We are very pleased to announce that the pick of the Month for April 2016 is Palindrome Existence from Sarya Wu.
Sarya is 20 year-old Taiwanese-American who currently attends the University of Edinburgh. During her free time, she does spoken word. Her other passions include physical theatre, Roller Derby, bin diving, and walking around aimlessly in a bear hoodie. Website: pourallyourheartout.wordpress.com
Sarya has asked that her prize be donated to the charity Beat.
Palindrome Existence
Sometimes when I feel alone,
So I find a clean bus stop to stand by and wait,
Perhaps the bus will remind me
Of where to go
Maybe it’s fate-
I contemplate.
Maybe it’s fate-
Of where to go
Perhaps I’ll know if I sit still
So for a sign of direction I take a look
Sometimes when I feel alone,
Voters’ comments included:
Because it’s an interesting format that makes the whole poem akin to that of a single word. Reading it backwards and forward gives it a very subtly different meaning.
The balance of words perfectly fit the theme of existing, which can’t help both looking forwards and backwards, like a palindrome
when i read that poem, her voice was ringing through my head uttering all the words. she’s one impressive spoken word artist 🙂
It’s simple and pure but involving. There just is something about traveling or contemplating on or about journeys that’s very cleansing… Great subject matter.
Felt like it was talking to me. Like it beautifully said some of my own feelings
…………
And on the rest of the shortlist:
Stuart Charlesworth, ‘But During the Medicine Round’
Immediate confidence in the voice. Love the feel/texture of the pills and the green arms/leaves the glorious vision of the field until the devastating threat waiting. Easy flowing language but a clever hesitancy using images – both sinister and oddly amusing.
Andrew McDonnell, ‘Me, Me, Me’
I love it; it does a nice line in disorientation.
original, surreal and sharp…
Ruth Stacey, ‘Mental Health Animals’
I saw (or felt) an implication that we are part of the whole world and simultaneously forcefully and voluntarily removed from it. I feel a calling in this poem and it aches like the stars in whatever that darkness represents.
Grant Tarbard: Review of Fates of the Animals by Padrika Tarrant
A fantastic book gets a deserving review, and written with love.
…lots of vigour
Marc Woodward, ‘Armstrong’s lost letter’
It’s original and elegant
Visually and poetically creative