Rae of Light

Recently in my writing group we had a very interesting conversation about poetry and why so many people feel they are unqualified to comment on it let alone attempt writing it. Both myself and another very accomplished poet argued that poetry should be for everyone and the reason so many people are put off is because their introduction to it has been stultifying. We are made to feel that if we don’t understand form, method, metre, then we’d best step aside and leave it all to the professionals. But I believe we all intrinsically grasp poetry because it is first and foremost about the sound of words. Us humans relish rhythmic sounds. It’s why we listen to music, sing and dance. I stand by this opinion as I have to teach children about poetry and am met by their fear of it coupled with the idea it will be too difficult to understand. In a classroom full of resistance to poetry I start with just one word. Your basic, everyday common noun. I ask them to list several objects: book...

Bev Cross was born in Winnipeg, Canada in 1952 and has lived in Britain since 1968.  Now a retired charity lawyer active in the Green Party and as a trustee of a restorative justice charity.  Lives in Yorkshire and has a son soon to be married to (another!) British/Canadian lawyer.  Loves cats, country walks, writing, swimming and enjoying good meals with friends and family.   At the end of his book The Road to Little Dribbling , Bill Bryson gives five reasons why he prefers living in Britain to just about anywhere else including America, his native land. I was born and raised in Canada and people sometimes ask me why I could possibly prefer to live here than there.   My reasons are a little similar to Bill’s.  Admittedly, I haven’t (unlike Bill) gone back to live in Canada since I left it in 1968, but I have visited it, and the States, since.   And you can find out so much of what is going on in a country these days...