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| A product of contemplation; a thought: "an elegant tapestry of quotations, musings, aphorisms, and autobiographical reflections" (James Atlas).
Today I would like to welcome Isabelle Kenyon to the blog. Isabelle is Editor of Fly on the Wall Poetry Press. She has popped by to talk about poetry collection, Persona Non Grata and also to put Homelessness in the Spotlight. There are also a couple of wonderful examples of poetry from the collection.
Persona
Non Grata is packed with exceptional poets writing on the theme of social
exclusion.
With interpretations exploring our refugee crises globally, physical and mental illness, homelessness, addiction and family estrangement, the anthology fundraises for two important and vital charities: 'Shelter' and 'Crisis Aid UK'.
Links to buy: https://blackwells.co.uk/
Sample poetry:
HOLOCAUST
By Debbie Walsh
We watched
them leaving my little brother and me
And we stood gazing gaping as
they shifted
From parents to corn stalks in over-filled carriages
And the train just repeated: ‘God-angst God- angst.’
Michael held his teddy bear in a small gloved hand
And held me,
almost whole, gloved in the other.
Looking into his dark eyes; innocence pooled
Shouting
softly, pouring hope into my heart.
I squeezed his hand and smiled.
Somewhere there were
tears, tragedy ploughed through this
Half-closed platform – what would yield more than fear?
In the distance, a train like a tamed ancient
Beast drew breath-beating to a halt.
I
swung him upon my hip.
Limping he would fall beneath
the dragon toothed
Crush of brothers and
sisters and mothers and fathers,
and
Safely seated on my safely seated knee, I felt the bite of his
Ice cold face warm.
My fingers staccato through his hair.
His palm sized head.
Fear
is noiseless; love is noiseless, felt like lightning
Forks gripping each before a
fall. Thunder in your Soul.
I didn’t know
that time was darkness and breath-ticked
Everywhere. I was smiling into Papa’s face waking:
Waking.
My trousers wetted and a huge tear in the
Corner of Michael’s
eye. I hugged him. Nodded okay.
There was a
huge departing crush.
All I could see was an
arm, a hand, a finger pointing
A finger in the air pointing right or left. Michael stood
By my side.
RIGHT. Said the finger.
LEFT. Said the
finger.
His glove slipped as
they tore him away
Huge eyes kissing mine. Huge
eyes kissing mine.
Originally
published in ‘21 Poems' published in the USA by Linda J. Langham, 2007.
The roof’s not free
By Rose Drew
If
you escape at night
cos
your mom’s insane
[beating
you with sticks not cool
at
17]
Walk
off to the pub,
find
some friends,
end
up at theirs –
but she’s not in…
‘The
roof’s not free’ he says
sex
pest
sex
pest
if I
don’t say yes & don’t NOT say no can I stay
Nothing’s
free
and
he’s bigger than me
and
he covers me
and
I seem to sleep,
eventually.
Dawn
comes: I go.
Teddy
can never know!
I’ll
avoid her now:
another
loss that night
Hope
she someday
realises
what
he is like.
Homelessness in the spotlight:
Award winning editor launches
political poetry collection ‘Persona Non Grata’.
With the global
refugee crises being very much in the media at present, it is timely that a
collection of poems should be published, which goes to the heart of how it
feels to be displaced from society. Inspired by the concept of social
exclusion, the collection, ‘Persona Non Grata’, which features exceptional
poets across the globe, explores themes including homelessness, loneliness and
mental health.
All profits from the
book will be donated to Shelter and Crisis Aid UK. Isabelle, who is the editor
of small press, Fly on the Wall Poetry, hopes that with the support of her readers,
and the 45 poets involved in the anthology, she will raise an incredible amount
for charity, providing support and advice for anyone who finds themselves
homeless.
Isabelle said, “I am thrilled and proud to have edited and compiled
this anthology to raise money for charity. This has been a brave, yet thrilling
project which aims to give a voice to those who feel alienated from society for
whatever reason. Reading the work of so many talented poets and being granted
access to their inner thoughts, has been a great privilege. Knowing that the
money we raise will be used to improve the lives of those who find themselves
displaced, throughout the UK, is humbling.”
Shelter commented: “We are
delighted that 'Fly on the Wall Poetry
Press publishes charitable anthologies - and anthology 'Persona Non Grata' is
packed with poetry inspired by the concept of social exclusion. Without support
such as this we would not be able to support the people who reach out to us for
help with housing issues and homelessness. Thank you so much to everyone
involved.” - Lindsay Tilston Jones, Regional Community Fundraiser: Manchester.
This book is the
second anthology published by the press, which was awarded ‘Runner Up for Best
Anthology’ at the prestigious Saboteur Awards this May. Both books are available
to buy through www.flyonthewallpoetry.co.uk in both in paperback and Kindle
formats, worldwide.
To support Isabelle’s
charity book release, please visit www.flyonthewallpoetry.co.uk
to find out more about the project, or to request an interview, please contact
Isabelle directly (see email address at top of page).
About Fly on the Wall Poetry Press
Fly on the Wall
Poetry Press publishes high quality anthologies on pressing issues, chapbooks
and poetry products, from exceptional poets around the globe. The first
anthology, Please Hear What I’m Not Saying, for UK charity Mind, came runner up
at the Saboteur Awards 2018, for Best Anthology.
Isabelle Kenyon is editor and you can find her on twitter: @kenyon_isabelle.
You can find out more: www.flyonthewallpoetry.co.uk
|
07/01/2019
#MondayMusing with Guest: Isabelle Kenyon @kenyon_isabelle @fly_press
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