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Helen
Long is a very young poet who lives and writes in Tonbridge, Kent. Helen
came to writing from a very early age and a very passionate young poet
who loves taking poetry as far and as unlikely places as possible. She
writes as Prude Fledgling. Prude is, apparently the poet laureate of
Helenland! Beings of a poetic nature, they can't remember first being
interested in poetry. Helen does recall that she learnt to write in
primary school, but feels listening is more romantic. She continues to
learn things from people who agree to stand and talk to her, and trees
who don't really have a choice.
Here is what
Helen wrote about her life and writing
I was
born in Greenwich Hospital, London on 12th November 1987. I was taken
home to a flat in Hither Green which I don't remember. I remember living
in a flat and then a house in Catford. In 1998 I moved to Tonbridge in
Kent with my mum Fran, dad Fred and brother Peter.
I was lucky enough that my first place of study was an inner city
primary school called Rushy Green, with lots of immigrants. It was
great; we had a different festival every week. Creative writing was
taken just as seriously as spelling, or punctuation. My last year of
primary school was spent in
Tonbridge, bored. I then went on to Hillview School for Girls, a
secondary modern. Unfortunately I spent a lot of time off sick with M.E.
/C.F.S., and missed it very much. Also, when I was there I wasn't really
able to take part. I took Single Science, Maths and English Language.
Lastly, I attended West Kent College, where I took A Level Government
and Politics. I found this really interesting and continue to be
interested in such matters, and bore people with them.
I also went to study skills sessions, as I had not practised writing
essays enough at school, so needed to learn. In September I went back to
primary school to work in an after school club. I am paid to play on
climbing frames and find the end of the sticky tape!
I am having a sort of gap year period, exploring possibilities and
potentials and different ways of living. I have been to pagan and Quaker
meetings and might find out about Buddhism. I'd like to visit communes.
I'm about to start yoga lessons, and would like to take weekend courses
in other things too.
I learn a lot by talking to a variety of different people. Recently I
took notes while a nice old man I had just met gave me a personal
lecture on the Bloomsbury group. One is given a lot of leaflets at
demos.
With Mum I have been to 'small change' meetings, where we learnt how to
lessen our impact on the environment.
I can't remember becoming interested in poetry. Mum says I always liked
nursery rhymes and children's books with 'flowery language'. My parents
kept a row of books on the carpet where I could reach them. I liked to
be read 'Two Shoes New Shoes' and 'Squirrel Nutkin', even when I was too
young to have a clue what it was about.
At primary school age I remember walking down the street reading, and
liked to write stories and poems. I remember sitting between the curtain
and the French window, watching the rain and writing, or under the
table. I liked imaginary games. I don't know much about other poets. I
know more about lyricists in bands.
For this I have the excuse of being a teenager. Dad has a 'young poets'
book, but they're probably old now. I enjoyed 'Too Black Too Strong' by
Benjamin Zephaniah. A couple of weeks ago, on Mum's advise I purchased a
William Blake book. I opened it in the middle, while waiting for an
Indian
take away to bring back to a book fair. I read 'to see a world in a
grain of sand'. I didn't quite cry, and I didn't quite write it straight
onto my wall when I got home; but I knew this was what I wanted to do. I
also read 'I went to the garden of love', and ate in the churchyard with
a big grin and no shoes.
I write because I enjoy it, and have things to say. Writing poems is
quicker than writing books, and they don't have to make sense. The
things I would like to say are less suited to sense than poetry. I see a
problem in this world of people thinking they are bad, and lacking the
confidence to go out and change things. I think poetry can speak to the
nonsensical part of people, which is not so concerned with meeting
targets, and competition and the like. It can awaken their passion for
life and faith in humanity. It can bring out emotions. Experiencing
emotions is, I feel, very important to our
development as well rounded, functioning and contented human beings.
I think when people remember they are human, they will remember there is
a point. Also, through A level politics I learnt people only take notice
of your ideas if they fit into one, short memorable quote. I must
practise writing well.
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