Ghost Poetry has Left the Chat
5 Days in the Orange Verse #41
1 21st Century Ghost Poems…
… are hard to find. The Victorians were good at writing ghosts, Shakespeare loved lobbing a ghost in his plays, but the modern ghost poem is elusive. I’m struggling to find poems that don’t feel like a teenager in a graveyard. It’s made putting together this month’s workshop quite difficult. But the people asked for it so I shall deliver. If you want to help define modern ghost poetry, join me on Wednesday at 7.30pm.
2 You Should Never Feel Scared About Going to the Open Mic
The Poetry Open Mic is such a safe space. I am so grateful to all the poets I have met in the back rooms of pubs, proud as they spill their hearts to an audience and honoured that the audience holds space. I have witnessed growth and feel myself growing. So, if you’re worried about sharing your poetry, don’t be. We want to see you.
3 Poem
Unbidden
~ Rae Armantrout
The ghosts swarm.
They speak as one
person. Each
loves you. Each
has left something
undone.
•
Did the palo verde
blush yellow
all at once?
Today's edges
are so sharp
they might cut
anything that moved.
•
The way a lost
word
will come back
unbidden.
You're not interested
in it now,
only
in knowing
where it's been.
4 Quote
To look at something which is “empty” is still to be looking, still to be seeing something – if only the ghosts of one’s own expectations.
~ Susan Sontag
5 Prompt
Think of a situation where your expectations were not met. How did the ghosts of your expectations show up?
I’ll see some of you on Wednesday for some spooky writing time.
Lots of love
Lorna 🍊