For eight years now, I’ve owned at least one guitar. For six I’ve owned two. For five I’ve owned three. But I’ve not been able to properly play any of them for eight. Absolutely appalling that is, so I’ve been hammering them a lot lately. I desperately want to stride into the decade doing more of the things I wish I could do, and to actively play – if not produce – music is one of those things. The other main thing I wan t do is to write more. It occurred to me today that the decade of 2010 – 2020 will be the decade that will, theoretically at least, see me hit my physical peak. If that happens, and my creative abilities follow suit (as I consider physical and mental states closely related), I want to be ready.
And as I want to write more, I’ve been doing a lot more reading – fuel for the fire etc. Ron Hogan, Den of Geek contributor, blogger extraordinaire, has an interesting point at his blog, Subtle Bluntness, about how the writer is dead, and that idea strikes me right between the eyes. Having wanted to be a writer since I was a very wee man, I see his fatal point, and I want to adjust for the future of my career and my creativity, wherever each may take me. Music might not ever be my bread-winner I understand, but it can’t hurt to light another creative fuse in the battle to blow the paths open…if you get my rather convoluted meaning. Besides which, 2010 has been declared The Year Of The Poet by Poejazzi.
Now, as fantastic as it would be for me to be declared the winner of the National Poetry Competition in the year named that by some, I have to consider that it might not happen (I hope it does though), and pile my free time into showing the London poetry/spoken word scene what I have to offer in the lyrical department. Avec guitar or non, I’m sure the enthusiastic learning of it will enliven me to all kinds of rhythmic influence and inspiration. ”Big things“ has Poet, Author, Poejazzi founder and Benin City vocalist, Musa Okwonga said of 2010. Indeed, sir. I want to be a part of whatever big things will be happening in some capacity, and I also want to conjure ’big things’ of my own. So, though it’s a day before New Year’s Eve, I’m preparing for 2010 already. In fact I’ve been preparing for some days now; fail to prepare and all that.
Democracy and Poetry (not necessarily in that order).
Carol Ann Duffy, who is really impressing me with her constant, creative variety in the role of Poet Laureate, has written the following piece in light of the General Election. It’s delightfully sharp, quick-witted and delivers verse with plenty to debate in admirable brevity.
Here’s a boat that cannot float.
Here’s a queue that cannot vote.
Here’s a line you cannot quote.
Here’s a deal you cannot note …
and here’s a sacrificial goat,
here’s a cut, here’s a throat,
here’s a drawbridge, here’s a moat …
What’s your hurry? Here’s your coat.
On the subject of poetry, if you happen to be in North London tomorrow, the arts collective I’m part of – Lazy Gramophone – is holding an event called Lazy Sunday.
Full details can be found at the facebook group here, and it should be a lively and entertaining event, equally mixed with Sunday cool.
Readings by William Conway (from sections of his Tastes of Ink) as well as performances by the top gent (and excellent poet and musician), Joshua Idehen, The Sea Kings and Jem Cooke will feature.
I’ll be there milling about and chatting to peeps as well. Not as part of any performance, just to have a bit of a natter. Maybe see you then. And let’s hope that – for the good of the country – whatever is to happen, happens quickly in Westminster.