Skimming Stones | Sula's Blog | Sula1968 A South African poet, potter and mother
Avbob (the funeral business) are currently running a poetry competition with the theme I Wish I’d said. I’ve entered 2 poems so far and am busy working on a third. I can publish the one below here on my blog now because it was unsuccessful, I’m still puzzling over what they mean by “Unfortunately, your poem did not meet the minimum requirements.” Art in any form is highly subjective and while rejection is a bit of a blow I worked hard on this piece and the writing process is rewarding in itself. The subject of death is not cheerful but grief and loss are only too real and the creative process can aid healing.
SPEECH BUBBLES
Tongue chained
jailed syllables
saline
Taste like
“I’m sorry”
and
“I wish”
Empty speech bubbles
rise
From silent fathoms
Where formless phonics
Long for flesh
Only to burst
on the needle
of reality
Still
You hear me, don’t you
On our wavelength
Beyond the shore of understanding
Where foam releases
The essence of Who we are
and, what we were
The air fills
with all that longing
that ache
to reach you
and sometimes
in a finger brushing moment
I do
Last year I wrote several poems after the death of Marc Brassington, processing his death was very difficult. The death of David Bowie also prompted a string of poems
Looking though my poetry it seems that the topic of death has come up very regularly
Dancing with the Reaper – Is one of my earliest works and was written in my teens
Remember our Mortality – Was written after the funeral of Barbara and acquaintance
Beyond words and music – David Bowie
Shine on Blackstar – David Bowie
The death of Bronwen one of Cliff’s dearest friends was a dreadful shock
This poem Don’t Wake me Now has now also been rejected by AVBOB but I feel that it expressed what I was thinking and feeling, which is what matters
I love your poem – I’ve also entered one. I think the only reason yours was disqualified is because it exceeds 30 lines in length, which was the limit stipulated in the competition editorial guidelines.
Ah lovely to hear that you also entered, good luck! Mine was 29 lines so it’s still a mystery
I’m so dissappointed on avbob poetry competition. My seven poems are unsuccessful. Why, I don’t know bcos I followed all the rules.