Names - further reading
TO BROADEN READING AND INVITE OPEN-ENDED EXPERIMENTAL RESPONSES
Before beginning their own writing, writers might benefit from listening to one or more of the following readings.
‘Mister Metamorphosis’ by RBL Barton – http://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/jul/12/poetry-workshop-names-colette-bryce - which explores the different compound names he – or others - might invent for himself which might describe his different moods, qualities or behaviours (an interesting exercise in itself – but possibly not for sharing!):
Looneyman Coffeeslut .... Revovated Crashburn .... Flabbergast Downheart ... Sameold Goodold ... Hankernot Renunciation ... Smiley Nirvana ... Karmic Bailout
‘Lamorna’ by Lamorna Elder – http://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/jul/12/poetry-workshop-names-colette-bryce - which explores the personal experience of owning a name – the syllables, sounds, feelings, connotations, overtones and undertones of her own name:
... pretending to be / Lorna, Lauren, Laura ...
Its French translation? / L’amour? Non.
‘Maiden name’ by Philip Larkin – http://allpoetry.com/Maiden-Name - which reflects on gender and the history of a name – and what happens when its referent takes on another:
Marrying left your maiden name disused .... Now it’s a phrase applicable to no one ... It means what we feel now about you then ...
Before beginning their own writing, writers might benefit from listening to one or more of the following readings.
‘Mister Metamorphosis’ by RBL Barton – http://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/jul/12/poetry-workshop-names-colette-bryce - which explores the different compound names he – or others - might invent for himself which might describe his different moods, qualities or behaviours (an interesting exercise in itself – but possibly not for sharing!):
Looneyman Coffeeslut .... Revovated Crashburn .... Flabbergast Downheart ... Sameold Goodold ... Hankernot Renunciation ... Smiley Nirvana ... Karmic Bailout
‘Lamorna’ by Lamorna Elder – http://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/jul/12/poetry-workshop-names-colette-bryce - which explores the personal experience of owning a name – the syllables, sounds, feelings, connotations, overtones and undertones of her own name:
... pretending to be / Lorna, Lauren, Laura ...
Its French translation? / L’amour? Non.
‘Maiden name’ by Philip Larkin – http://allpoetry.com/Maiden-Name - which reflects on gender and the history of a name – and what happens when its referent takes on another:
Marrying left your maiden name disused .... Now it’s a phrase applicable to no one ... It means what we feel now about you then ...