Hiya,
I've uploaded a new poem which I'd be interested in feedback on. It's pretty explicit, but I hope stands as an expression of some powerful feelings - anyone who knows my work will I think know what I mean already...!
The piece is about sexual assault. PLEASE be aware it may be triggering and if you are likely to be afffected take care of yourself and don't read it.Anyone who wants to WW mail me about any issues it raises is very welcome...but please feel free to comment openly and honestly in the usual way.
many thanks
x
tc

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here's the link, for anyone who is interested:
http://www.writewords.org.uk/archive/5559.asp

I'd also be interested in any thoughts on Poetry / writing as therapy. Anyone else do it?
I once read somewhere that critically it's considered a bit of a no-no, and that made me very self-conscious about it for ages, but now I think it's totally legitimate, both as an expressive form, (Sylvia Plath, Anne Sexton f 'rinstance ), and as a healing device.
On the latter front I work with a therapist who actively encourages it and it is an incredibly powerful medium for accessing hard to express feelings.
Thanks for feedback on the work so far. Very gratifying.
x
tc

God, yes. Writing as therapy, that is. Not only do I do it, but quite often run projects/workshops with particularly young people who can't articulate their feelings or emotions at all other than in an aggressive way, and writing/arts generally is such a brilliant way to do this. And it works, as we know... I do know some writers who say they absolutely don't, ever, write in this way, and that's their business, but for me it's a way of dealing with personal and world chaos. making sense of things...or trying to, anyway..

Good to hear about the workshops you do Anna, important stuff I think. I work in a pretty tough inner London comprehensive school and you'd think the kids would shy away from poetry and feelings, but with the help of our brilliant Eng Faculty they produce some superb work, and of course the popularity of rap helps, even if that's not to everyone's taste. (I love lots of rap/hip hop/stuff I don't know the proper name for - much to their utter embarrassment!)
I can't see how anyone divorces writing, certainly poetry, from 'the personal ' Perhaps in a novel I can see more how one could be detached and let characters go off on their own journey...? But If a poem isn't ones personal response to something, anything, then what is it?
x
tc

TC, I've commented on the poem. I did this as honestly as I could and hope it doesn't cause too much offense or upset. You know I wouldn't do it intentionally.

On a semi-unrelated note: I was just wondering what the poets on the site think of the band "The Streets" - sort of talking poetry with music. It's very visual stuff and is packed chocablock with emotion - does it count as poetry?

Colin M

Hi Colin,
I've read your response and have added a bit of stuff which might clarify it for you - but if it doesn't please don't think you have caused offence with your reaction.

This is perhaps a downside to the debate about writing about personal stuff - people want to empathise and feel worried if they don't like the piece...they get scared to say unfavourable things for fear of appearing unsympathetic.
Col, I want this poem to work as a poem, if it doesn't for you, for the reasons you have given, then that's perfectly fine!
Thanks for being brave enough to be honest...
x
tc

As to The Streets, I keep hearing their name, but, old fart that I am, haven't heard them yet, I'll make a point of catching their stuff now and see what I think. Sounds interesting!

I hope I'm not breaking any copyright laws here, but call it promotion. I'm not a great music lover and I rarely buy CDs, but I'm going out tomorrow to get this. Sometimes lyrics really have something to say, and these lyrics aren't even sung, they're talked.

So just a snip...

from Dry Your Eyes, by The Streets

In one single moment your whole life can turn 'round
I stand there for a minute starin’ straight into the ground
Lookin’ to the left slightly, then lookin’ back down
World feels like it’s caved in – proper sorry frown
Please let me show you where we could only just be, for us
I can change and I can grow or we could adjust
The wicked thing about us is we always have trust
We can even have an open relationship, if you must
I look at her she stares almost straight back at me
But her eyes glaze over like she’s lookin’ straight through me
Then her eyes must have closed for what seems an eternity
When they open up she’s lookin’ down at her feet

Chorus
Dry your eyes mate
I know it’s hard to take but her mind has been made up
There’s plenty more fish in the sea
Dry your eyes mate
I know you want to make her see how much this pain hurts
But you’ve got to walk away now
It’s over

