Well, my poetry enthusiasts, it’s been a bit of a week, hasn’t it? Apologies in advance but I’m just not of of those people who can go, “Yay, I’ve had this published and that other thing published and isn’t it all great” when the world is having such a tricky time, when the Middle East is having such a tricky time, when countries that my country is allied with are dropping bombs on children (again).
Beautiful poems, Beth. I've just finished a morning workshop on writing political poetry, led by Steve Pottinger. I chose to draft a poem about the recent 'legalisation' of the behaviour of Israeli settlers on the West Bank in Palestine. I only wish I could attain the richness of your poems, especially 'She Sings In The Mosque At Isfahan', a moving piece on so many levels, achieved in the light of your direct experience of the Muslim world.
Thank you Janice. Your comment means a lot to me. You know how I am feeling right now. I so wanted the poem about the woman in the mosque to be respectful to Islam but also feminist. How fabulous to have gone to a workshop on political poetry.
Yes, Steve Pottinger is a brilliant writer and performance poet based in the Midlands (it was a zoom workshop). I don't write about politics but I wanted to hear some advice on writing about political issues in a way that isn't didactic, ranty or heavy-handed. Steve is a great inventor of modern parables and fables, with an ironic humorous touch that put his points across better than any amount of self-righteous preaching. It was 'pay what you can afford', all proceeds to Freedom From Torture so I donated. to the charity directly from their website.
I read your poetry collection again recently, Beth. There are many poems in it that speak to me. I thought of your poem 'Zarathustra in Aden' after reading your piece above, with your poem 'The State of Things' reminding me of it immediately. And 'She Sings in the Mosque at Isfahan' is exceptionally beautiful. I hope your most recent poems will be part of a new collection soon.
Ah thank you for being reminded of Zarathustra in Aden! There are the ruins of a temple and a tower of silence in the hills above Crater in Aden. I nearly included the poem but felt I needed to focus utterly on Iran.
Beautiful poems, Beth. I've just finished a morning workshop on writing political poetry, led by Steve Pottinger. I chose to draft a poem about the recent 'legalisation' of the behaviour of Israeli settlers on the West Bank in Palestine. I only wish I could attain the richness of your poems, especially 'She Sings In The Mosque At Isfahan', a moving piece on so many levels, achieved in the light of your direct experience of the Muslim world.
Thank you Janice. Your comment means a lot to me. You know how I am feeling right now. I so wanted the poem about the woman in the mosque to be respectful to Islam but also feminist. How fabulous to have gone to a workshop on political poetry.
Yes, Steve Pottinger is a brilliant writer and performance poet based in the Midlands (it was a zoom workshop). I don't write about politics but I wanted to hear some advice on writing about political issues in a way that isn't didactic, ranty or heavy-handed. Steve is a great inventor of modern parables and fables, with an ironic humorous touch that put his points across better than any amount of self-righteous preaching. It was 'pay what you can afford', all proceeds to Freedom From Torture so I donated. to the charity directly from their website.
If you hear anything of him doing more do let me know!
Will do. He has a website here: https://ignitebooks.co.uk/product/snapshots-from-the-fall/ (this goes to the page for his latest book).
I read your poetry collection again recently, Beth. There are many poems in it that speak to me. I thought of your poem 'Zarathustra in Aden' after reading your piece above, with your poem 'The State of Things' reminding me of it immediately. And 'She Sings in the Mosque at Isfahan' is exceptionally beautiful. I hope your most recent poems will be part of a new collection soon.
Ah thank you for being reminded of Zarathustra in Aden! There are the ruins of a temple and a tower of silence in the hills above Crater in Aden. I nearly included the poem but felt I needed to focus utterly on Iran.
"a single woman
becomes in that moment
all women
in her courage and her love"
❤️
Beauty and the frailty of expression and hope.
It's all a mess. But we can write. And you have a gift for capturing the moment, here.
❤️🩹 Such a sad and worrying time