Poetry: Some thoughts from Anthony Joseph

So I'm still processing the mass of thoughts, drafts and words that came from the Arvon Foundation stay (as part of Complete Works II) a few weeks ago. One of the highlights was a reading from musician, novelist and poet Anthony Joseph. He also said a few things which might get you thinking:

• 'Liminalism' is his approach to poems inspired by surrealism, where 'poems can come to life on the page'.
• A poem ends when looking at it becomes painful. It's saying "Leave me alone, I'm done."
• You want to try and challenge the linear, and the idea of what a narrative is.
• There are three phases to being a 'colonial' poet:
• Showing off in the coloniser's language
• Going back to your childhood
• Rejoining your people and becoming a revolutionary.
• A poet uses their voice to bring people into different areas in their lives.
• The struggle is to represent reality in the most beautiful way.
• Poets might not change the world, but they can change a person.
• The personal is the universal: when you reveal inner thoughts, you connect.

You can find out more about the wise Mr Joseph on his website.