Why I write Poetry by Alyson Torns

Why I write Poetry

By Alyson Torns

The first collection of poems I published was from From The Lost Property Office: A Quartet for Pessoa in 2006. My second collection, ‘Unresolved Journey’ was published by Mardibooks in 2012.

 

‘These poems were written during 2016-2018 as a development of my journey’

 

‘It is a journey through the London underground over to Portugal and back’

 

I am absolutely thrilled to have brought out a brand-new collection of poetry, ‘There’s no Wi-If’

 

‘Time and distance being the dimensions of our lives.’

 

I wrote these poems as a way of processing my thoughts and feelings whilst going through a transitional period in my life.  These poems were written during 2016-2018 as a development of my journey.

I continue to grow and these poems are a gift. They are authentic journeys in their own episodes and experiences. They enable my ongoing journey of recovery.

Poetry creates a language which helps us verbalise emotions and metamorphose.

A lot of these poems were written in creative writing sessions, which I run for people.

Teaching the poetry sessions in the community has been a journey of self-discovery. Never knowing what to expect, challenging the participants to write on the spot and read the work out at the end. I give them a set amount of time to write their piece and tell people to finish the sentence or line of poetry or prose.

 

‘Poetry creates a language which helps us verbalise emotions and metamorphose’

 

 

I wrote this poem on Wednesday evening on the topic of uncertainty:

 

turning up

never knowing

what to expect

accepting that

things might be

out of your control

questioning

your role

given authority

despite feeling

like a child inside

wearing a pair of

wellington boots

to big

red cheeks

enough said

 

 

It’s incredible how courageous the people are. I always read my piece out at the end which makes us all equal. We all have a unique voice which needs to be expressed and developed over time.

The writing enables people to find a voice and verbalise emotions that they couldn’t otherwise do. There is a collective energy when a group of people come together and write in silence. It’s magical to watch people blossom and grow in confidence.

‘We all have a unique voice which needs to be expressed and developed over time’

My poetry has changed and evolved over time. I’ve have used themes of injustice, nature and war within the collection. ‘the solitary tree stands in a field’

I’ve created many of the poems around writing itself. I weave words into poems, sew them together to create a feeling or journey within them. My writing has evolved over the years. I’ve more confidence in knowing where the poems end and when they need to be culled. Less is more sometimes. Over the years my writing of poetry has grown and developed. I’ve metaphors going through some of the poems of travel, adventure, transitions, anxieties and fears.

 

 

‘I weave words into poems, sew them together to create a feeling or journey within them’

 

PERSONAL CHALLENGE:

Perhaps you could try and set yourself a challenge to write on the theme of discovery for 15 minutes and see what comes out from you. It may be a catharsis to force yourself to write on the spot.

It’s important to exercise the muscle even if you don’t come up with something that you are content with. Like anything the more effort you put into exercising something the more experienced you’ll become.

I wrote this poem last week around the theme of connection. I feel it speaks for itself:

 

will there ever

be a time

when I can’t

make that

connection

with pen

be able

to anchor

my thoughts

on paper

 

 

I know Fernando Pessoa my favourite poet would have appreciated this poem. Emily Dickinson too. The drawings are important to me. The images have been my companions for a long time turning up in my journal on a regular basis. I have painted the images over the years as well.

I hope this inspires you in some way to find your creative voice.

Here is an extract from There’s no WI-IF:

Monday

Falling leaves

words fall
like leaves
onto the page
at what stage
do you release
the emotions
deciduous trees
have no choice
but to shed
their leaves
conifers hold on
you’ve clung on
for too long
to the grief
beneath
the surface
it’s time to
let go

 

 

how you can
transport
yourself in
one day
to another
dimension
time place
space
unknown
territory
yesterday’s
distress
a distant
memory
today
diverting
focus on
someone
else’s
uncertainty

 

 

 

‘Unresolved Journey’ by Alyson Torns is available on Amazon here.

‘There’s no Wi-If’ by Alyson Torns is available on Amazon here.