Knit and Think Poetry Workshop Launches Leicester’s Lyric Lounge!

James Black

New Walk Museum - Gallery 6

July 30^th 2010

The interesting fusion of poetry and knitting that was Knit and Think had the prestigious honour of being the very first event at Leicester’s Lyric Lounge this weekend. The event was led by Leicester Libraries’ Book Doctor Alison Dunne and boasted a healthy crowd of fifteen participants. Being the initial happening at such an action packed festival can have it drawbacks as some noisy, later than last minute, preparations meant that the assembled knitters had to shout in order to be heard. However, the occasional steely-eyed glare from The Doctor did manage momentarily to silence the rowdy technicians.

Alison began by reading a poem by Billy Collins aptly entitled Introduction to Poetry which was all about how to set a poem free, how to experience the words and revel in language ‘walk inside the poem’s room/ and feel the walls for a light switch,’ rather than trying to extract a particular meaning from what is written, ‘all they want to do is tie the poem to a chair with rope and torture a confession out of it.’

This poem opened up an interesting conversation as to what one should look for in poetry, what style of poem appeals and why some people are intimidated by the entire subject of poetry. There was general agreement that the old school day method of having to learn a poem by heart so that it then could be perfectly recited the following week was a barrier which remained in some people’s minds. 

As the needles clacked away Alison then read a poem by Kim Addonizio titled For Desire. The poem focused on the author’s passion for life and as the title suggests everything that she desires most:

Give me the lover who yanks open the door

Of his house and presses me to the wall

In the dim hallway, and keeps me there until I’m drenched

And shaking, whose kisses arrive by the boatload

And begin their delicious diaspora

 

Alison selected this poem to emphasize how the best poetry usually deals with a subject that the author feels strongly about. Whether the emotions are ones of anger, jealousy, fear, love or hate personal engagement is the key to creating vibrant work.  

Knit and Think proved to be perfect way to kick off The Lyric Lounge gently introducing people to the wonderful world of poetry whilst they were in a relaxed state of mind with the therapeutic practive of knitting. Evidence that Knit and Think had been very successful event was found in one beaming participant’s poem performed, later the same day, at the Lyrical Lunchtime:  ‘I don’t do poetry and I don’t do knitting but after coming to The Lyric Lounge I do now!’