I have to admit there was an ulterior motive, making the 600 miles or so round trip with my husband (very graciously) doing all the driving. It was all about walking into a place I’d only seen in pictures and never visited. It was also having to make myself known to people that had only been met online. This has happened before, on several occasions, it must be said, but back then it was different. The person I am now carries things that never encumbered me back then. It was not the same. I am here, now, a much better person.
I didn’t like myself very much at all back then.
Day Two at the Festival and I listened to Victoria Adukwei Bulley read poetry that was uncompromising and often uncomfortable to hear. There was a poem about Ultra Black Fish (third on the linked page) that hit me so hard in the brain, I’m still recovering from the impact. Their debut has just been published and if you fancy buying me Quiet, it’s on my Throne Wishlist :D
As a neurodivergent, however, I will admit Jane Burn was the reason why I’d picked the session. It was a master stroke of programming to get me with both poets, let’s be honest. Jane did not disappoint. I was too nervous to go ask for a signed book, though. Next time, for absolute definite. Jane is a fucking force of nature, and you need to see them live. I also especially approve of performing barefoot.
Then it was about wandering around, feeling faintly nauseous, and getting to the point where it was time to do the Open Mic.
It went okay. It was the best performance I’ve managed, exceeding the 20-minute set on Zoom. Now all there has to be is an actual collection to perform, though when it gets to that I think I’d like to do what Jonathan Davidson suggested in a workshop I did with him: first half needs to be other people’s poems I really enjoy/has inspired me and second half is my own stuff. That seems like a wonderful way of acknowledging the path that’s been walked to get to this point.
Don’t tell anyone, but I didn’t really sleep at all, Saturday to Sunday.
I was too busy flying around the larger Universe I’d discovered.
laughing-geek.com 