Now

First published 9th September 2024

It’s been a while since I wrote a post; I’ve been working with clay rather than words.

https://www.instagram.com/glad_about_ceramics/

Although I’ve previously described myself as a poetic potter and a potting poet, I don’t think that is really the case. They are two separate outlets for expression.

There’s nothing wrong with that, and the two may never combine or get closer. But there’s a part of me that wishes I could find a way of integrating the two, to some extent at least.

At a potter’s fair recently, where I had set up a stand, I sold a small piece – a box that I had made out of solid clay and put through the raku-firing process – to a lady called Lynne.

Lynne was really encouraging about my work, and she also invited me to join a poetry group.

I had some inner resistance as I’ve been struggling with my mental health and know that I need to have time to rest and not over-commit. However, Lynne’s enthusiasm was inspiring and it turned out that the group met only a few miles away from where I live. So, I went along to a meeting.

I’m so glad that I did.

There were just five of us there and each of us read poems that we’d written. We were able to give feedback to each other if we wanted, but there was no pressure. It was relaxed, informal and supportive.

The theme for the meeting was ‘Highlight’ and I’d written a poem – my first in ages – which I read out:

Highlight

The highlight of the holiday
was your choosing of the story;
one that I’d read to you before

It’s a story that opens the door
to a memory of what hasn’t been;
days unseen;
and brings to life the clue
about what to do in days to come –

More highlights –
and maybe after all
nothing left undone.

Sometimes it can be hard to open ourselves up to new possibilities when we’re still coming to terms with grief about the past and/or dealing with prevailing difficulties in the present.

I don’t yet know how my work with words and my work with clay are going to come together directly, if at all, but it’s good to work creatively with words again, as well as with clay.

Thanks Lynne.