Burning Bright

William Blake got me started with poetry when I was 6 so in honour of him I’ve changed the name of my blog to “Burning Bright”  in the great hope that I will see a few angels in 2015 and be safe from the dark. At 6.50 am in Liverpool city centre this morning a large golden moon moved out of sight quickly as I headed to the Liverpool One end of Duke Street in hope of an easy parking spot.

This was the street inhabited briefly by Felicia Hemans (of “The boy stood on the burning deck”… …fame) before her move to Wavertree.  There were no sounds of ghostly horses in spite of the empty streets and no worries about parking.  Just a few lonely workers cleaning tables in empty cafes like Edward Hopper tableaux.

I was heading to Radio Merseyside for an interview with Helen Jones for the daybreak programme.  It’s not too bad being interviewed if you convince yourself that it’s just a brief conversation.  It was good to have Tricia – my colleague and friend – along.  We have worked together on a number of projects and she’s now giving a clear lead as Chair of Trustees for North End Writers.  Our interview was about the new project Liverpool Elegies and I’m posting a link below – although it will only be available for 4 weeks from 4th January 2015.

I was mindful of a recent conversation with one of our members who asked me if I think poets are destined to be tragic.  I certainly don’t think this but she is haunted by the prospect – that her love and pursuit of poetry has made her sad in some ways.  I think rather that it’s life that has made her sad and poetry has kept her away from despair on many occasions.  But our sadness is an inevitable part of a fully lived life, and the right to be sad in safety is a small part of what this new project will be about.

Radio Merseyside interview with Helen Jones: Liverpool Elegies