Sue sticks to her ‘poem a day’ vow (From Evesham Journal)

Sue sticks to her ‘poem a day’ vow

4:00pm Thursday 21st March 2013 in News

A PERSHORE writer will be celebrating World Poetry Day by sticking to her resolution to write a poem every day in 2013.

Local poet and author Sue Johnson has not yet faltered from her aim and plans to carry on with her collection ahead of World Poetry Day today.

Ms Johnson, who runs writing workshops at Pershore’s Number 8 Community Arts Centre, will also be hosting a workshop at the Commandery and Fort Royal Park in Worcester between 10am and 12.30pm today.

And she said although she did not start writing poems until she was well into her late 30s, they now inspire much of her writing. “Poems are very good for getting emotions out, sometimes crystalising how you feel,” she explained.

“I think poetry really gets to the core of something because every word has to count. It’s good discipline for whatever you write. You think to yourself, ‘do I actually need that word or that sentence?’”

Ms Johnson said lots of people still believed poems have to rhyme but said they are a very personal thing.

She said: “There are as many readers as writers really and I think what one person likes, another person won’t.

“If you look at poets like Pam Ayres, who have a really good humorous aspect to their work, that fills the need for some people.

I think it’s a very personal thing. I remember being on a college course and our lecturer brought in several pieces of work and asked us which one was a poem. The point is, if you choose to call it a poem, then it’s a poem.” Ms Johnson, who is originally from Kent, said the Worcestershire countryside inspires much of her work.

She said: “I think we’re very fortunate because we’ve got a beautiful city like Worcester and interesting towns like Pershore and Evesham and all the little villages in between.”