Last month, Owen Atkinson was raised to the chair of the Manx Bard, becoming the seventh Manx poet to be given the title.
Owen will share with us a poem each month and tell us what inspired him to write it.
I wrote this poem last summer. Like many people in the island and beyond, I found that the lack of human contact over lockdown drove me to find comfort in nature.
I had more time on my hands and nothing but trees and hills around me to explore.
I was going on walks more often and had time to reflect on the beauty around me.
As an islander, I feel that I have always had a reverence for nature; however, up until last year, I hadn’t yet channelled that into poetry.
I was sitting in my garden, looking out across the valley at that time when the sun has gone down but light still lingers.
It wasn’t far from the summer solstice, and the light just struck me.
I found a notebook, and I wrote.
When it came time to choosing my poems for my Manx Bard application, I found my notes from that night looking out over the sky.
The original was much longer and more rambling, but I managed to tame it down and keep (hopefully) the best bits!
For me, poetry is ultimately a way of getting out my feelings; nothing more, nothing less.
If someone else gets something out of it, that’s almost secondary.
I write and I perform for me. I think that’s how everyone should create.
I am so grateful for the honour of being chosen as the Manx Bard.
The platform I now have to share my work and my passion is an unexpected bonus to my creative process that I will cherish immensely.
Summer Evening Sky
A summer evening sky
Is full of possibilities
The light is blue, purple, lilac
And I can do anything
There are so few cars at this time
That for once I’m sure I can hear the sea
Even when I can’t see it
Behind the overgrown hedges
Summer evening sky
And the light across the valley
Is even brighter than here
Yellow
And orange
Still linger
Recently I realised that I know the smell of rain
And now I think I know the smell of dusk
As colours fade
And the world turns to black and white
I wonder
Is the grass really still green
Or does it look green to me because I know it is?
The sky is still blue
And the clouds grey
That is certain
Why do we say blue is a sad colour
When tonight it is so pretty?
Can we stay up?
Past sundown, past nightfall, past the slowly looming lull
For light will creep in again before it’s really left
Let’s stay up til sunrise
And do it all again
Not go to bed until the next
Summer evening sky
The birds are awake
So why can’t we be
The birds are awake
So why can’t we be?
I sit and write and watch them fly
Soon the day will begin again
But for now it’s me, a book and a pen
And the summer evening sky