Disability Arts Cymru have introduced me to the amazing Sophie McKeand – the gifted writer, poet, performer who is the current Young People’s Laureate Wales April 2016 – 2018, winner of the Out Spoken award for Innovation in Poetry 2015 and longlisted for the Poetry Society’s National Poetry Competition in 2014.
Writing about the incredible collection of poetry, Rebel Sun, by McKeand, Martha Sprackland [me neither] says:
“This is mythological, musical poetry that not only crosses borders but seems to dismantle them entirely, collapsing time and space, transfiguring and prefiguring the world we live in.”
I have a signed copy and can confirm the books brilliance.
Anyway, Sophie is an admirer of my Tanka work and has encouraged me to try different poetic forms such as the List Poem below, which I hope to perform alongside Sophie in February. Details to follow.
This remains a work in progress as lines could be added or changed, with the line order also under review, but for a first effort I am happy with the rhythm. No wonder Sophie is impressed…
Modern life is
Driving to work in an electric car while drinking breakfast from a bottle
Modern life is
Smugly using satellite navigation allowing you to avoid the tailbacks
Modern life is
Taking a call from your Spouse on your watch – your child scooped the prize
Modern life is
An instantaneous response from Down Under
Modern life is
The wonder of Kit-Kat Bites Peanut Butter – what will they think of next?
Modern life is
Leaving your car in a blue badge bay because you can’t miss this meeting
Modern life is
Sterile
Modern life is
Eating Sushi with plastic cutlery at a business lunch in Wigan
Modern Life is
Saying one thing and meaning another
Modern life is
Balancing the books while searching for a magic money tree
Modern life is
Not having enough time to be ill
Modern life is
Futile
Modern life is
Knowing your place
Modern life is
Being fed sweet little lies
Modern life is
Not believing the truth
Modern life is
Postmodern
Modern life is
Celebrating yesterday while living in fear of tomorrow
Modern life is
2.4 children
Modern life is
Sickly sweet
Modern life is
Formulaic
Modern life is
Washed down with prosecco
Modern life is
So clichéd
Modern life is
So clichéd
Modern life is
Instantly forgettable
Modern life is
A mundane journey through mundane towns, proud to be home to a Tesco superstore
Modern life is
Forgetting where you are – Anytown
Modern life is
Devoid of any distinguishing features
Modern life is
Empty without social media
Modern life is
Forcing friendship with strangers that you pass on the street
Modern life is
Worthless without ‘likes’
Modern life is
Sanitised
Modern life is
Connected wirelessly
Modern life is
Checking your inbox for love
Modern life is
Finding messages from hard-up Nigerian Princes, robots selling Viagra and pimps offloading Russian Brides
Modern life is
Turning a blind eye to foreign sweat shops in return for cheap clothes
Modern life is
Ignoring homeless families begging for support on your way to the theatre
Modern life is
Political
Modern life is
Choosing sides
Modern life is
Divisive
Modern life is
Explosive
Modern life is
Extreme
Modern life is
Wishing you could pull a cracker
Modern life is
Watching MasterChef with a microwave meal
Modern life is
Battling with the Welsh Government for my liberty
Modern life is
Knowing that I’m different
Modern life is
Waiting for someone to see the beauty inside
Modern life is
Having more questions than answers
Modern life is
Unfinished
