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Sally Murphy, Australian author

What Kathryn Apel Likes about Children’s Poetry

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I’m delighted to welcome another guest blogger. Today, Kathryn Apel has called in to share with us what she likes about children’s poetry. Welcome, Kat.


Poetic Imagery

By Kathryn Apel

Shaping a poem

the body builder

pumps

flexes

tones and

tautens

as

snip

snap

snip –

the gardener

prunes and shapes

and

whoosh!

the very

clumsy clown

colours the sky

with brightly bobbing

balloons of

thought

I often think that poets paint pictures with words, but when I’m writing poetry, I get three distinct visual images – and they’re all of me! Let me put you in the picture…

Firstly, I see myself as The Body Builder. Okay – so this is a bit of a joke, because in reality I can’t lift more than a bar of chocolate. BUT – The Body Builder tones up by pumping iron. As a writer, I tone up by pumping poetry. Composing poetry flexes creativity. It hones vocabulary. It pinpoints weaknesses and forces me to focus on specific ‘muscles’. The more poetry I write, the greater my control of my writing muscles – of words.

Secondly, I see myself as The Gardener – a topiary artiste, intent on pruning and shaping; looking at the bigger picture and trimming it into a recognisable form. There is a certain ruthlessness in laying bare a thing of beauty. Poetry is a lot like a topiary tree – each word carefully placed to create a sharp, clear image. Excess words snipped away. There is no room for clutter. Each word must earn its place.

Thirdly, I see myself as The Clumsy Clown clutching fistfuls of colourful helium balloons… but can she keep them all in her grasp? Poetry has a way of releasing thoughts to, float, fly, drift and swirl like a bunch of brightly bobbing balloons.

When writing poetry, I am carried away by my imagination…

Congratulations Sally, on the release of your second verse novel. ‘Pearl Verses the World’ was stunning. I know that ‘Toppling’ will be another rich, warm story to touch the heart. Hugs to you! And thankyou for letting me share your blog space.

Thanks, Kat. I feel inspired to go pump some iron now 🙂

You can learn more about Kathryn Apel by visiting her online. She is the author of This is the Mud and Fencing With Fear.

Comments

  1. Sally, thanks for letting me share your blog. It's been a lot of fun. All this talk about poetry makes me want to pick up the pen and WRITE!

    Trust that your month of March is Toppling!

    Kat

  4. Just one more thing we share, Dee – besides a quirky sense of humour and a love of chocolate!

    I think that's why I love 'playing' with words. Because it gives you creativity in totally unexpected ways.

  5. Thanks Sally and Kat for sharing this very visual image of poetry. Of course being a chocoholic, I enjoyed the weight lifting analogy. But I particularly related to the way that you said poetry allows your thoughts to float and swirl. I think it's that sort of freedom that makes writing great – going beyond the obvious and the immediate – taking your creativity to a whole new level.

  6. Hi Lorraine, Yes – lots of lovely writing time. I've been working on my verse novel today – a form you know very well!

    Thanks, Claire.

    Don't forget the chocolate bar, Katrina!

    Glad you could relate, Jennifer.

    🙂

  10. Kat, loved your analogies- never thought of referring to poetry like that- love the pic of you and balloons- hope you're still getting time to write. Lorraine

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