So then I move my hand up from down by my side
It's shakin’, my life is crashin’ before my eyes
Turn the palm of my hand up to face the skies
Touch the bottom of her chin and let out a sigh
‘Cause I can’t imagine my life without you and me
There’s things I can’t imagine doin’, things I can’t imagine seein’
It weren't supposed to be easy, surely
Please, please, I beg you please
She brings her hands up towards where my hands rested
She wraps her fingers round mine with the softness she’s blessed with
She peels away my fingers, looks at me and then gestures
By pushin’ my hand away to my chest, from hers
-------------------------

there's more, but you get the point.

Colin M

Colin, I like this - wondering about the music to acompany it....?

I'm into the iTunes website now and have downloaded quite a bit of stuff, recommend it if you're going in that direction. Songs are about 77p each. it's ggod cos you dont have to get the whole album if you only like a few tracks.
Only downside is that they take a while to download as I'm still on narowband and my connection seems always to be excruciatingly slow.
But I'll pop on there tomorrow and see if any of The Streets stuff is available.
Hope you enyjoy the album.

tc

You raised the point about the therapeutic value of writing. My own thoughts are that writing, drawing, painting, 'acting-out' and any activities that encourages freedom of emotional expression are invaluable.

I also believe that everything we write has an effect upon us; with every tap of the keys we change a little. My deep hope is that through writing your poem, you achieved something to lessen the pain. I have added my comment on the poem itself.

Len

Len, I think you are SO right.
And I find it amazing how I can use my writing not only to articulate pre-formed thoughts which are difficult to express in other ways, but also even to 'work out' what I'm feeling before I really know it. I think those of us who can write, (if you see what I mean!) are so lucky to have this extra resource / means of expression.
I'll pop and have a look at your comment now. Thank you for taking the time to read.
x
tc

Hi tc,
I also made a comment to the effect that we are so fortunate to be able to express our feelings and 'let it out'. I am starting to think that writing poetry is an essential part of my well-being. There must be opportunities out there to work with people who would benefit from this medium. Food for thought, I think!
Well done for bringing this sort of thing into our thinking.
joanie

Writing as therapy? Not deliberately, but inevitably, everthing I write has some connection to my past and present and is part of my evolution. I think the situation that gives it a bad name is when an author tries to put something in the public arena that isn't cooked yet, i.e. they're still too close to the process to be able to detach and treat the piece as something to be worked over as a piece of writing. Then they may produce something self-indulgent. Any writing that is worth anything has to have something of your deep self in it. Which brings me to another question: would you publish the Un-PC Poem?
Sharon

I would, not sure anyone else would, though! (which is usually my problem!)
I stand by it as both a means of expressing some powerful emotion / thoughts AND as a poem, a structure, a 'thing'
It was theraputic, but I hope it's more than that - opinion seems to vary a bit.
I think if I thought it was JUST therapy, I wouldn't have put it up for scrutiny - too close, too hard to listen to crit, not fair (somehow?) on readers...
It's perhaps a thin divide. And for me the process of grieving/therapy/moving on/establishing power/revenge is all tied up together, so perhaps my judgments are not the best here.
But I WOULD publish it, no doubts at all about that.
Perhaps I can open this out - would it be a poem people would expect to be published 'properly'? If you read it in a mag or anthology, what would your rections be? Any different to those expressed on WW?
x
tc

Yes, if I saw it published, I would be impressed. I think it's a powerful experience and emotion turned into a great poem. My reaction to it now is mixed with the knowledge of your personal experience and is coloured by that, so I can't separate my first reaction from that now, but I know I felt it was truthful even then.
Sharon

Hi TC, related to your question Alice Sebold, the author of the Lovely Bones, also published a non-fiction book called Lucky about her experience of being raped as a student. I haven't read it, but heard her being interviewed, and the title came from her feeling that she was lucky to be alive. The book has been well received by both critics and the public, so I think that shows what can be done with this type of writing.

Adele.