Poetry

Springfield writing retreat

February 28, 2020 by Karen Comer 14 Comments

Dear blog readers,

It’s been a while! I intended to take a three-week blogging break after Christmas. Then four of the five of us came down with the flu, then I caught up on my missed editing work, and then I went away for a week. So it’s been a while.

I want to tell you about the amazing week I experienced at a writer’s retreat at Springfield Farm, outside of Bowral, New South Wales. Imagine idyllic green paddocks, a couple of dams, a long, tree-lined driveway leading to a beautiful farmhouse with comfortable, spacious rooms. Gorgeous textiles, furniture with character. Views from every room. Verandahs to lounge in. Plus a writing studio, a yoga studio and accommodation in separate buildings.

There was the soul-nourishing vegan food – home-grown with care, cooked with passion, shared with love. Yoga was optional every morning but why miss out on gentle stretches, loose dancing and mindful movements, taught with lots of heart?

Sarah Selecky, a Canadian writer best known for her latest book, Radiant shimmering light, taught us every day. (You can read my review of Sarah’s book in an earlier post here.) Sarah focuses on using ‘deep noticing’ in nature as a way of connecting to our writing practice. She led us through free-writing exercises, gave us readings for discussion, and walked with each of us to discuss our writing. Sarah gave me tips to make my writing more concrete – I can be a little abstract, too feely-feely, not grounded enough.

The most compelling thing she told us was that our story is wiser than we are, and with a balance of deep noticing and imaginative, creative writing, we can find our way. To trust the space between the concrete words on the page and the reader’s experience of those words because it’s in the space that the magic happens.

There was such a wonderful sense of connection between the nine writers and the amazing support crew at Springfield. (Kinchem, Peter, Eilish, Michaela and Ryan – I can’t imagine how well-fed and well-nurtured I’d feel if you’d move to Melbourne!) Being part of a creative community for a week was an amazing experience – there’s nothing like feeling supported, validated and understood from a creative tribe. I loved hearing the other talented writers’ stories, both about themselves and in their readings on our last night.

While there was much on offer – yoga, foliage creations, bush walks, massages, gardening – there was so much spaciousness to write. I wrote about fifteen poems for my new book and discovered the themes and motifs through writing small pieces.

Springfield, I’ll be back!

Voice and power in poetry

September 13, 2019 by Karen Comer 1 Comment

Another brilliant Melbourne Writers Festival session, this time with Aboriginal poet Ali Cobby Eckermann (middle) and Pacific Island poet Selina Tusitala Marsh (left).

The best panels feel more like a conversation, and this one was wonderfully facilitated by Eleanor Jackson (right), who created space for each poet to respond to her questions.

Some of my favourite lines from the panel –

Selina – To have power, you have to have true humbleness. You can’t have one without the other.

Selina – There’s a responsibility to find your own voice. Read a lot. Try on the voice of a respected poet. Always push to hone your unique voice.

Ali – Talking to the sky helped to heal the little girl who loved stories but was told she was wrong.

I bought a book each from both Ali and Selina – both signed. Ali wrote that ‘our stories live in our land’. Selina wrote – may your tightrope be forever taut.

Ruby Moonlight is a verse novel by Ali about a young Aboriginal girl who witnesses the massacre of her mob, and finds a new way to live. With lyrical language that just sings, Ali draws readers into Ruby’s world. It would make a wonderful addition to anyone studying Australian history.

Birds

senses shattered by loss
she staggers to follow bird song
trust nature

chirping red-browed finches lead to water
ringneck parrots place berries in her path
trust nature

honeyeaters flit the route to sweet grevillea
owls nest in her eyes
trust nature

Tightrope is a collection of poems, about the theme of walking a tightrope over an abyss. I particularly liked the Queens section, with tributes and observations to Queen Elizabeth II (who Selina performed for), Oprah, Alice Walker and Dr Ngahuia. Tightrope also includes some black-out poems – where poems have been created, often less than ten words, from blacking out words from an article or novel page, creating a poem from the remaining words.

The working mother’s guide to reading seventy books a year

Don’t have the babies

Don’t have a full-time job

Don’t be working class

Don’t be time poor and extended family rich

If you did have the babies, don’t let them play sports
Definitely don’t let them play an instrument
(extramural activities increase peak-hour traffic commuting time)

Strong voices, authentic power.

Five poems which made my heart sing!

October 19, 2018 by Karen Comer 10 Comments

I’ve had a busy week doing ‘all the things’ – you know, from work to parenting to writing to life admin to volunteering … And as I couldn’t fit in one more of the ‘things’, I decided to repost this blog post about poems from a couple of years ago. Because even with all the ‘things’, there is still room for a little poetry.

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I’ve recently had a few conversations about poems with strangers in public places – not something I usually do!

A couple of weeks ago, I had two meetings in the city to discuss corporate storytelling workshops, where I mentioned that I often use poetry as examples for rhythm, alliteration, metaphor and similes. On the way home, I hopped on and off a tram, and as I was waiting at a stop for the next tram, an older lady sitting on the tram bench started chatting to me. At first, I was a little non-committal but then I remembered my manners and turned to her to engage in the conversation properly. We discussed tram timetables, wearing heels and the weather before she asked me what I did. When I replied that I was an editor and writer, she almost jumped out of her seat and hugged me – ‘So am I!’ she said. So Jean (because we were on a first name basis pretty quickly!) told me how she edited and wrote small books on Christian poetry. And they had just organised a second print run for their latest collection.

This week, I was reading a book in a waiting room while filling in time for an appointment when the receptionist and another patient started discussing this patient’s wife’s book. I did eavesdrop for a little while – and then joined in the conversation and found out that the book in question was a book of poetry.

So, for anyone who has ever doubted that poetry was not relevant or commercial to Australians today – they are wrong, because I have two random conversations to prove it!

I have always enjoyed reading poetry and regret that I don’t read enough of it now. My cousin Cath lent me a book of poetry as a kid, and I loved it so much, I bought my own copy which I still have. There are certain poems which have stayed with me, and I thought I’d share them here.

Cinderella by Roald Dahl – I learnt this funny poem off by heart as a kid and my kids think it’s hilarious today.

The highway man by Alfred Noyes – this poem was in my cousin’s book and it is still a favourite. You have probably heard or read this one. I doubly loved it when Anne in the mini-series, Anne of Green Gables, recited it at a Prince Edward Island competition. I recently used it as an example in a grade 4 writing workshop.

Ulysses by Alfred Lord Tennyson – I studied this poem in VCE Literature. My teacher was a fabulous poetry teacher and really helped us to understand the significance of each line. I still have his handout with faded type, and my pencil notes written in the margins. Think I will have this tattooed on my forehead when I’m older.

How do I love thee? by Elizabeth Barrett Browning – I chose to have a few lines from this poem printed on our wedding booklets – which as of last week, was nineteen years ago!

The journey by Mary Oliver – once I had kids, I really appreciated this poem. It is relevant to everyone, no matter what stage of your journey.

Anyone else have a favourite poem to share? Or tell me about the ‘things’ you are doing?