Creative Work: ‘lessons from mum (the hardest poem I’ve ever wrote)’ by Yessica Klein

This week we have a poem from the talented writer and photographer Yessica Klein.

The power of this poem comes from its potent honesty. As a discussion of feminism through the view of someone not familiarised with the lofty theories behind it, this poem shines a refreshing and forceful light on the core of relationships between mother and daughter.

lessons from mum (the hardest poem I’ve ever wrote)

mum married a man who drank as her father
whom she lost at 15 due to alcohol poisoning

motherhood was her dream
so she gave up her job to raise her daughters properly
and both left
one to Berlin
one to Stockholm
at 22 and 20 respectively

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Creative Work: ‘Julie’ by Subramanian K. S.

This week we have the pleasure of featuring a poet from India. Subramanian K.S. shares his distinctive style and jaunty use of language in ‘Julie’, a piece which harkens back with a harrowing message. This poem is nostalgic for any reader who knows what i means to be hampered down with responsibilities. 

Julie

Some leer, a few jeer
the rest cheer at Julie,
Circus girl, flexing her
sinewy frame; acrobatics

Creative Work: ‘Weathering (Winter on Nantucket)’ by Julia Rose Lewis

WPN is proud to be introducing a long line of phenomenal poets over the next few weeks, beginning with Kingston University Creative Writing MFA student, Julia Rose Lewis. Julia is not a stranger to form, often creating complicated works that rely on structure as much as content. Feel the cool rocks. Taste the salty water on your tongue. Listen to the crunch of the sand beneath your feet. All the senses are awakened as we travel to Nantucket, sitting on the rocks as the water crashes beneath us and the winter settles into our bones.

Weathering (Winter on Nantucket)

Water,

sand,

rock,

stone,

hand,

and wood.

Wood,

he works with, and always water.

To the hand,

the sand is sticky and slippery the stone.

The island is a rock,

Creative Work: Poetry “Metal” by Neil Horabin

Enjoy the second part of this Sunday post. 

‘Metal’ 

By Neil Horabin 

guitar strings, jacks and cables, pedals, more cables,

his fingers pick at the four strings in rotation and the feedback rises, sustains

he presses his lips against the mesh of the mic, lets out a murmur

and begins to sing;

‘home,

home is not a place for,

home is just wherever you are,

and you are all the world to me’

I picture you, back pressed up against the wire fence,

the rust leaves a message on your coat,

and I feel your lips on mine, my tongue on your teeth

they’re sort of metallic, I love that, the cold, the dryness,

tingling, capturing, magnetic.

you twist your fingers into mine,

your wedding ring scraping my skin,

as it should do,

then your mouth is on my neck and

those sensations lacerate my spine,

I take your earring into my mouth,

the gold, the diamond I bought for you,

and then it’s all hands and zips,

urges,  demands,

you climb all over me and pull me into you

controlling hands on my backside and frantic mouth upon mine

tongues unfurled once again, rose petals searching for the sun

melting away you have to cry out and I cannot stop myself

and you hold me tighter into you and push us over onto the ground

and all I can see is your silhouette, and metal.

Words, Pauses, Noises is fortunate to have not only talented writers but also innovative creators. Enjambment and the creative choice: to capitalise or not to capitalise – only touch on a small selection of poetic design, but such choices have charged the work of many of today’s up and coming poets. The Forward Prize for 2013 Best First Collection was awarded to Emily Berry at the British Museum 1 October. Her elegant, humorous, and striking collection “Dear Boy” encompasses incomparable tact in form and ingenuity. Words, Pauses, Noises praises, publishes and promotes the experimental revolution that continues to flourish in new literature.