Gratitude

I always find that gratitude is the hardest thing to express (without breaking down and making everyone uncomfortable). Over the past couple of days I have been trying to look back over University and assess it's role in my life, well I guess I've been doing it the whole time I've been here really. No matter the ups and lows of Uni, I think I have never been as comfortable in myself as I am now, under it all everything's the same, but my attitude towards it has altered. I have been feeling a great deal of gratitude for being where I am, and I am not even at the end of it truly, but this poem is a tribute to home. That in spite of finding my feet in other places, it has helped me realise where I already stand in life. That probably sounds a bit gushy but it is so deal with it.

Thanks/ Ever Different

Change and Everything and wind and
comes along and stick out your tongue,
she stuck that way.
But the hole you fit your thumb through
belonged
in pocket,
designs don’t mean to last.

Been shooting stars with her,
joy riding and begging for wanders into insulated walls.
She was never that different
perfectly fine in fact,
set ships on their sales,
brewing wine till they’re ready to smash
and spill,
and I always felt left on the docks,
to a home that I would disown
but a ghost and you’s lot-
I love breathlessly,
never without.

Expected for finding
greater things than
great isles.
You are my door.
Always.

A New Poem

So I thought I might be a bit controversially current and write a poem about the recent events of the world.

Bin Ladens Beard

They say there was an eagle who came and took his chair,
and soon it spilt out black blood on you and me and off the East.
The gay man’s disguise is sexualised through the long legs
of Americas barbers chatter
as they trim out the last of terrors,
and as their reasons are no more,
the blood returns
to the red
sea, looking so black
and easy.
Curls of beard scattering
ashed terrain.

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Jennifer Ratciffe

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So, unfortunately Paul Jeffcutt wont be able to make it to the poetry evening next Friday, but the show must go on.

I went to rehearsal today, reading poetry aloud actually takes a lot quicker than you realise, and it's terrifying (for me at least).

All the people I heard today were really good, different styles. I am in awe of how people can remember and perform so easily. I will be on fourth in the first half.

I think I'll be reading about five poems, I haven't completely solidified them yet, but I think I will definitely be performing this one:

Fighting

I am in your gravity

sealed in naked folds of your coat

part of the particle;

almost as if I'm real,

but I'm the second

not the front man.

Your domestic tide
conducting me,
I can't let go of you.

The always re-

turn.

What's up, is down.

The function

biological benevolence,

so you can

live along my side.

There is vanity in insanity.

Poetry Evening

This is my first blog for a new website, forgive me I'm a bit slap/dash with these things and technology isn't my forte.

On Friday 13th (unlucky for some- hopefully not me) of this month, I'll be doing a poetry reading at the EMMTEC building on the University of Lincoln Campus as part of Lincoln Book Festival.

The two main Poets are Paul Jeffcutt and Robert Powell, plus there will be some of the University's students (including me) performing some of our own poetry.

They'll be cheese and wine and I think a drink afterwards and it's free so come down if you can.

For more details have a looky here:

http://www.visitlincolnshire.com/site/events/lincoln-book-festival-2011-poetry-evening-p444821

I don't know what poems I will be performing yet but I should by tomorrow as it's rehearsal, and I'll post them on here with more details :)

I did this event in my first year and it was really fun, but I am completely shaking in my boots! I should also be recording some poetry with The Reading Room on Siren FM soon (http://www.sirenonline.co.uk/section/shows/the-reading-room), so I should be able to post some of the links up here. They have podcasts so check out their stuff if you can- they are also doing a live event on the Saturday of the festival which looks to be really good and I think the tickets for that are free at the moment to- so hurry!

Jennifer
xx