Ally Aldridge Writing

April, I featured poets – what’s next?

April is the month of poetry. But as I was doing Camp NaNo, I decided to feature other poets on my Instagram. I posted asking for volunteers.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvb3BGoHuMf/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

I was blown away by the number of poets that wanted to take part and I had a lot of fun choosing a variety of poems to feature during April but here they are altogether in one blog post:

Jason Hein

https://www.instagram.com/p/BvukJI5HpRQ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Ross Hawse

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv1NeDGHi6y/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Mystqx Skye

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv_y0Yan8ab/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Ashley Valitutto

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwKIPN1Ht5_/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Ankit Yadav

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwT3JB0nBAB/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Paige Hart

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwfVJ4tnioD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Paula Watts

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwknkalHawM/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Kva

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwtrXUOHWAf/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Prins

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw14o6xnlCW/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Alison Aldridge

Here is a Haiku poem I wrote about my novel Jewel of the Sea in March to get the poets in the mood for April and part of the #womenwritingfiction #wwfchallenge2019 on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bviyu8-H58T/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

What is next?

This month, I am just enjoying taking one day at a time. I always enjoy featuring bloggers on my blog but this was the first time that I have done something like this on Instagram. And, I would like to do it again and hope that I helped them reach more followers.

Next time, I might get writers to share the tag line of their novel, book cover or quote from their book. I also follow a few artists and would like to give them some attention too. What would you like to see me feature next?

If you enjoyed this, you may also enjoy:

I need your help! How to get featured on my blog

Me being featured!

Reflecting on NaPoWriMo

Valentine Poetry Collection

Inner Demons — Ally Aldridge

My Myth of Mermaids and Poem – Siren’s Song

  if_twitter-01-01_3066980  if_instagram-01-01_3066990  if_youtube-01-01_3066976  if_g-01-01_3066962

Ally plus text

Ally Aldridge Writing

Day 29 – Locomotive

Pintrest - Poem April 29.pngDo not go off track

You will reach your course in time

Stay on the iron rails

*****

 Day 29’s challenge

For Day 29 the prompt is to write a poem ”based on the Plath Poetry Project’s calendar. Simply pick a poem from the calendar, and then write a poem that responds or engages with your chosen Plath poem in some way?”

Strangely, I enjoyed Slyvia Plath’s novel The Bell Jar.  However, it’s the weekend and her writing is really dark and depressing and although that matches the weather today (rain, rain and more rain), I don’t want to go there.

I’m breaking against the prompt and I am going to do my own thing.  For inspiration, I am going with the first ‘Free Image’ I found on Canva.  It is a picture of trains.  I also want to have a go at writing a Haiku as I’ve never done one before.

  if_twitter-01-01_3066980  if_instagram-01-01_3066990  if_youtube-01-01_3066976  if_g-01-01_3066962

Ally plus text

Ally Aldridge Writing

Day 12 – Haibun

Pintrest - Poem April 12.pngFrom smog filled cities to fresh salty air. A friendly place where everyone knows your name.

Tranquil pockets of landscaped gardens. A harbour of fishing boats bobbing and ringing.

 

Beach huts align the prom

Metal structures tower at the docks

Outskirts of rolling fields

 

Despite its impact on England’s trade, many don’t even know its name. The largest container port to feed the needs of the island.

With forests and wildlife and natural habitats. With a fort and seafront with amusements and bright lights.

 

*****

Day 12’s challenge

 

For Day 12, the challenge was to write “a haibun that takes in the natural landscape of the place you live. It may be the high sierra, dusty plains, lush rainforest, or a suburbia of tiny, identical houses – but wherever you live, here’s your chance to bring it to life through the charming mix-and-match methodology of haibun.”

Well, today’s challenge feels very advance to me. I’ve never attempted a Haiku, let alone a Haibun. After reading the challenge, I realised I needed to do research whilst eating my breakfast – thank you for smartphones!

Haibun

A Haibun is a style of poetry that combines prose with a Haiku poem. It often has a pattern, i.e. Prose, Haiku, Prose…

This then led me to ask the following two questions:

  1. What is prose? Prose often uses the colourful language poetry is famous for. It’s beautiful, descriptive, deep and it will create visions and emotions in the reader. It doesn’t usually rhyme.
  2. What is Haiku? Haiku is a style of poetry that is structured by syllables (number of sounds in a word). The structure has three lines. The first line will have five syllables, the second line will have seven syllables and the third line will have five syllables. It doesn’t usually rhyme.

Well, this style of poetry is outside my comfort zone completely! Firstly, I’ve never written this style and secondly, I like my poems to rhyme – he he.

But, I set myself this goal to do the NaPoWriMo challenge and I am not a quitter (without a fight), so here is my poem about my hometown.

I reached out to the local community for a photo I could use on my blog and Katherine Bozier kindly offered me a selection of pictures she has taken. A testimony to the culture, kindness and support of our town.

Here are some pics from my Instagram:

https://instagram.com/p/BfWhDJ8h1Np/

https://instagram.com/p/Bess-ujh1lp/

https://instagram.com/p/BSrAqVHBpja/

https://instagram.com/p/BIw6a14h96Y/

Growing up here, I thought the town was dull without much to do but I heard an advert for one of the caravan parks and was shocked at the end when I realised where it had described. As a mother, I now see the vastness of what this town has to offer – it’s a hidden gem.