The new Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is ‘Elegant Lies’ by Desmond Childs. Desmond says that although he has been writing on and off since the age of 14 – he is now 58 – he has only been writing poetry for the last nine months or so. A favourite poet is Frieda Hughes, daughter of Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes. Does he have his own poetic style? No. "I just write what comes."  He is inspired by the "sheer diversity of life and opinions that abound in the world". 

 

 

Is poetry an important part of your life and can you remember when and why it became so?

Poetry is an important part of my life. I find that it fills my need to be creative, so it has always been in my life. I wrote my first poem when I was 14 and have been writing on and off ever since.

 

If you could only have one poet’s work to read (desert island book) which one would you choose and why?

That would be Frieda Hughes, I have just read her book Alternative Values and found it very enjoyable and inspiring. I particularly like the poem ‘Woman as Glass’.

 

How do you think your poetry style has changed since you started writing?

I don’t think I have a particular style. I just write what comes. Although I suppose I am influenced by what poetry I read, which I do try to vary. I have just been reading Emily Dickinson.

 

Do you perform your work and if so, what advice would you give to other young poets like yourself just starting out? If not, would you like to in the future?

 I do not perform my work, but might do so in the future if the situation should ever arise. I guess I am a young poet in a way ,as I have only been writing regularly for the last nine months but in fact I’m 58, I guess that makes me old. As to advice, I’d just say, just try to be creative and push the boundaries of your imagination even if it seems far-fetched.

 

What inspires you most when gathering material for new poetry?

Just the sheer diversity of life and opinions that abound in the world.

 

 

ELEGANT LIES

by Desmond Childs

 

you enter ghost like,

dwell, unbidden to my eyes,

elegant with flow, you memorise.

What immortal bliss you bear

 

Cool, calculated marble

hidden behind, the vellum of your eyes

To fall, one and all to your lies. 

With words, you choose, you carefully abuse

 

To know is not to prove

The viper in your tongue, that I elude  

Is the deceit of anyone, that you choose. 

One, then all fall, to your disguise 

 

Ghost like, you deceive

No one knows, but you and me

You dwell, unbidden to my eyes. 

Elegant, with flow you memorise