BuddhistPunk

“Most people ignore most poetry because most poetry ignores most people”
Adrian Mithchell
...Which is a real pity, especially when you consider that life itself is poetic, and the attempt to capture its essence in words a worthwhile, fruitful and beneficial endeavour.
“My name is Tim, I’m 35 years old, and I’ve been writing poetry for about twenty years.” Sounds like an Alcoholics Anonymous introduction doesn’t it? Well for a working class northern lad this admission has, at times, felt confessional.
“What football team do you support Tim?”
“Not really into football”
“Oh Rugby man eh?”
“Not really into sports. To be honest I’m into poetry, writing and performing”
“POETRY!?! You’ve got to be kidding – Poetry is BORING!!!”
You see it’s not just school kids that have an aversion to the art form – I’ve been facing this reception for years. So early on I began my one man crusade to change this ill conceived opinion, and if I say so my self, up to now I’ve had quite a few successes on the way. I’ve met some noble allies, made some wonderful friends and brought a tear to certain eyes and a smile to many faces.
So why do I write...? That’s not so simple; In fact I could write you a thesis on this single question alone. But I won’t instead I’ll start at the beginning.
I love words, always have. The reasons are rooted in my childhood and my fathers’ early word play.
“Which would you rather be, or a wasp?” He’d ask.
“Which would you pick, or a shovel?”
I was one of the lucky kids who read, and who was read to, as a child. Spike Milligan, Edward Lear, Lewis Carol, and as I grew we progressed to George Orwell, Dylan Thomas and a touch of T.S.Elliot for good measure. The stories, the dialects, accents, colloquialisms, and mannerisms that inspired and entertained. Funny jokes, sad narratives, angry monologues. A world of literature at my disposal full of nursery rhymes, limericks, haiku and rap. They’ve helped me become a well rounded person. A confident and effective communicator, a supporter of my piers. Writing has helped me develop life skills, insight, objectivity, emotional intelligence to name a few. But it doesn’t stop there...
So why Poetry?
Well in fairness it isn’t just poetry. I’ve dabbled in short stories and plays but my favourite is the short sharp impact of a well written poem. The effect multiplied when delivered well through the medium of performance, and I mean performance, gone are the days of mere recitals, this is live theatre at its most concise.
So why BuddhistPunk?
The Buddhist - As a poet I utilise the art form to help me deal with the problems I face, to gain objectivity. As a meditation to help me understand my personal struggles and the conflicts of the world around me.
The Punk - Poetry has the power to grab attention, to make people think, to provoke others into action and engage with the world around them. To address a range of social and political issues in an entertaining way.
...I glide when I write, I find peace in it all
Feels half like recognition, half like answering a call
But try as I might to find repose I sometimes feel pathetic
When I share with you my verse, my philosophies wet nurse
Especially if justice is only ever poetic.
From Me by The Buddhist Punk.