One of the best things about the Hedgehog thing is the mahoosive amount of poetry I get to read. I love the competitions and challenges and the diversity is stunning at times, and then … here and there … you find something that knocks you sideways.
I’ve really loved all of the Poetry Conversations we have published, each of them is completely unique and in general terms it is one of the best things we’ve done, but, I had never read one quite like the one I’m working on at the moment.
What An Amazing Place We’ve Been To is a completely different type of poetry conversation, being between 6-year-old Torin Iroh Howarth-Lowe and his Mom, Zoë Sîobhan Howarth-Lowe.
As Zoë describes it:
“Torin was just 6 when he wrote his poem ‘Winter Wonderland’ and as a Poet, I decided to create a poetry conversation responding to each part of Torin’s Poem making sure to stir in some Greek Myth as Torin loves Rick Riorden’s novels.”
And it works beautifully, you can feel the love flowing through the whole thing.
In terms of the typesetting, it is quite a short collection, but Zoe had already pretty much covered the page design for me, elegantly, so I followed her lead.
Anyway, this will be out soon and hopefully I will have the cover to share tomorrow, which is rather beautiful too.
With the typesetting complete, I’m pleased to report that the musical accompaniment this time was PJ Harvey’s ‘To Bring You My Love’ which is magically epic, I can’t help but think and Ms Harvey having recently released a poetry collection, seems quite fitting.
I know some will ask – Are lyrics poetry?
I think so in her case, but then that is a whole different poetry conversation.
Something quite unique then. I look forward to it. I’m loving these blogs where you’re sharing what you’re working on and what music you’re listening to. Brill!
Yes, I keep being asked by my younger generation how I can work with ‘that row on’ – which is a bit ironic, when you think about it…