What Is Poetry?

I like poetry. You may've noticed this. You may not have.

But a lot of people don't read poetry. They feel like they don't 'get it' or even know what 'it' is.



So, what is poetry?


The Simplistic Answer


Poetry is a form of literature. It usually has shorter sentences than prose (but not always, because is life ever that simple?) and is arranged in lines.

Sometimes it rhymes. Sometimes it doesn't rhyme. Sometimes it has a regular rhythm - and sometimes it doesn't.

Basically, poetry is relatively short lines, usually conveying emotion of some description. Apart from that, the definitions are vague at best.

The Hippie-Dippy Answer

Warning: Some of this may be a bit sarcastic. Not very, because I have respect for the peace n love vibes from hippies. And my upbringing was a weird mix of traditional, intellectual, and hippy bat-sh** craziness.

My parents are quite normal when you meet them... honest.

Poetry is the breath and essence of life transformed into words. It's freedom and love translated onto the page.

But it's not constricted to the page - poetry can be anything, anywhere.

It's something you feel in your eternal spirit, and something which washes over you in waves of light-energy. *Laughs at self.*

(Ready to start singing kumbaya yet?)

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(I can kind of relate to this gif - although not to the drugs part.

But I've def. seen the inside of too many shops that sell incense. Incense and sandalwood. Everywhere. EVERYWHERE.

Most people's early shopping experiences aren't accompanied by New Age pan-pipe music, but whatever...)

The Pretentious Answer

Warning: This section is highly sarcastic. ;)

Poetry is an art form which the lower-classes (anyone who couldn't afford private school) are unable to comprehend because we have tiny minds.

Poetry can only be written by poncey middle-aged white men in dusty literary studies, because clearly they are the only people who could possibly understand it *eye roll.*

Poetry should only be read by people who adore the poncey middle-aged men, and will faun over them and never question anything they say, and believe they are the greatest artists who ever lived. *Bashes head against laptop.*

The Honest Answer

Poetry - good poetry at least - is not something that you get. Good poetry gets you.

Poetry is simply lines arranged on a page, that, if the poet's done their job right, mean something to you.

Poetry can be written by anyone, and read by anyone. It's about whatever you want it to be about.

And never let anyone tell you anything different. If you can appreciate song lyrics, if you can appreciate prose, film, music, dialogue, anything, on any level, then you can appreciate poetry. Screw the shamers.




Like this post? Try these:

• The Writer Diaries: Micropoetry - May 2016
• Review (Poetry Edition!) - Today Means Amen by Sierra DeMulder

Review! (Graphic Novel Edition!) - Klaw, The First Cycle

Title: Klaw, The First Cycle

Author: Antoine Ozanam

Contributors: Joel Jurion, Yoann Guille, Mike Kennedy

Genre: Graphic Novel, Young Adult, Fantasy, Superhero*, Paranormal* (*ish - there are shifters of various types and somewhat of a superhero origin story.)

Series: Klaw (#1-3)

Amazon: UK - USA

A few starting notes:

I received a free digital review copy of this book via NetGalley. NetGalley provides review copies from publishers in exchange for fair and honest reviews.

This looked interesting - shape-shifting and all that jazz! (Woo!)

Plus the cover rocked, and covers are usually a good indication of graphic novel rock-itude.

Premise:

Angel Tomassini is about to learn a few truths - one is about his father, and his father's business.

The other... well, the other is about shape-shifters.

It's going to get interesting.

Best bits:

There were parts of this with a superhero origin-vibe. Which I kind of dug - it's nice to see superheroes who aren't the property of Marvel or DC.

And it didn't over-shadow the character-driven aspects (character-driven superhero story? Hallelujah!)

The artwork was adequate - verging on rockin' in places - and the character design in particular really shone through.

I loved the way that the post-shape-shifting animal-people looked - the tiger in particular (which as the tiger is the focus here, is a good job too!)

The shape-shifting is based on the Chinese zodiac - which was a nice twist, and added another layer to the whole deal-y. :)

And I liked Angel - a likeable protagonist with the right level of gung-ho stupidity to fit the storyline, but not make you want to throw things at him repeatedly.

Not so great bits:

There were moments when I was a little lost as to what the hell was going on. Brief, but mentionable.

And there was much blood and violence. It's more comic-style than anything, but it's definitely noticeable.

I can't remember any swearing... but there might've been some tucked in there somewhere.

My bug-bear here is a big time-jump in the middle, which I felt was fairly unnecessary.

Also, some of the supporting characters were a little thin-on-depth for my liking.

The girl - whose name I can't remember - was pretty much the only female character of note, and was disappointingly flimsy, all-in-all.

Verdict:

This was an interesting take on so many tried-and-tested tropes.

I enjoyed it, I just would really have preferred some stronger roles for female characters.

