From indie music and punk poetry to an unexpected appointment, the island’s new Manx Bard ‘Declan’ - his bardic name - reflects on his unconventional journey into poetry...
Somewhat unexpectedly, I find myself the new Manx Bard.
During my Bardic year I will be contributing a monthly column and poem to Island Life.
My surprise comes from finding myself in a role supported by the Arts Council and being unveiled in front of the Governor, because I come from the world of Indie music, where we promote our own gigs, and release our own recordings independently, without reference to officialdom.
My journey to poetry was convoluted. I don't recall reading poems at school, and we definitely didn't write any. I was dyslexic, undiagnosed until my twenties, and English lessons were more about chastising me for my handwriting and spelling rather than the content of my writing.
I came to poetry through music.
My first exposure to poetry was through performance poets like John Cooper Clarke or Attila the Stockbroker, who performed alongside Punk bands.
For a long time, I wrote lyrics, which I would speak-sing over music, mostly to amuse myself.
Eventually, I realised I wasn't writing lyrics but poems and I began to perform them at local open mic events.
Being Manx Bard will give me an opportunity to challenge myself. My poems won’t only be performed by myself, but will appear in print.
I’ll be commissioned to write beyond my usual subject matter of local pop and folk culture.
Manx culture is our greatest asset.
The island has been invaded by Irish, Scottish, and Norse raiders, English lords, and tourists sporting knotted hankies or motorcycle leathers.
Yet we have retained symbols like the Triskelion, the Manx language, and a culture that everyone who lives here recognises as unique.
We inherited a treasure trove of folktales and songs from earlier generations. That is not the entirety of Manx culture; it's not a museum piece.
It continues to evolve and everybody living here contributes to that evolution.
As bard I want to celebrate the breadth of Manx culture from ancient folk tales to Victorian tourist ditties to the latest song by a Manx Punx band.
And here’s the poem…
2026: Edmundstide
The Manx, around this time,
Began to call summer Edmundstide
Its arrival marked by the first Noel…
Edmunds sighting since the Fall.
Recognised by his luxurious plumage
And multicoloured mismatched bootage
Noel winters in southern climes
His return to Mann signals Edmundstide
Residents need not worry
That they’ll miss this augury
Of summer’s return to Mann
Because he’ll broadcast on Instagram
That summer was long and hot
Noel stuck his nose into a lobster pot
And did not like what he saw
He grabbed a lobster by the claw,
And hot foot on mismatched Cuban heels
He click-clacked his way to Peel
And set the lucky crustacean afloat
Where it was captured by a fishing boat
It made a lovely bisque
But for Noel it did the trick
Content creation in twenty twenty six
Is all about rage driven clicks
Katie stuck in her oar
But of her I’ll say no more