The Spoken Word

The Spoken Word

A poem of mine has traveled through London. Have you been to London - maybe you’ve seen it? In January 2006 I received an email from “mgsailing,” who had spotted it in a gallery over the weekend. I felt honored that this person enjoyed it so much that they tracked me down by email to let me know how they felt.

It was my first published poem, “The Spoken Word,” and it was originally included in a pamphlet of Poems in the Waiting Room – the winter issue of 2002. This pamphlet was distributed (print-run of 10,000) by a nonprofit organization – an “arts in health charity” – to 320 medical waiting rooms throughout London with the sole purpose of easing the wait of patients. Such a noble cause! I was thrilled to be a part of it.

In May of 2003, Poems in the Waiting Room-The Collected Edition was published, from the first pamphlet up to, and including, Pamphlet 18, which is the pamphlet that my poem, “The Spoken Word,” was in. It was hoped that the Collected Edition would remain in the waiting rooms long after the pamphlets disappeared, to continue to ease the minds of patients that might otherwise be stressed over their upcoming medical visits.

Poetry in the Waiting Room (PitWR) then joined up with the National Needlework Archives (NNA) in a project called Poetry in Stitches. This project combined two art forms, allowing each to compliment the other by highlighting the beauty in each. I was contacted by PitWR to see if they could submit my poem along with others to possibly be chosen by a textile artist who would then create a piece of art inspired by it. I was overjoyed. There were over one hundred pieces of art submitted – “The Spoken Word” was among them. They were first exhibited in autumn 2005 at specialist textile shows at the Alexandra Palace London, where a poetry reading was held, and at the Harrogate International Centre.

The main public exhibition was held in January 2006 in the Menier Gallery. Further exhibitions were planned and future plans were made to display the artworks, along with their accompanying poems, in English Heritage properties nationwide, as well as in hospitals throughout London.

So, I don’t know where my poem will land, but it will take up residence in London. Maybe, someday, I’ll travel there and visit it. In the meantime, if you see it, you’ll let me know…right?

The Spoken Word

If I didn't have words
Then I couldn't offend
Couldn't say things to others
That I couldn't amend

Couldn't get into trouble
For something I said
Or get all embarassed
And start turning red

To communicate with others
Verbal lines would be broken
Body language would take over
No words would be spoken

Sometimes I think
No words would be good
Words can be overrated
And misunderstood

*** In January of 2003, “The Spoken Word” also made an appearance in Buffalo, when it was published in the Olaf Fub Sez Column of The Buffalo News.

*** PitWR accepts poetry submissions. Check out their guidelines at http://www.pitwr.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/.

Story ID:	630
Written by:	Edie Suarez (bio, link, contact, other stories)
Organization:	Basics2Bylines - A WNY Writers' Network
Story type:	Poem
Location:	London England
Year:	2005