The Writer Diaries - Micropoetry, August 2016

Another month faffs off into the everloving history books, and I have more micropoetry for you :)

Hope you like!




(Also for some reason I seem to average four micropoems per month - random.)

9th August

My love, your hope.

Hearts tried to speak,

Yet never spoke.

16th August

We snipe at each other
Humans become trolls
Keyboards delete humanity for some,
But increase it for others -
Good web knights

20th August

Speed through a red light.

Go on. Go ahead.

But the flowers tied to that tree?

They're a warning,

Don't take them as a challenge.

22nd August

When I laughed
You thought that I agree.
No.
I didn't want to show
How badly your words
hurt me.






Like this post? Try These:

• The Writer Diaries - Micropoetry, July 2016
• The Writer Diaries - Micropoetry, June 2016

Review! (Poetry Edition!) - Blood Season by Claire Meadows

Title: Blood Season

Author: Claire Meadows

Genre: Poetry

Amazon: UK - USA

A few starting notes:

I received a free digital review copy of this book from the publisher, Urbane Publications, via NetGalley. NetGalley provides review copies from publishers in exchange for fair and honest reviews.

You may know that I love poetry - and I've been getting back into it more lately.

That said, this collection seemed interesting. Something about it quirked my distracted-toddler-style interest, and I decided to give it a shot.

Premise:

A poetry collection from Claire Meadows talking passionately about life, love, death, and blood.

Best bits:

Meadows can create imagery in her sleep. Her poems are stuffed with powerful, vivid, imagery - sometimes strikingly stark and raw.

Clearly, she also knows her writing techniques, inside and out.

There's an awareness present throughout this collection of the way in which words weave together to create those strong images she confronts us with time and again.

There's also meaning in buckets for those who like to pick apart metaphors with a fine tooth comb - there are impressive layers to this poetry.

The poet's passion shines through - there's definite feeling throughout.

There's also the slightly uncomfortable but beautifully powerful sub-text of domestic abuse/violence (I'm not sure whether it was intended or not, but this sub-text is most definitely there - whether a metaphor for something else or not.)

Yes, this is going to be problematic for some people - but the raw feeling involved is undoubtedly something to admire.

Not so great bits:

The main problem here, to me, was the cohesion of the collection - or the lack thereof.

I was left really uncertain over whether the speaker (the 'voice' of the poem) was meant to be the same in several places.

Likewise, sometimes it felt like the addressee (the person being talked to) of the poem was the same over several separate poems, and then a detail here or there would throw a discordant note into the mix and confuse me.

This was a problem with the collection arrangement, I think, more than the individual poems. The flow was damaged by the sense of same-but-different in the placement of the poems.

A few poems I didn't like as much of others - but that's a matter of individual preference, and is going to occur in any collection of poems.

Here and there I felt that the images within the poem - though undoubtedly still very vivid - didn't quite gel together into something (and here's that word again) cohesive.

Also, several topics here - specifically the under-tones of abuse and violence - may be distressing to many.

This is a personal thing again - I didn't have a problem with it - but I could completely understand if some of this is too much for some people.

Verdict:

Look, book, me and you? We had some issues, true. But I think we could make this thing between us work.

What do you say? You up for another round? ;)

Buy Now UK – Buy Now USA – Goodreads – Author's Site

Liked this post? Try these:

• The Poetry of Biffy Clyro
• What Is Poetry?

The Writer Diaries - Micropoetry, July 2016

If you read this blog and/or my Twitter account a lot, you might know that I like to dabble aimlessly in micropoetry.

Micropoetry is basically poetry in the length of a tweet. Which is awesome, no?

So, without further ado, here's the micropoetry I wrote in July (which is hopefully a little more up-beat than a lot of my micropoetry has been in recent months!)

12th July

Can you know

I'm fragile glass,

And yet know

I'm strong as steel?

Can you take

Conflicting truths,

And believe

Both truths are real?

14th July

I know

It's never easy.

Just once

I wish

It wasn't quite

so hard.

18th July

You still don't get it

I'm not like you -

never was.

You're all made of sunshine,

but honey, I'm not.

I'm starlight,

I'm the stars.

