This doesn’t have
A lot of metaphor, or simile,
Or writing techniques, or style,
Or rhyming structure, or metre;
To be honest it’s barely a poem,
and that’s fine because I’m barely
a poet.
To be honest, I’m a mess.
Mental health in decline,
Pretending to be fine,
Being confined,
Just reclined
On this sofa.
Where the cushions, the blanket, the duvet, the laundry, and emotions accumulate and
lie across my chest like a
heavy
warm
comfortable
something.
© Emilie C. Black, Apr 2020
It’s day three, I’m a day behind, it’s late, I’m tired, poetry is hard.
Today is a special day that I didn’t expect to see: today marks two years of doing this poetry malarkey! And what an amazing two years it’s been.
I’ve gotten to perform with some of the greatest poets in the world and some of my spoken word heroes in some of the most fantastic venues in Scotland and made some amazing friends on the circuit.
Thanks for all your likes, comments and subscriptions over the last two years. Here’s to many more years to come!
So, back in January, I did a bit of a performance thing with a night called “From The Horse’s Mouth” based out of Summerhall in Edinburgh. After a couple of drinks and friendly chats with the people behind the night, I discovered that they really liked one particular poem I had performed and now, they’ve only gone and published it on their website!
It’s a wonderful, tingly feeling! I’m hoping this is part of a shiny, new, upward direction for this whole poetry thing. They’ve also done some some lovely audio recordings, including a poem which might be the first poem I do a video recording of (because it’s one of the two poem’s I’ve memorised. The other poem I’ve memorised is called “Amnesia” and the irony is not lost on me.) But please check them out, there’s also a fantastic poem by my new favourite poet, Amelia Watson, who is pretty damn fantastic and definitely one to watch!
Check it all out!
A long short summary of 2017.
Another year over, and what a year it’s been. It’s had ups and downs and tears and laughter and clichés and bad metaphors. It has been a year.
But I have never felt as successful as I have coming out of this year. This year, I did so many things I didn’t expect me to do ever.
I won not one but two poetry slams, I performed music on stage for the first time since 2013, I managed to write 100 Poems in 100 Days (I still don’t know how I managed that).
I had my first ever stand-up comedy gig (it was terrifying, it was amazing), I got to perform alongside one of my poetry idols and busted some more comedy and broke my roleplaying game cherry with The Comedy Roleplaying Hour at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe.
I had my first paid feature poetry gig, I wrote, produced and performed my first ever full-length poetry show at the Edinburgh Horror Festival, and became part of the team that run the Edinburgh Horror Festival.
I had my first ever compere gig, started a new cabaret band/duo, and started work on a new live poetry event with a good friend of mine which is due to debut early next year. And finally, to top it all off, I was named Stage Time Promotions ‘Best Poetry/Spoken Word Act of 2017.’
Across music, comedy and poetry (and hosting) I’ve performed 36 times this year. That’s insane. That’s 36 more performances than I expected to do in my life. There’s so many people in my life that I need to thank. This has been unexpected. For the first time in 25 years, I feel proud of myself.
It’s not been without its battles. Mental health, homelessness, nerves, losing friends, drifting away from people. No life is 100% perfect.
But this year came pretty damn close.
I’d like to say a huge thank you to all of you, the people who’ve read the poems, the people who have listened to/watched me perform. The people who have let me perform (Inky Fingers’ wonderboys, Freddie and Ross, the beautiful Lloyd and Matt behind The God Damn Debut Slam, my good friend Ross who I produce the Freakeasy Showcase with, the Edinburgh Horror Festival, and the organisers of From The Horse’s Mouth).
My sound operator, Graham, and poster designer, Ash from We All Have Fears.
To all my friends who have supported me and listened to my surrealist ramblings while trying to write something. To all my friends who have been there on any level. My friends online and on the earth. There are so many of you. I can’t thank you enough.
And finally, thank you, dear readers. You don’t know me, and yet you’ve taken the time to stick around and read this. You’ve read the blogs, you’ve read the poems. You’re amazing. And I love that you’ve been hanging around, commenting when you can. Liking, sharing, communicating, supporting. Thank you.
Bring on 2018 and the next adventure!
So, this past year I feel I’ve managed to go from strength to strength. This is due to the following things:
And finally, on top of this, I mnaged to write, direct and perform my first, full length solo poetry show. And it was received well. I’ve had constructive feedback and know how to work on it. I reckon it may end up hitting up the Edinburgh Fringe next year.
I’d like to thank everyone who had helped, my friends Ross, Isla, Heli and Oliver, Theresa, Dave, David, Gemma, Ricky and everyone else who came to the show or helped or listened to me rant or kept me sane with cups of tea, my sound guy, Graham, and my graphic designer, Ash.
A huge thanks goes to Edinburgh Horror Festival for opportunity to debut this show.
A hundred thank yous go out to the Amanda F*cking Palmer Official Page group for helping with the research for the show.
Further thanks go out to Stage Time Productions for their review of the show (that you can read here!)
And finally, thank you to all of you. You who have been reading and commenting away. Thank you for your support and dedication.
Mxcellany - Poetry, Music, Art 