Buy Now UK – Buy Now USA – Goodreads

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The Writer Diaries (Or, I Try To Come Up With Excuses)

OK, what excuses can I possibly have for not writing more of my 'Cracked Glass Slipper: Cinderella' instalments?

(Just as a reminder: I had this brainwave a few months ago, that I was going to write crack-fic-style fairy-tale retellings, starting with Cinderella.

And I did actually start with the first part of Cinderella! It just... didn't actually go further than that.)

Well, it could be that I was kidnapped by a herd of travelling nuns, who forbade me from writing random retellings on pain of having to clean the loos.

Or I may have been blackmailed never to write about Sin again by Time Masters/Lords (dependent on your geek-ly preferences) and threatened every time I try to open the word document (or, y'know, start a document for part 2... oops!)

Or I may've decided to become a guru in the art of spoon-bending, and left for an exciting new life!

Or it could just be that I got distracted by shiny things, self-doubt, and life-stuff, and forgot all about it...

I'm sorry!

I do fully intend to keep going! It just may take a little longer than I originally thought it would...



But in the mean-time, you can remind yourself of part one here. :)

Nerd Church - What Do They Do For Us?

As I said last week, the EU isn't sexy.

I plan on making it more interesting by sticking in random gifs and generally being my wacky self.

So stay with me! I WILL make this interesting... somehow.

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(See? Phoebe thinks I can make it exciting >.<)

So, if you live outside the UK, or under a rock within it, let me explain: we're having a referendum on June 23rd to decide whether we leave the European Union (or EU for short.)

The EU is not just about migration!

(No, really, that's just the bit the media and politicians distract us with because they don't want us to ask real questions.

I'm not a conspiracy nut, I'm a pragmatist with A-levels in Media Studies and Law. One of my topics for Law was the EU - a little knowledge is a dangerous thing and all that jazz.)





'What has the EU ever done for me?!' - I hear you cry.

(If you live in the UK, it's more than you think.)




Well, dearest nerdlets, let me give you just a few examples:

• Because of the EU, we don't need a Visa to travel or work abroad in Europe - this means that weekend getaway to Paris or that job in Ibiza over the summer is quicker and simpler to achieve. No paperwork, no rejection of your right to work in that country.

• Because of the EU, we have strict bans and controls on the use of pesticides - this means that chemicals that have been found to be harmful to bees, for example, are banned or regulated.

(I can make things sexier - look! Hiddles! Hiddles makes everything sexy, just by being Hiddles.)

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(Hiddles can make anything sexy. Even the EU.)

• Because of the EU, we have more access to further education - many universities throughout the EU offer reduced rates, or even free tuition, for EU citizens. We have more access to studying abroad, and broadening our horizons.

• The EU gives grants and funding to projects and organisations, for various purposes, throughout it's member states.

• Because of EU arts funding, many UK projects have been financed - from the drama Hinterland/Y Gwyll, to Shaun the Sheep: The Farmer's Llamas (and if you don't like Shaun the Sheep, you are NOT British,) from university arts programmes, to theatres, to film. Our culture has benefited from the EU.

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• Trade, business, and imports/exports are easier in the EU - just trust me. They are.

• Because of the EU, we have standardised workers rights. We are protected by these rights. Things are hard enough in this country, but luckily we have the EU watching our backs. Thanks to the EU we have the right to 4 weeks paid leave per year, and we have the right to statutory rest and breaks.

So don't make a decision based on fear.

Don't listen to Nigel Farage (our Donald Trump to you non-UK-readers.) 

He's a toad who a witch turned into a man. The toad was unhappy with his lot - he missed being a toad. So he decided to make everyone suffer for it. And make everyone miserable and afraid, just like him.

I've only given a few examples - just to prove to you that the EU is more than you think it is.

The EU benefits our culture, business, and worker's rights. It's involved in safety regulations, access to further education, and grants.

We need the EU. We are protected by the EU. Let's stay in the EU.

(And I remind you that anything can be made sexy by adding Tom Hiddleston.)

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Nerd Church is a weekly post where I get all political and/or moral on your a*ses and rant on about various issues.

If you liked this post, and don't want us to leave the EU, please spread the word and share!

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• Nerd Church - Use Your Vote, Raise Your Voice

Review Time! (Woop!) - Landline by Rainbow Rowell

Title: Landline

Author: Rainbow Rowell

Genre: Contemporary, Chick Lit, Magic Realism, Romance* (*ish)

Amazon: UK - USA

A few starting notes:

I saw a copy of this at the library... and it had a pink cover. Like, a bright pink cover.

So yours truly obviously had to borrow it. Because I'm that easily distracted. True story.

Also, I'd reviewed Carry On (UK - US) previously, and enjoyed it a lot.