21st July

Fingers dance across the keyboard

Pull the letters into the beat

Pirouette into a woven textile

Heart strings pulled along to the beat

Like this post? Try these:

• The Writer Diaries - Micropoetry, June 2016
• The Writer Diaries: Micropoetry - May 2016

The Poetry of Biffy Clyro

'Angels fall to the floor

Like they would if I was Captain

'Silver children' she roared,

I'm not the son of God'

- Biffy Clyro, The Captain

Amazon link (UK - US)

'The Captain' is one of my favourite Biffy Clyro songs. One of my favourite songs over all, actually. And the perfect example of poetry in song lyrics.

It's a song of hurt and hope, all woven together. It's a song with something ancient in it's heart - something that beats drums and dances for a pagan God.

Biffy Clyro's lyrics are a beautiful mix of imagery. No-one will ever be able to tell me that their lines aren't poetry.

Their lyrics (sung beautifully in lovely Scottish tones) are some of the most meaningful I've ever come across.

And they're proof that poetry belongs to everyone - not just academics and arty-types. Poetry is not sovereign territory, and can be enjoyed by everyone.

'This river is particularly sinister
Close your eyes and take my hand'

- Biffy Clyro, That Golden Rule

Amazon link (UK - US)

To me, the imagery in Biffy Clyro music - just that blend of the religious, the natural, the mystical, and the mundane - is just incredible.

Don't get me wrong, Biff' aren't a religious band. But they take religious imagery - angels, God, heaven, demons - and turn it into a beautiful complex weave of metaphors.

OK, so maybe I'm making them sound a lot more intellectual than I should be. They're a rock band, not a literature seminar.

But then, that's kind of the point. They've got genuine heart and a genuine rawness.

'Cause when my back is turned,
My bruises shine.
Our broken fairytale,
So hard to hide'

- Biffy Clyro, Many of Horror

Amazon link (UK - US)

'Many of Horror' is a beautiful, horrible, song. Brokenly stunning, it's just... wow.

It's about how love hurts - physically and mentally. And it's one of the few songs with the ability to make me cry - which is an achievement in itself ;) 

If you don't know much about Biffy Clyro, then you should totally check them out. They're awesome.

And, just because it deserves to be heard in all it's glory, here's 'The Captain':

What about you guys? Do you think music can be poetry?

Like this post? Try this:

• What Is Poetry?

The Writer Diaries - Micropoetry, June 2016

Here we are my dearest nerdlets! The little scraps of micropoetry that I've written this month, all wrapped up neat 'n' tidy in a blogpost!

(They're kind of sad poems... sorry about that! In my defence, more than one was written in reaction to various things going around me, and in the country in general, when I wrote them.)

8th June

Goodbye little bird,

I promise I loved you

I promise I cared.

Goodbye little bird -

If I could've made it so,

You would've been spared

11th June

Empty shop, empty shop, empty shop.

Reduced bank hours,

Downgraded post office,

One train an hour.

Empty shop, empty shop, empty shop.

15th June

The sky is crying -

It throws down its tears,

So we can know,

That it cries too.

16th June

A bright light burned out today

As it left it lit the way -

Said love not hate is what I say,

Hatred will not win the day

#jocox

23rd June

You think you know me.

How I wish that were true.

You claim to know me.

But I know you.






Like this post? Try these:

• The Writer Diaries: Micropoetry April 2016
• The Writer Diaries: Micropoetry - May 2016

What Is Poetry?

I like poetry. You may've noticed this. You may not have.

But a lot of people don't read poetry. They feel like they don't 'get it' or even know what 'it' is.



So, what is poetry?


The Simplistic Answer


Poetry is a form of literature. It usually has shorter sentences than prose (but not always, because is life ever that simple?) and is arranged in lines.

Sometimes it rhymes. Sometimes it doesn't rhyme. Sometimes it has a regular rhythm - and sometimes it doesn't.

Basically, poetry is relatively short lines, usually conveying emotion of some description. Apart from that, the definitions are vague at best.

The Hippie-Dippy Answer

Warning: Some of this may be a bit sarcastic. Not very, because I have respect for the peace n love vibes from hippies. And my upbringing was a weird mix of traditional, intellectual, and hippy bat-sh** craziness.

My parents are quite normal when you meet them... honest.

Poetry is the breath and essence of life transformed into words. It's freedom and love translated onto the page.

But it's not constricted to the page - poetry can be anything, anywhere.

It's something you feel in your eternal spirit, and something which washes over you in waves of light-energy. *Laughs at self.*

(Ready to start singing kumbaya yet?)

via GIPHY

(I can kind of relate to this gif - although not to the drugs part.

