Proper Poetry

The beam of a true poem balances when each pan hovers with just right the weight. A real poem contains rhyme; Each line leads us to a prediction. — When I was at junior school, it was the end-of-term duty of the girls in the highest class, Standard 5, to gather news from each year.

look – really look

I will be 80 this year here in my flat only a mile and a half from where I was born. I have tried to lead by example, by plunging my narrow balcony into the principality of hanging gardens. Concrete is brutal. It needs softening. Plants should have dominion. We breakfast amidst the crisp verdure

New ink cartridges

From one side of the pool to the other, pacific waves cursive; held by rocks hard-backed in blue. A visiting squid squirts ink fresh and black. A pseudomorph arrows from the nib. 26/06/2014 — For Christmas ‘Secret Santa’ gave me a dinky, frosted pink fountain pen. It’s small; probably about 8cm in length. Its micro-cartridges

Literal Update

10 hours ago I must remember to tell everyone about this banana. Post. 4 hours ago Dumplings! Post. a few seconds ago Now, finished my poem!! Post. — Yesterday evening I read this post, 7 Ways to be Insufferable on Facebook. Ohmyme! Guilty, of all seven misdemeanours, I am quite certain. The post made me

And a

One two three four One two three. And a oneity two three four one two three _ [fine] Oneity oneity oneity oneity oneity two three four-a yeah ah peep for Parp twoity three _ Oneity two me four this song’s three four-a want to join me? Catch twoity three _ [Da capo] — The beginning/end-of-the

Nice words #4

stuffs extrapolation exponential resonate apt assimilate peanut chickens plait — As promised yesterday, a current list of favourite words. Bachata should also be included, but it didn’t really fit with the rhyme and rhythm of the list. Follow me (@BeadedQuill) on Twitter for the latest on my current favourite activities, which include AfroCubanLatin dancing. I’m also on Facebook

Roverhampton Bodensee

An old list of nice words that became a poem. There’ll be a fresh list tomorrow. Do return to read it. Yours, BQ

Rooftop Thoughts

From this time last year: an essay about a painting of Covent Garden rooftops. The image triggered a series of personal memories about school art history lessons and my ‘London Granny’.

The Superhero of pre-used words

‘The Poet’ (a find from the archives) was composed from lines written on the tube after reading the freebie magazine The Short List: you’ll need to use me again tomorrow because our words are all pre-used but if you set me down in words and lines then published me I’m already seen and done cutting edge A

Absorbed

Evening issues an amber skein. It trails a flock in departure. In tumblers, it reflects as liquid. From the road into one’s ear, whorls the skein. When Friday dusk descends, often you will hear sirens. — “Lots of sirens. People have been drinking,” noted a friend of mine one balmy summer’s afternoon in sleepy North