Blog Archives

Unconscious themes

I’m not sure if I mentioned the furore there was when my poem The Gradual Loss of Me was published on Every Day Poets. It was all about the theme of suicide, with a number of people, both who I know and who I don’t seemingly worried about my intentions in wiriting the poem (it was for an assignment actually!)

Well, I tried to reassure them all that I was OK and that this was not a true expression of how I was feeling.

But having just taken stock and submitted a group of poems I have found 4, yes 4 which share this theme.

Now I am a bit concerned about the potential for concern so just in case I get any acceptances I would just like to explain my influences:

The Gradual Loss of Me  – written for the OUs A363 was about the sense of a loss of self and use of the form of a villanelle spiralled thoughts of loss down to its watery end. You can find a link to this on my Writing page.

Son of Suicide – written for the OUs A215 was a response poem based on another poem we were given which had the prompt reference to suicide. You can find a link to this on my Writing page.

My Brother – this unpublished poem written for the OUs A215 is my attempt to understand what might drive a suicide bomber – this is me using poetry as ‘making sense of the world’.

Crumbled – written recently as part of Slingink Scribbling Slam 2010 was inspired by the images from 9/11 of people jumping out of the two towers. Images that are very hard to get out of your head.

And also there is my work in which I have studied mental health disorders including suicide.This is a serious topic which is still fairly hush hush and maybe I’m just trying to make it visible.

Now, what I’m hoping is that some of my submissions on lighter subjects are accepted so that I can prove there are other thoughts in my head – think I’ll keep that Tellietubby poem I wrote a few years ago to myself though ;o)

So what themes do you all find reoccuring in your writing?