But I've def. seen the inside of too many shops that sell incense. Incense and sandalwood. Everywhere. EVERYWHERE.

Most people's early shopping experiences aren't accompanied by New Age pan-pipe music, but whatever...)

The Pretentious Answer

Warning: This section is highly sarcastic. ;)

Poetry is an art form which the lower-classes (anyone who couldn't afford private school) are unable to comprehend because we have tiny minds.

Poetry can only be written by poncey middle-aged white men in dusty literary studies, because clearly they are the only people who could possibly understand it *eye roll.*

Poetry should only be read by people who adore the poncey middle-aged men, and will faun over them and never question anything they say, and believe they are the greatest artists who ever lived. *Bashes head against laptop.*

The Honest Answer

Poetry - good poetry at least - is not something that you get. Good poetry gets you.

Poetry is simply lines arranged on a page, that, if the poet's done their job right, mean something to you.

Poetry can be written by anyone, and read by anyone. It's about whatever you want it to be about.

And never let anyone tell you anything different. If you can appreciate song lyrics, if you can appreciate prose, film, music, dialogue, anything, on any level, then you can appreciate poetry. Screw the shamers.




Like this post? Try these:

• The Writer Diaries: Micropoetry - May 2016
• Review (Poetry Edition!) - Today Means Amen by Sierra DeMulder

The Writer Diaries: Micropoetry - May 2016

Just a couple of micropoetry poems for you this month - clearly I've not been in an overly poetry-ish mood.

(Just as a reminder - this is the micropoetry that clutters up my Twitter profile over the course of the month. I stick it here because otherwise I'll use it in the stream of tweets-and-such.)

Hopefully the quality makes up for the quantity (a girl can be overly-optimistic and hope, right?)

Anyhow, these are my four little brain-creatures - see what you think:





8th May

Oh but I did see you.
You never noticed me, did you?
Again and again I saw you.
You never saw me.

11th May

The stars are there -
You can't cover them;
They're still there.

You blocked out your shine.
But I'm light. I'm a star. In the dark.

via GIPHY

23rd May

My heart is hammering
for attention.
At least I know,
that it's still beating.
Still here.

23rd May

They gave her to the birds, the moon, love -
They did not know
Her names were more than words.
Names gave her away

But she gave herself

via GIPHY

Like this post? Try these:

• The Writer Diaries: Micropoetry April 2016
• The Writer Diaries: Micropoetry - March 2016

Month in Review(s) - May 2016

And so another month is well on its way to faffing off into the sunset.

I actually haven't reviewed any graphic novels this month (I know - who am, and what have I done with Cee?)

I'm probably making up for last month, which had graphic novels falling from the ever-loving rafters.

I've been on a bit of a contemporary YA binge lately - which led to me reviewing 3 contemporary YA titles this month.

'The Art of Being Normal' was beautiful, 'One' was unique, and 'Boy Meets Boy' was your favourite rom-com in book form.






My stand-out book this month, though? 'Swan Boy.' Wow. Just wow.





Kids




Swan Boy by Nikki Sheehan - Contemporary, Magic Realism








Young Adult

The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson - Contemporary, LGBTQ+
One by Sarah Crossan - Contemporary, Poetry* (*novel in verse)
Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan - Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance (M/M)









Adult




alt. sherlock. holmes - Anthology, Novellas/Short Stories, Crime, Contemporary*, Historical Fiction*, LGBTQ+* M/M* (*one or more stories.)







Non-fiction




Reasons To Stay Alive by Matt Haig

Mini-Review - One by Sarah Crossan

Title: One

Author: Sarah Crossan

Genre: YA, Contemporary, Poetry* (*novel in verse.)

Amazon: UK - USA

Verdict:

This is the first novel in verse that I've ever read - and I did find the form a little... odd.

Not bad, necessarily, just odd. I don't know whether I liked the form or not, really. It was different, I'll give it that.

But poetry in general is an incredibly personal thing - so... make of that what you will I guess!

This book is about conjoined twins Tippi and Grace, who've spent their entire lives literally joined at the hip, with all the good and the bad that that brings.

What I really liked about this was the fleshed-out minor characters - everyone was fully developed, maybe even more than Tippi and Grace.

Personally, I couldn't warm to Tippi - she just seemed a little less there than everyone else (ironic since, due to Grace's first-person viewpoint, Tippi is literally always there.)

