The new Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is ’12:26’ by Natfastic, a poem about the joys of writing late at night. In a Q&A with Write Out Loud, Natasha said that her poetry has developed from her experiences with depression and an eating disorder: “It's been a tool for healing and I now couldn't live without it.”- She added: “I recently trained as a counsellor and started taking the masks off gradually. This site has massively helped me with that what with all the lovely support! Thank you.”

 

 

 

How long has poetry been an important part of your life and can you remember why it became so?

Poetry has always been a part of my life. Always read it when I was young and used to write songs as a kid as I love to sing too. I went to uni and studied English with creative writing and tentatively started to read and experiment more and learn some techniques. However it is my experiences with depression and an eating disorder that has developed my poetry. It's been a tool for healing and I now couldn't live without it. I've gradually got braver being more real. I recently trained as a counsellor and started taking the masks off gradually. This site has massively helped me with that what with all the lovely support! Thank you.

 

What kind of poetry do you write?  What motivates you?

My poetry is mostly about exploring the inner me. Helping me to make sense of who I am in the world or rather, who I am in relation to the world. But I just enjoy the process of being in the present moment so whatever that brings up is what I write about. I like the spontaneity and intuitiveness. I can be what I am. What motivates me is connecting with others through words. Poetry has saved my life and that’s because of others being willing to courageously share their hearts and souls, warts and all. You never know what words can mean or how they can resonate with others. I believe poetry is a form of magic.

 

If you could only have one poet’s work to read, which one would you choose?

If I could read only one poet for the rest of my days it would be Oriah Mountain Dreamer. My absolute favourite is ‘The Invitation’. Spiritual, wise, timeless.

 

Do you perform your work and if so, where are your favourite places to perform?

I haven't performed any poetry, though would love to once I've built up the courage. I do sing in public. It can't be that different, can it?!

 

What was the inspiration for this poem’s title and content?

The inspiration for this poem's title and the content was literally the moment. It flowed out of me like from another place. I almost feel like I can't take credit. It was spiritual and like the poems says, sublime. My favourite kind.

 

You're cast away on a desert island. What's your luxury?

If I was cast away on a desert island my luxury would have to be a notepad. I could draw and write. What more do you want? Oh shit, actually I'd need a pen too. Can I have two items?!

 

 

12:26

by Natfastic

 

12:26

I am not asleep

I should feel guilty.

 

My hair's a mess -

let down by the day.

 

Naked 

except for big pants

(the comfy kind)

I lie skewered

on my bed of words.

 

Something about this time

gets me going -

sublime.

 

Night writing obsesses me

into restless, writeful

wakefulness.

 

No. I am not asleep

I am alive

I am flowing.

 

Seconds slip by with ease

not a single

one

counted.

 

Life's gone in a blink

in this place.

 

Life's here in a breath

in this place.

 

Mounted on

this night

these words.