A couple of weeks ago I was talking about list poems and I mentioned a poem written by someone who attends the poetry sessions at the Brolly. I can now reveal that the someone was Phil and here’s his brilliant poem.
At a Loss by Phil
I was lost in space
I lost me dignity and grace
Lost me phone down a grid
I’ve lost me way an lost the odd kid
I lost me marbles, lost the plot
Lost me, er…thread
Then found the lot!
I lost me cool when it was far too hot!
I’ve lost bags, cases,
ciggies and money in various places!
I lost me virginity got married and found it again
I lost me patience and a goldfish called Len!
I lost the will to liv but bottles it last minute,
I lost me lottery ticket an I was in it to win it!
I’ve lost bets in bookies, at pickin horses I’m s**t,
But the bird who works there, Carla’s dead fit!
I lost me Joe Loss CD down the back of the couch,
No wonder I’m such a grouse!
I’ve lost feeling in fingers, the sight in one eye,
Ive lost me TV signal and me subscription to Sky!
I was lost in translation with that bird in Amsterdam,
I lost me erection when I twigged she was a man!
I lost property, lost youth, lost a tooth,
Got lost in a park when I’ve been s**t-faced!
I was lost in France with Bonnie Tyler, lost all me hair
I’m never lost for words in email or text,
But for F**k’s sake, I’m at a loss as to what to write next!
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Thanks so much for sending your poem in, Phil.
This week it’s all about accent and the particular words we use because we’re from a particular place.
Have a listen to Ian McMillan’s broad Yorkshire accent reading a poem about his uncle.
While Liverpool doesn’t have a dialect – as far as I’m aware – there are words, usually called slang, which crop up regularly. Here’s my attempt at a poem including some of these words.
Eh Mate by Tracy Aston
I’ve got to go down the shop for me ma
she’s gaggin’ for a cuppa, know what mean la?
We both lost a tenner down the alehouse
betting on her winning best bowl of scouse.
She’s proper devoed, lost to me gran
but even she can’t deny gran makes the best scran.
I’m on me way when I bump into Sid
he’s a goodun, he’s boss know what I mean lad, lid?
Eh mate, how are you, haven’t seen you around
You got a new job? Well in, that’s sound!
I’m made up for him – he was brassic, so skint
selling gadgets on the market he’ll make a mint.
I always used to see him on me way to me ma’s
and we’d detour for a few scoops, a few jars,
telling stories from days down on the docks
I was known as The Rogue, he was always Red Fox.
I better stop yacking or mam’ll give me down the banks
I’m lucky to still have her and I often give thanks.
As far as mam’s go she’s a belter, she’s boss
let’s hope a cup of sweet tea helps her recover from her loss.
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Why not have a go at writing a poem this week. It doesn’t have to be about this week’s theme but we would love to hear from you. So if you have a poem you’d like to share please send it to:
Today we have two lovely poems sent in by Chris Jackson and Gill Porter and this week’s theme is cats.
The link is to some poetry from the book ‘I could Pee on This and Other Poems by Cats’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy74msHPWRU
We’d love to receive more of your poetry so please send it to us on the theme of cats or whatever is on your mind at the moment.
This week I’ve been inspired by a poem sent in by Gail Richardson and I hope you’ll be inspired to try a haiku or two. It will all become clear in the video and I’ve added an explanation below.
What is haiku?
Haiku – Japanese and English-language Equivalents
Haiku is an ancient form of Japanese poetry often containing (in English) a total of 17 syllables shared between three lines that are arranged in a pattern of 5-7-5. The r line consists of 5 syllables, the second line 7, and the last line contains another 5 syllables.
It is important to note that the original Japanese haiku was measured in sounds, or “breaths,” not English syllables. The 5-7-5 approach was a rough approximation. Many traditional Japanese and English-language literary haiku are much shorter than the 5-7-5 format of the West. That said, poetry is art and 5-7-5 is still very popular today. Some Japanese poets still embrace that framework.
Haiku often contains a seasonal reference and poems are traditionally about nature or the natural world.
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I hope you’ll give haiku a try and we’d love to recieve some. Please send your haiku or a poem you’ve written that like to share to: psswellbeingcentres@gmail.com
Take care and happy writing.