Would I have kept writing poetry if…?
Would I have kept writing poetry if it hadn’t been for The School Magazine?
Yes . . .but
it’s the excitement of acceptance!
The whizz-bang in your tum that your work’s been read and appreciated and it’s going to be in print for children to read!
That’s the buzz.
It can brighten your whole day.
There’s a deep, satisfying thrill that comes with having your work both accepted and then illustrated by such wonderful creators, including Kim Gamble, Tohby Riddle, Kerry Millard, David Legge, Bronwyn Bancroft, Gaye Chapman, Stephen Axelson, Matt Ottley, Vilma Cencic, Peter Sheehan and Tom Jellet.
That’s due not only to the quality of the magazine and its remarkable endurance, but also the reputation of the team steering each issue to publication.
Today I’ve included the poem, Jigsaw Bits. It was the first poem I ever had published by the magazine in 1983. It’s illustrated by Walter Cunningham in black-and-white, as were all illustrations at the time.
And here’s the last poem: Magpie Morning, which was only accepted a week ago. (March, 2016)
On the banks of
a new day, bursts
a bubbling sound;
a gargling
gurgling, tumbling of
river song
from beaky birds
all black and white.
a new day, bursts
a bubbling sound;
a gargling
gurgling, tumbling of
river song
from beaky birds
all black and white.
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As in both poems, and in many others, some of which I’ve included here, there’s a longing to share the natural world, either in rhyme or free verse, lyrical or humorous.
Magpie Morning came about because of late, our suburban street has been commandeered by an army of magpies. On one particular letter-posting day, I counted twelve birds near my house.
The sight of them with their head thrown back, and the sound of their beautiful song, sent a smile to my toes. It reminded me of water cascading over river rocks, or swirling in eddies. Hence the link to river and river banks within the poem.
Here’s another watery one.
The Puddle (illustrated by Kim Gamble) was published in 1995.
A puddle
is a muddle
of droplets together.
A puddle dribbles edges
in wet, rainy weather.
A puddle can wriggle
its way to a river
to meet other puddles
with tingle and shiver.
Then, silent,
they journey
but listen to them shout,
when at the sea-mouth
the puddles rush out!
is a muddle
of droplets together.
A puddle dribbles edges
in wet, rainy weather.
A puddle can wriggle
its way to a river
to meet other puddles
with tingle and shiver.
Then, silent,
they journey
but listen to them shout,
when at the sea-mouth
the puddles rush out!
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And here’s a longer, more personal poem. But it’s still connected to the natural environment.
A Dad Time, illustrated by Matt Ottley, was published in 2009.
I remember a dad time.
It was a gentle time
with a long jetty,
a sharp knife
and slivers of squishy cockles.
His sure fingers
slicing
bait
which I would thread on a hook
as if making a garment.
Sun crowned our heads,
I in his shadow
freckling away,
swinging legs,
aching to reel in- and in – and in.
Sure each wavelet
was a fish, Dad!
Mostly it wasn’t.
It was a gentle time
with a long jetty,
a sharp knife
and slivers of squishy cockles.
His sure fingers
slicing
bait
which I would thread on a hook
as if making a garment.
Sun crowned our heads,
I in his shadow
freckling away,
swinging legs,
aching to reel in- and in – and in.
Sure each wavelet
was a fish, Dad!
Mostly it wasn’t.
Mostly it was
just a dad time.
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I often write short, quirky poems.
Jiggery Piggery
Between a curly tail
and snout,
a lot of bacon
jigs
about!
and snout,
a lot of bacon
jigs
about!
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Fishery (illustrated by Tom Jellet)
Fish,
flap and flippery,
end up
fish and chippery!
flap and flippery,
end up
fish and chippery!
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Fish (illustrated by Vilma Cencic)
Down by the sea –
there!
in the shallows,
fish, thin as silver needles,
stitching
lacy seaweed.
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Spider light (illustrated by Anne Bowman)
Spider,
you hang upside down in a dim corner
daddy-long-legging
like a fancy chandelier.
Are you waiting, spider,
for someone to switch on
the light?
you hang upside down in a dim corner
daddy-long-legging
like a fancy chandelier.
Are you waiting, spider,
for someone to switch on
the light?
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In 2015, Ride the Rhythm was published and illustrated by Matt Ottley. I think it says a lot about what I love about poetry. Although I enjoy rhyme, what is even more compelling for me, is the actual look and sound of words. And the rhythm.
It’s how I view the world.
Thank you, School Magazine, for helping me share it.
Lorraine Marwood
March 21, 2016 at 3:09 pm (2 years ago)Oh Janeen, I hadn’t read the ‘Ride the Rhythm’ poem before- thanks for sharing
Lorraine