Overwintering poems

The Overwintering exhibition has come down, part of a national artists’ response to the plight of migrator shorebirds. It was an ambitious mix involving local print artists (Wyn made a series of curlew prints for ‘a wall of wings’), and local children. I helped with a poetry workshop and wader identification, but I was also involved in a project to inspire book artists [the BookArtObject international artist book collective] corralled by Sara Bowen.

As a reward I got a copy of all the books!

As usual I went over the top from enthusiasm late Spring 2019. I wrote 27 poems, an essay, made thee videos and produced a number of photographs. Lucky me gets each of the books. I am eager, was not allowed to touch them and examine them in the gallery. I take possession next week!

1
Ruddy Turnstones close on wind’s compass bearing
beside circular depressions fashioned by stingrays,
the wind whistles the distance they own.
The sea is having its say in the next field.

2
There’s no marketing, no eye-catching feature
in the low wattage chiaroscuro, a smear
of beige sand or khaki mud, the scenario

of Clare’s ‘dreariest place’, somewhat similar
to an empty street, repaying attention
for when the invisible becomes visible again.