Getting My Poetry Mojo Back

picture from wikihow to make a knickerbocker glory

At my local writers group a few weeks ago, we had the lovely Victoria Robertson running a session on poetry. One of the exercises was to look at three photos on the screen and spend ten minutes writing a poem.
I used to write poetry years ago, and then in the nineties I got more into short pen portraits of people I’d met on my travels in Oz, and wrote poetry less. Writing a poem at the group reminded me how much I enjoy this form of expression, so I may be using it to help with unblock if I’m stuck with a story idea. Or just as a complete change from whichever novel I’m writing/editing at the time.

I picked the picture of food, obvs, which included a knickerbocker glory reminding me of a birthday treat when I was somewhere between eight and ten years old. It's rough, and all I did is type up what I wrote at the writers group.

The Feast

A cherry on top of the knickerbocker glory,
Stood like a flat atop a mountain.
The boy had asked for it as a treat.
A birthday feast.

The day arrived, and with his mum
and dad, they made the journey.
At their destination the boy demanded
his feast.
His parents watched him climb the
Knickerbocker glory, until he reached its summit.

All that remained was a shiny red
Cherry.
And his parents’ smiling faces either
Side of the table.
He’d conquered the feast.

Have any of you written poetry? Is it something you'd like to get back into?
I'd love to hear from you,

Liam Livings xx