Poetry: Withdraw to the Edge (Poetry Workshop)

I was invited to a poetry workshop on Tuesday. It was a great experience and of course, involved writing and performing poetry. So, for the first time in my life I performed a poem I had written in front of an audience.

Before writing and performing the poem, there was an exercise to "get us loose" where we had to give our own eulogy. I have to admit that I didn't take this as seriously as others, deciding that I could fill for the allotted minute instead of saying anything honest or revealing. However my ad-lib skills weren't quite up to the task and a few nuggets of authenticity threatened to appear.

For the poem itself however, I wanted to be very authentic, and indeed was under instruction to be, so I wrote about where I am right now, hopefully you can relate in some way.

This is the poem I wrote and performed during the workshop:

I often feel like I'm on the periphery
The M.C. but not the main act
I step out on stage and welcome the world
Then slink away to the back

I often feel like an outsider
The one who is left out
I try to find my place amongst you
But end up lost without a route

I think I'm capable. Likeable. Loveable
I know what I'm about
But communicating this, it's tough
It's a skill I feel I'm without

I can spin a yarn
And flash a smile
And act like I have no doubt
But eventually I'll withdraw to the edge
What the hell is that about?!

Withdrawn, introverted, within my own mind
A space that's my personal hell
I second guess, I hesitate
And on each negative thought I dwell

I think I'm capable. Likeable. Loveable
And can free myself from this cell
I'm the author, auteur, director
And I value the story I have to tell

I often feel like I'm on the periphery
And perhaps that's just as well
I know I'm likeable
Loveable
Capable...
Of coming out of my shell

The workshop was organised by ONETASTE, and their website can be found here.

London Photowalk: Science Museum

It had been far too cold on the previous walk, so we took the next one indoors and explored the Science Museum.

Here are a few photos from the day, my complete Flickr set can be found here. And as always the London Photowalk Events page also has photos.

London Photowalks: Regent's Park

February was so cold but we still ventured out and took some snap. Here are a few of the better photos from the walk from Kings Cross to Regent's Park.



This lady stopped and spoke to us about the park, she loves Regent's Park and encouraged us to come back to see the roses and flowers in bloom.



British Library.



These are the steps leading to street level from St Pancras International. The station is amazingly modern and has all manner of shops inside. This must be one of the busiest parts of London.



I love these houses and the buildings in the background too.

Film Review: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

I went into this film knowing nothing about the book it is based upon and with the incorrect assumption that I was going to be watching something akin to The Bourne series but with a double hard emo-chick who rides a motorcycle and has a cool tattoo. Instead I was treated to something quite different.

The girl with The Dragon Tattoo or Män som hatar kvinnor as it is called in it's native tongue is a thriller in which the titular 'girl' (Noomi Rapace) is seen but not heard for the majority of the movie and watches the genesis of the main plot from afar by hacking into investigative journalist's Mikael Blomkvist's (Michael Nyqvist) computer.

It's a plot device that allows for the introduction of a rather difficult and somewhat unlikable protagonist , who plays a passive role not only in the main story but in her life too. The girl's, Lisbeth's, money is controlled by her probation officer, who makes her relinquish more than control of her money to him also. It is not until she leverages control of both her own life and the probation officer by exacting an act of revenge upon him that she enters the life of Mikael and the story begins proper. By this time she and Mikael are two intriguing and full characters with a seemingly impossible task ahead of them: solve a 40 year old murder .

What follows feels a lot like a TV drama with Lisbeth and Mikael playing the part of the meddlesome, troubled but genius investigator pitting their selves against a cast of suspicious characters all with motive and opportunity and all with secrets too. As the two investigate their only lead an unbelievable relationship grows between the two of them which I can only assume is more believable in the book, but here it just seems like a concession to an adult audience who may otherwise grow tired of the Sunday matinée like fare.

An unlikeable lead, a plot that goes from the intriguing to the formulaic and a love affair that does not feel authentic didn't stop me from being utterly fascinated with the tale and beguiled by the setting: lush forests, snow covered fields an large open expanses filmed with reverence and love. The pace of the film and the performances are both fine, and the script is peppered with enough humour to both balance the darker themes and make up for the cheesy romantic interludes.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is on general release in the UK from the 12th of March.