The 'P' word

Poetry. There, I said it. I'll say it three times at midnight, looking at myself in the mirror if I have to. Maybe the ghost of Keats will come out and possess my body. Wouldn't THAT be something to start chain mail for?

But I'm quickly getting off topic. I'm amazed at how much people on my course hated poetry (I say hated because, technically, we've had our last class. Although we still have an essay and exam to do on it so...). Nobody wanted to read it, talk about it, look at it. It was as if poetry was a person who had done something unmentionable to a vulnerable old lady and was forever judged by society for the rest of its days. I'm sure I'm not the only one who got disappointed when my fellow students' eyes glazed over at the mention of poetry. At least the tutor felt my pain...

Hardly anyone liked to write it, either. Even the ones who did Creative Writing! I was shocked. But... That's still not what this post is about. Perhaps I should start again?

*ahem*

[swivels around in chair, pretends to notice audience] Oh, hello there! Last week, I went to my first live poetry reading.

"Live as in... Exciting or as in no playback/lip sync?"

Live as in the poets who wrote the poems were the ones reading them to the room. Katharine Kilalea and Emily Berry. They were both really good although I did like Kilalea's stuff more than Berry's - probably because of the delivery. Also, her stuff was a work in progress whereas Berry read from her book so perhaps that added to Kilalea's advantage (to form my opinion, at least). I went with a friend of mine who writes poetry - in secret, of course - and we left feeling really good about our own stuff and, I think, a little more than a little bit inspired.

This is London. I'm sure there must be a gazillion hidden poetry cafés dotted about the place where I can sign up to read my poems or buy a tea/coffee/hot chocolate and listen to others read their poetry. I'd like to go, when I get some free time (exams, revision, essays...). I want to read my poetry to a bunch of strangers at least once - when I think I'm good enough, anyway. If I don't like it, at least I tried. If I do like it, then wahey I just found a new hobby!