I am a writer. Of that there is no doubt. I am constantly writing in my hardback diary – annual usually bought in Asda or Tesco. Right now I am using a grey 2020 diary. And I write all sorts of other notes.
But to describe what I mainly do, let me use a word that is currently slang, and that is “Typer”. For I spend hours on this laptop and on my Smartphone, typing and posting things on the internet. I feel sure I do this much more than actual writing with a “Byro” pen.
People might even describe me as a Poet. Well, I have my moments, I feel. But I see myself more as a “Word Composer”. Indeed I “recruit” words to work for me, words that I have gleaned from the light reading I have done over the years.
Yes, I would never describe myself as one of the world’s Readers. Sure, I like a read now and then, and I appreciate good literature a lot, but no I don’t read much. My old teachers will be turning in their graves now, for to be fair they tried their best to get me to read more! They were right. I would have benefitted a great deal for reading more. But you can’t put the clock back.
Talking of the past, I actually started out as a “Story Writer”. My “Compositions” (as they called them) at Junior School were all stories. I wrote about gladiators, the Loch Ness Monster, Space and much more. In my early teens I wrote stories in disused school exercise books, on football and then science fiction themes. Some of my early football stories were lists of football results. My Autistic Traits really shone through in those early days hehe. But now I mainly write Free Verse. Occasionally I even write some rhymes or some “Iambic Metered Verse”.
Which brings me to some thoughts on Poetic Technique. Elsewhere I explained that my current “Free Verse” approach comes from some Unknown Teacher who wrote a book about getting schoolkids to express themselves with full freedom. “Just use short lines to be punchy and longer lines to be fulsome, rambling, academic, lingering or otherwise lengthy” is more or less what he would have told his young students. I am still following his instructions. Basically I start a new line or “verse” whenever it “feels right”.
When I read something, I usually use my “Inner Voice” so I can “hear it”. I can use any voice I choose for this. I can use the voice of Patrick Stewart, Morgan Freeman, Tom (Stewart) Baker (fourth Doctor Who) or whoever I wish (no pun intended). Or I can have Elvis or Freddie Mercury sing it to me. So when I type\write something I usually say it in my head first, before hitting those keys or scrawling with that pen. I think this is very important. Basically I go for the “Right Sound” first and foremost. No skim reading for me! (Well, very rarely). And precious little “scanning” (for metre) these days. Many people tell me that the majority of individuals mainly skim read: but they are missing out enormously. For me, poetry must be read aloud to be fully enjoyed. It is a “verbal” tradition.
For many years I was ruled by the tyranny of having to make my verses “scan correctly”. Countless poets still are! What so many forget is that techniques such as “using Stress” need to be used for a purpose. The best political speeches, for example, use “pitch, pace, power and pause” to provide impact. Poetry is the same. Look at Shakespeare’s “To be or not to be…” This is great use of Iambic Rhythm. Or rather, of Stress. Simples.
Words are both magical and musical. The Ancient Greeks knew this. They used long and short vowels rather than stressed with unstressed (if I understand this right). In short, they used the musicality of words, writing poems best sung.
In other words, poetry doesn’t have to look right so much as sound right. Of course, “Concrete Poetry” etc. is quite another matter I suppose. I once typed a poem in the shape of an eye, but that was that for me. What I love is Musical Poetry, or at least “Verbal” Verse. There you are – a bit of alliteration to boost your day. Lyrical lullabies are loved by many. Point Made I think.
Paul Butters
© PB 29\11\2020.