(And Rainbow Rowell liked one of my tweets of that review, and I nearly fell off the sofa in shock.)

So I figured that I'd try another book by Rowell, and see how it went.

Premise:

Georgie McCool's marriage is in trouble. Sure, she knows that.

But her husband's just gone home for Christmas.

He hasn't left her.

Yes, Neal took the kids. No, he hasn't answered any of her calls... but he hasn't left her...right?

But then there's the phone. Ah, yes, the phone.

As time-machines go, it's pretty useless - all she can do is call 1998-Neal. It's 2013-Neal she needs to deal with, right?

So why does she keep calling?

Best bits:

I love Rainbow Rowell's wit and quirkiness - she can make normal conversations hilarious. And that's a talent worth having.

(Believe me. Everyone could do with that talent at some point in their lives...)

This book is incredibly readable - light-hearted and fun, it's one you just sort of... keep reading.

(And then you're like - I had stuff to do book! You win this round!)

I love Heather, Georgie's sister, she's great. She rocks in the 'sarcastic, but will defend her sister to her last breath,' kind of way.

Oh, and the name Georgie McCool? Dude, it's just fab. :)

The main crowning glory of this book though is that IT SOMEHOW MANAGES TO AVOID THE AWKWARD CLICHES!

Seriously, it could've gotten so cringey, but Rowell manages to side-step most of that and plump instead for realism and originality - and I always love me some originality. ;)

Not so great bits:

I guess I was maybe expecting a little more drama here than there ended up being.

This is probably my fault - I'm far too used to violent deaths and supernatural creatures in my books, and this doesn't have that.

I found the kids, Noomi and Alice, annoying. But that's mainly because Naomi was pet-named Noomi, and also because kids often bug me.

I also wasn't sure I wanted Neal and Georgie to work things out. I kind of felt at various points that she'd be better off with Seth.

But then, Georgie isn't sure whether she wants to work things out with Neal - so maybe it's just the tone reflecting the character's indecision.

Oh, and there's swearing here - which I found pretty hilarious in its usage, but I will warn you about as part of my blogger-ly duty (*salutes smartly*).

Verdict:

Despite the Christmas time-frame, this is equally suited to a hot summer's day, maybe even the beach.

It's light, it's fun, and it will definitely keep you reading.

Buy Now UK – Buy Now USA – Goodreads – Author's Site

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Friday Fics Fix! - Stuck Together

I've been reading Stucky one-shots this week.

(Fangirling notes:

Stucky is a romantic/sexual relationship between Captain America (Steve Rogers,) and Bucky Barnes.

One-shots are fics which are only comprised of one part/chapter.)

I'm a Stucky fan (make it canon Marvel! Make. It. Canon,) so I've kind of given in to the whole Stucky-ness this week.

There's something about the combination of Steve and Bucky that just feels so awesomely right.

You don't spend 3 films looking for a bloke, with such intensity and fervour, if he's just your bestie from 70 years ago. Y'just don't.

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One-shots are usually quite short - and so are great for fitting into lunch-breaks, coffee-breaks, or those times when work is driving you round the proverbial bend (it's hard being a ninja princess assassin sometimes.)

This week's fic is a sweet one-shot that's full o' the feels.

(Fangirling note:

The feels are indescribably intense feelings experienced by fangirls and fanboys in reaction to various situations characters find themselves in.)

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So, this week's fic rec. then, is:

Tongue Tied by SereneCalamity

And there're no sexy-times! Another week of relatively 'clean' fanfiction folks!

...Must be a blue moon or something.

So for a sweet love-story with just a touch of angst, give this one a shot.

(Yes, it's a little clunky in places, but what fanfiction isn't?)

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Comics Wrap Up - People Like Us, We Don't Need That Much

Graphic Novels

This week I read Malice in Ovenland, Vol 1 (UK - US) - a graphic novel due out in August 2016 from Rosarium Publishing.

Rosarium are a growing, and relatively new, publishers who focus on sci-fi, fantasy, graphic novels, etc., with an emphasis on multiculturalism.

Malice in Ovenland is semi Alice in Wonderland inspired... only there's magical world in Lily's oven. Yeah... just go with it.

It's target audience is clearly kids (which makes a change from the stuff I normally read) and it's pretty entertaining (and more than a little gross in the way that kids like.)

I'll be writing a review nearer to the publishing date, so keep your eyes peeled.






Other Stuff


Two fans showed Chris Evans and Sebastian Stan (and the world,) what real heroes look like when they cosplayed Captain America and the Winter Soldier at the Wizard World Con in Philadelphia.

They brought #GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend (the social media campaign to do just that,) back into the limelight by kissing in front of Chris 'n' Seb.

Well done guys, you're true heroes.

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Marvel Super Heroes, What The--? rocks. Just... just watch the thing and all of the randomness. So very, very, random.

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