Demystifying Poetry, Sharing Words in the Woods, and DINOSAURS! with Alex Callaghan

Alex and I had a cosy little chat about growing with the support of the poetry community, demystifying poetry to non-poets, Bone Down and, of course, dinosaurs. This is a great episode for anyone looking to get into poetry or learn more about how to get into event making and the poetry community!

 

Alex Callaghan (they/them) is a non-binary poet from Yorkshire, and part of the Bone Down Literary Affinity Group. They specialise in wit, whimsy, and dinosaurs.

Follow them:

Twitter: ABCallaghan2 Instagram: poetry_ditties

 

Otter Podcast Transcript

Alex and Kate McKenna discuss their shared passion for dinosaur poetry, while Speaker 2 provides insights into the progression of Bone Down poetry events and the creation of the community-driven poetry zine. Speaker 2 highlights the significance of bone down as a gateway drug for people who aren't poets to get into poetry, and Unknown Speaker shares their experience of coming to bone down events and contributing to the zine. The speakers articulate the community-driven approach of Bone Down and the importance of celebrating and empowering the poetry community through events and publications. Meanwhile, Speaker 1 and Speaker 2 grapple with the complex language and historical context of poetry, emphasizing the need for balance between creative pursuits and other aspects of life to prevent burnout and maintain motivation.

 

Transcript

Outline

Poetry, dinosaurs, and the Bone Down literary affinity group.

• Alex, a member of the literary affinity group Bone Down, discusses their passion for writing about dinosaurs, including their final university project, "Dinosaurs in Space," which explores grief through the lens of a Stegosaurus and Ankylosaurus.
• Alex's partner has a velociraptor plushie and they buy little brooches of dinosaurs, leading to a discussion about the group's focus on whimsical dinosaur writings.
• Poet Caitlin was known as "jam poet" among Kate McKenna's friend group, met at Ilkley Literature Festival in 2022.
• Kate's book launch was unexpectedly accompanied by poetry readings.

Poetry events and community involvement.

• Poet Kate asks Speaker 2 and Eve to help organize poetry events in local parks.
• Poets moved indoor events to a venue with accessibility features, warming up to outdoor performances again in winter.
• Speaker 2 shares their growth in poetry community involvement, from attending events to hosting, with support from Caitlyn and other members.

Poetry community and zine creation.

• Community members collaborated on a zine showcasing their poetry and visual art, celebrating their diverse talents and connections.
• Poetry workshop attendees share their writing with others for the first time, including a mother who started writing during lockdown.
• Zine contributors performed their work, showcasing the difference between page and performance poetry.

Poetry styles and accessibility.

• Poet dabbles in various styles, including rhyming poetry and prose poetry, to keep their audience engaged.
• Speaker 2 shares their personal journey with poetry, mentioning Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland" as a favorite poem and highlighting the importance of accessibility in poetry.
• Speaker 2 discusses the evolution of language in poetry and how it can be difficult to read contemporary poetry, emphasizing the need for accessible entry points into the genre.
• Speaker 2 recommends Alice Goldman's "The Book of Seeing Past the Shadows" as a great introduction to poetry for those who are not familiar with the genre.
• Speaker 2 finds that reading poetry out loud helps them appreciate the pacing and emphasis of the poem better.

Creativity, burnout, and balance in the arts.

• Neil Gaiman's poetry inspires creative problem-solving in real life.
• Struggling to balance event hosting and university while maintaining enthusiasm.
• Poets discuss creative burnout, balancing creative pursuits with daily life.