New Sarah James Poem for National Poetry Day

Sarah James has written this poem in line with the National Poetry Day theme of heroes and heroines. National Poetry Day is on Thursday, October 8, 2009 and details of Sarah’s appearance at Worcester’s Oxfam Bookshop follows the poem.

Thanks Sarah, and I hope everybody has a happy and creative day.

Caved

On good days, I’m ‘bat girl’
– fly without trying, face into gales, glide
through full forces: strong, brave, invincible.
I don’t land but
hover the ground, lighter than
night, keep my wings hidden.

Unhinged by symmetry or hinged by unsymmetry…

My flightless wings hide me.
Head bent like a broken
street light, I slouch-
shuffle-slump, too heavy to hang.
So dark I can’t merge with shadows.
On a bad day, I’m caved.

Sarah James

BACKGROUND INFO/PR ABOUT MY BEING POET IN RESIDENCE/ROBIN HOOD FOR NATIONAL POETRY DAY!

Sarah is set to turn Robin Hood to celebrate National Poetry Day on Thursday, October 8, 2009 and launch a range of poetry competitions at Worcester’s Oxfam Bookshop.
She will be donning the costume in keeping with this year’s theme of Heroes and Heroines when she is poet in residence for the day at the shop in Worcester High Street. People will have the chance to pop in between 11am and 4pm to chat about poetry, share a favourite poem or bring their own work for some on the spot feedback. There will be a range of inspirational exercises/ideas to share and a display of hero and heroine themed poems by members of the Poetry Society’s Worcester and Droitwich Stanza poetry group. She will help Worcester Oxfam Bookshop to launch its range of children’s colouring and drawing contests and a children and adults’ poetry competition on the theme of heroes and heroines, as well as using the day to write her own set of poems inspired by the National Poetry Day theme and her experiences as an Oxfam Bookshop poet in residence.
Oxfam Bookshop manager Amanda Bonnick, who is also a poet, said: “I am delighted to welcome Sarah James to the shop to celebrate National Poetry Day. As the selection of Carol Ann Duffy to Poet Laureate shows, poetry can be both popular and challenging, and we hope to inspire the people of Worcester to contribute their poetic offering. The theme of Heroes can inspire us all!” The colouring, drawing and poetry contests deadline is Saturday, October 17. More details about the competitions are available from Worcester Oxfam Bookshop or by calling Amanda Bonnick at the shop on 01905 26967.

Leeds City and Canal Poem

As tree-athlon running fever grips Leeds I thought it was time to publish this poem to the city of Leeds.

Leeds City Towpath Treasures

To the city of Leeds
with Kirkstall on the left.
Shy ponies and gliding hawks,
train tracks guiding country walks.
Supermarket, cinema and electricity mast;
the River Aire, flowing fast.
All the senses massaged in nectar,
good vibes infiltrating ever sector:
spring birds , in stereo sound,
filtering down from ears to ground;
rays of gold, honey sunshine,
carried on winds, oh so fine;
purple buds and leaves of green,
worship my old soul half as clean;
swans flying above create a whoosh,
new life frolics awaken a bush

On towpath I walk through sensory overload

feel my essence again alive inside
ducklings so innocent try to survive
please let the cute and lovable thrive
and bumble bees in homely hives
let them create, and help pollenate,
because their work, life intricate
on nature’s cycle it does infiltrate
our lives, in healthy food
nature providing earth’s own goodness
building blocks return like timely clocks.
Leeds Liverpool canal; stagnant still.
Park, factories and highrise flats
good for hiking over hills
static herons and hopping bunnies
that’s Armley on the right
To the city of Leeds

Ode to Socrates

Truth is Enough for Existence

My goal in life is to find enough about our existence to know the truth.
Truth is Enough for Existence
If the truth is that I cannot know about our existence then that is enough.

A Penny for my Poetry

Sorry there hasn’t been any new poetry lately, but there’s been a lot going down, if you know what I mean.

Anyway, I’m planning to do a little running for the planet and to give back a bit of that tree paper I’ve used. If you’d like to donate anything towards it I’d be mighty grateful…as will the planet I hope!

My Just Giving page is where you can donate and the money goes straight to the charity.

I’ve coughed up £20 to enter the run and get a lunch, and I’m supposed to raise £25. More poetry soon. Cheers.

Surviving Social Pressure and Living Life for Yourself

Resistance is Futile: Foundations of Independence