Fallen Camellias, Beautiful Shadows

Pic by Gemma Wiseman ~ Fallen camellias make wonderful shadows, Dromana Hills, Mornington Peninsula
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Shadow Shot Sunday #64
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Fallen tainted beauty
Pink sighs cast on the pathway
Shadowy castles
~

Poetry and Teenage Boys

This is the newly established Australian Poetry Centre at St Kilda, Melbourne, Victoria. It was launched June 7, 2007. The building is Glenfern, a property belonging to the National Trust of Australia.

While I admire that now Australian poetry has a tangible heartland, I wonder if it will reach beyond academic realms?

The fledgling website claims:

The APC will develop and provide products and services, such as:
a national journal of high quality poetry, articles and reviews
a comprehensive library of Australian poetry
workshops and seminars
poetry competition activities
comprehensive website information and services
educational and promotional materials
support for reading tours by Australian and overseas poets
support for small-press publishers, including co-operative marketing and distribution

Certainly, the vision is grand. But is it too grand? Maybe grandiose? Will it merely perpetuate the academic art of poetry, or will it reach out for new poetic worlds?

I am a high school teacher on a quest to get Year 9 boys interested in writing. I know. Sometimes that is quite a challenge. But I am finding poetry, believe it or not, is a key.

Currently, we are considering war. We are looking at the conditions of war rather than purely the history. I have given them glimpses of children involved in war plus a range of personal war stories. From this study, boys are churning out sensitive, impassioned poetry unlike anything they have written before. They are asking questions and seeking answers in their poetry. Many unconsciously step into the mature realms of psychology and philosophy. Prose writing never seems to spark the same intense reactions.

The boys enthusastically share their poems. And want to write more.

This brings me to my own questions. Where is there an outlet for the small poets? The poets beginning their journeys with some stunning thoughts just slip away into a nonentity Google ranking?

There are so many alternative poets out there who don't glow with academic prestige. Blogland reveals so many struggling to be known through writing prompts. And those who read their poetry are generally other struggling poets. (Yes, I count myself as one of these poets!)

If only there could be an internet heartland for poets. If only a search for Australian poet bloggers revealed a list of Australian poet bloggers. I have tried to find poet bloggers from other countries too. The only one revealing a central website, would you believe, is Africa.

If only there could be an internet heartland for student poets.

What a great encouragement this would be to enrich and polish student writing.

Surely, this is worth a thought. We wail about the widespread illiteracy in this world. Why not use the internet world to do something about it!

Australian Poetry Centre? Back to you!