POETRY CAN BE PR YOU KNOW…
This month is a month for celebrating poetry. National Poetry Day is October 5 yet don’t worry about the date though, if this inspires you just get writing and share that poem during October.
The theme this year is ‘refuge’. The National Literacy Trust create resources to help teachers work with their children, helping them to love reading and writing poetry. Yet any of us can take a moment if we like poetry, want to try our hand at it, or even like to read it. Mostly though, poems should be read aloud.
If you think you don’t like poetry – think again – most song lyrics are, in fact, a form of poetry. Do you not like songs or music?
I have always loved poetry, and whilst studying English Literature at college back in the 80s, I came across William Carlos Williams, who is one of my favourite poets. William Carlos Williams was a GP for over 40 years in America and his poetry was overshadowed for much of that time by more ‘famous’ names. Yet his ability to see something very ordinary and turn that moment in time into a poem – has always intrigued me.
For me he was a man who was curious, who noticed the extraordinary within the ordinary and he was interested in people, nature and saw the wonder in his own life which many would see as entirely conventional. Do take a look at some of his work. He was also very influenced by another favourite poem of mine – The Wasteland by TS Eliot. That was the only poem in my university life where my essay about it got over 70 per cent! So of course I remember it well.
Also, there is one poem that I have a love/hate relationships by Gerard Manley Hopkins – ‘The Windhover’. It is a sonnet, written in 1877.
Even though I don’t like Hopkins as a person (mainly because of his Jesuit priest, fundamentalist beliefs), I found this poem was an ‘earworm’. As he seemed to delight in alliteration, Hopkins words can easily enter your mind and never leave. This is the case with this particular poem.
Yet, I find it strange that I’m drawn to this poem, when I’m not even religious, and this poem is dedicated ‘To the Christ our Lord’. What I love about the poem, is his clever use of alliteration throughout and, somehow, this poem reminds me of the hills and spaces of Wiltshire which have a real spiritual quality.
The Windhover
I caught this morning morning’s minion, king-
dom of daylight’s dauphin, dapple-dawn-drawn Falcon, in his riding
Of the rolling level underneath him steady air, and striding
High there, how he rung upon the rein of a wimpling wing
In his ecstasy! then off, off forth on swing,
As a skate’s heel sweeps smooth on a bow-bend: the hurl and gliding
Rebuffed the big wind. My heart in hiding
Stirred for a bird, – the achieve of, the mastery of the thing!
Brute beauty and valour and act, oh, air, pride, plume, here
Buckle! AND the fire that breaks from thee then, a billion
Times told lovelier, more dangerous, O my chevalier!
No wonder of it: shéer plód makes plough down sillion
Shine, and blue-bleak embers, ah my dear,
Fall, gall themselves, and gash gold-vermilion.
(A ‘sillion’ is a medieval term for the small strip of land granted to monasteries to farm).
I enjoy reading poems by some local poets, including those of my bestie, Lis McDermott. She has even written some poems, especially for me. It’s a real blessing in life when someone dedicates a poem or a song to you – I’m very lucky that I’ve had both of those things happen to me.
How you can use poetry in business;
Poetry can be a fun way to engage your audience and is a disruptive form of PR. Something different and unexpected, which might make new people stop and read, rather than just pass by.
5 ways you can use poetry for business:
- To accompany animations. Sometimes I use poetry to fit client’s animations – rather than use the usual voice over. I love playing with words and how you can use them. This tends to be very simple poetry to convey a message in an interesting way.
- Dedicate a poem to a client, as a ‘thank you’. Lis wrote a sonnet about one of my client’s wonderful invention – as a thank you from me.
Sonnet for Tom Lawton
Here stands a man with passion in his heart,
A man exuding complete gentleness,
Whose spiritual beliefs set him apart;
Underlying the schemes, he wants to express
As an artistic inventor, gifted
With a creative imagination,
Aiming for others to be uplifted
By his designs, be filled with elation.
From the wide world, Inspiration he takes,
Sustainability is the main lead
For the long creative journeys, he makes,
Unnecessary waste, his central creed.
His eyes smile, spirit full of abundance
Inviting us to join his world’s expanse.
- Use poetry to advertise your business – as a bit of fun, and make people sit up and take notice. Lis wrote both of these. The first for me, and the second, to celebrate Limerick day, when she wrote 28 – one for each member of our networking group BusinessWise.
Do you want to be a star?
Fiona Scott can help you to go far.
She’s a woman of words, a verbalist
Skilfully writing – an experienced journalist.
If you have business stories to share,
with her guidance you’ll soon become aware
of the best way to gain PR success,
and help your reputation progress.
Backed by contacts; an arsenal of regional and national press,
she can guide your PR journey without any unwanted stress.
When receiving unwanted threats and completely at their mercy,
she will be in your corner, ‘fire-fighting’ the controversy.
A great advocate for her clients,
PR is hard to measure; it’s not a science.
She cannot promise all stories be seen,
sometimes world events overtake the media machine.
She will guide your social media posts
ensuring you gain the best coverage; upfront, foremost!
Fiona’s business is like her family; close to her heart,
they are her ‘why’, her reason for the most part.
At many an opportunity, Fiona supports her own community
giving back, from her heart’s abundance.
A media guru, she is recognised as a woman of substance.
Or a fun business limerick:
Yvonne Parker is a hypnotherapist
Helping people change behaviours that exist.
She will not put you in a trance,
Make you do a silly dance,
But will help with unwanted issues that persist.
- Short poetry ‘jingles’ to draw people into a post.
People often share on Testimonial Tuesday or Thursday – so why not make a short poem to introduce.
Blow your own trumpet,
Be proud and blow it loud.
Be ceremonial and share your testimonial,
Because today is Trumpet Tuesday!
- Create poems to go with ‘special’ social media days – if they are relevant to your business.
For example, if you run a business linked with animals, you might put up a post on National Love your Pet day. Or, if your business is all about Recycling and being ‘green’ you might post on Global Recycling Day, or World Water Day, etc.
Get creative.
Poetry can have more than one purpose!