Grace, though, I did like. By the end of the book, you know her so well that it's very hard not to like her.

The plot is quite intense in places... can't say more for fear of spoilerage, but I can imagine people getting more than slightly upset at some points.

A unique book certainly, and one that you've got to form your own opinions on I think!

Buy Now UK – Buy Now USA – Goodreads – Author's Site

Liked this post? Try these:

• My Contemporary YA TBR
• Review! - The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson

The Writer Diaries: Micropoetry April 2016

A reminder, my dear blog-readers that micropoetry is something that I came across on Twitter, and dutifully dived into with little to no thought.


March was my first 'Writer Diaries' micropoetry post - where I essentially stick all the little bits and bobs of micropoetry I've written in the month into one blogpost, so that it's not lost forever in the mire of my Twitter feed.



Much less micropoetry from li'l old me this month, though.


I guess that's what happens when my method is essentially:

• have random phrases going round and round my head 
• write them down (usually directly into the Tweet box)
• head is now free of random phrases (woo!)

 

 

31st March

Not for the first time,
She wondered
Why they would make a girl of ink,
Into flesh and bone...




5th April

But surely you knew this before?
That she liked to watch the transient
Fade into decay
While celebrating and mourning the same?




5th April

My Shadow Man -
I dread the day
When you shadow another.
Am I your Shadow Girl?




20th April

You thought my spark had gone out
Hell no,
I'm a wildfire -
And I still burn




Like This Post? Try These:

• The Writer Diaries (or, I Need to Be Brave)
• The Writer Diaries: Micropoetry - March 2016

The Month In Review(s) - March 2016

Ahhh, spring and March and books and reviews :)

Check out all the books I've reviewed this month:

Kids

Midnight by Jacqueline Wilson - contemporary, chick lit
After Tomorrow by Gillian Cross - dystopian

Young Adult

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell - fantasy, paranormal, LGBTQ+ (M/M)

Adult

Mr Mercedes by Stephen King - crime, thriller
Orlando by Virginia Woolf - classics, historical fiction, LGBT*Q+
The True and Splendid History of the Harristown Sisters by Michelle Lovric - historical fiction
The Zoo Father by Pascale Petit - poetry

Graphic Novels

Adulthood is a Myth: A Sarah's Scribbles Collection by Sarah Andersen - humour
The Beauty, Volume 1 - dystopian, horror, sci-fi

Non-fiction

Everyday Sexism by Laura Bates

The Writer Diaries: Micropoetry - March 2016

So, I came across micropoetry when faffing around on Twitter... and me being me, I kind of dove right in there.

Of course, then I figured out that since I tend to write directly into the tweet box (I know that's not normally how it's done but meh, that's the way I roll sometimes,) I was seriously in danger of losing the random bits and pieces of micropoetry I throw onto Twitter in the general clutter of my timeline/profile page/whatever it is you call it on Twitter.

Just to keep something of a record of my random writings then, I figured it'd be a good idea to collate them once a month into a Micropoetry Wrap-up type-thingummy.

Here's what I wrote in March (and one day in February,) -



February 29th

I think my heart is breaking darling
but I don't know why
every time I refresh the page the words remain


March 3rd

#MotherEarthsLastWords
Were ones of regret.
She gave her children everything
And they never loved her.
She still loves them.

March 4th

The Truth? The Truth is
That you never knew.
Every breath in my lungs?
It was for you.


March 8th

We still face
Obvious & subtle discrimination
Major & minor inequalities
Every day,
Needing to scream - this is 2016!

March 11th

do this
do that
end up being judged
whatever you do
just the way things go


March 12th

tomorrow I will see you
I wonder if you'll recognise
the one you left behind to die
guess I'm stronger than you thought


March 13th

do you feel sometimes
like people need to learn
that there are other people in this world too?


March 17th

Hello, my dear Shadow Man!
Yes, I love you still -
Though I can't see my Shadow Man,
I know he's with me still.

March 18th

I asked for your #heart,
You told me no.
Don't go, dear Shadow Man,
Please don't go.

March 28th

I throw words out into the dark
Like tiny fireflies
Hoping to spread light

March 29th

I love you, dear stranger,
Just for being you.
Wherever you may be,
You may count on the love
Of a stranger like me



Like This Post? Try These:

• The Writer Diaries (or, I Need to Be Brave)
• The Writer Diaries - Introducing Cracked Glass Slipper Posts: Coming Soon