photos she looks far taller than me and the photos seem a little out of balance. She says I have shrunk. She couldn’t see me at the railway station when she arrived for her visit, and I found myself standing on tip toes and waving a big double handed wave, so perhaps I might just have to measure myself to find out if I have indeed shrunk a little!   We first met up to watch the snooker a year ago, and before this I had never watched it live. We saw Gary Wilson’s 147 break, and laughed at my sister’s impression of me telling her I was suffering from shin splint...
Post a Comment
Read more

TWO SISTERS AND A COW (Episode 80)

TWO SISTERS AND A COW   PodBean Link for those who like to listen This morning the air brings the distinct smell of cut grass. The birds have turned up their dawn chorus songs these last few days and are welcoming the mornings with a vigour that is admirable.   Alt text tells me this week’s photo is ‘two women taking a selfie in front of a cow’. I say it is my sister and I on a country walk encouraging a cow to be in our photo after we have told it how beautiful we think it is.   I have been reminded about a couple of things on recent walks:   Number one: Being dehydrated is not good for me. I often talk to the creatures I see on my walks, but when I was dehydrated recently I became judgemental and called a squirrel naughty and told a sheep it looked like a badger. My sister recounts school days where one orange squash drink and maybe a metallic sip from the water fountain were her drinks for the day. How much better we are at hydrating now. I kno...
Post a Comment
Read more