Storytime evenings are as energetic and enigmatic as their host. This edition is an extension of my experience of that. Simple, straightforward storytelling that somehow makes perfect salubrious sense!
I have a story to tell! I yell
Silently inside myself
Come tell! I hear him yell
And I follow his voice
To safety.
Adam, why did you start the night?
I felt guilty about primarily reading short stories at poetry nights and had made a few acquaintances who felt the same way.
Image copyright: Tim Foley: @writespeakrecover
How would you describe the vibe of your nights?
Warm, fun, occasionally emotional, consistently silly.
Image copyright: Tim Foley: @writespeakrecover Poets: @harperwalton_, @kikirikee, @connectionwithwonder
What do you love most about the poetry scene?
Rishi Rian - Rishi Rian is the force, the myth, the legend. He is all that is. And all that will be.
Image copyright: Tim Foley: @writespeakrecover
And, please share a poem with us that will give us an idea of what to expect at a Storytime night?
Unreliable Narrator
At the seminar, the teacher picks apart my work.
There are a few, he coughs politely, issues with this piece. It might have some potential but I do have a few questions.
I nod furiously to convey quite how eager I am to learn.
The first two pages are just incoherent gobbledygook. There is no punctuation.
Yes, I say. World building, I say.
The teacher pauses.
What world are you building?
Oh, I smirk, don’t you get it?
Um, I must confess, I don’t think I do. And I don’t think anyone else will either.
Ha! And I attempt to seize my work back from the hands of the teacher but his grip is too strong. I sit back a smidgen chastened. He continues.
I continue, he says, page 3 is the first time you actually start making any sense.
Ha! I scream. I am a tabloid. I start elbowing everyone in the vicinity cheekily. Amidst a litany of broken ribs, the teacher proceeds.
Yes, I mean, you actually use some words, which is definitely progress on pages 1 and 2, but it still doesn’t really make sense. You appear to change location, tense, and even language every half a sentence. And then halfway through the third paragraph, a dragon appears for no obvious reason.
Ha! I say. What good is reason in a world gone mad. I think you fail to understand the piece, teacher, I say, pronouncing his name with murderous relish. It is from the perspective of an unreliable narrator, if you’ve ever heard of such a thing!
Yes, I mean, the teacher pauses, I taught you an entire module on narrative styles last term which included a seminar on the unreliable narrator. You seemed particularly interested in this class and kept exclaiming “Of course!” and then determinedly writing notes on a little chalkboard.
Oh yes, I remember it now.
You can’t just explain things that don’t make sense by saying it’s down to an unreliable narrator. There has to be thought and structure to the unreliability. It has to be nonsensical in a directed way.
Teacher, I say, listen to yourself! The whole purpose of an unreliable narrator is that I can shoehorn in whatever I want without having to explain it in any sort of logical way. It means I can get away with anything. It’s like a writing cheat code! Surely you must understand this, teacher.
The teacher is shaking now.
Stop calling me teacher, he harrumphs, my name is Egbert, and as you know very well, I am a badger.
I always knew we were in the top sett, I shout, savouring the pun deliciously well.
The teacher collapses in tears, and begins badgering us for our homework. All my fellow students (who are seagulls) squawk and cackle while attempting to steal my succulent fish and chips.
Back, you heathens! I cry.
I turn to the snake beside me and tell him sibilantly and surreptitiously that I shall seductively slide into his DMs later that night.
Call me instead, he hisses.
So I pick up a tuba, and begin to play.
Image copyright: Tim Foley: @writespeakrecover Poet: @kofi_achina, Performer: @omamdawn
A big thank you to Morocco Bound for being such a wonderful, welcoming space. Join us at the next Storytime London night, and join me for a Bookmarked literary tour of London!
Mic Nightlife is a photography, poetry and storytelling series celebrating the places people share words. Please invite us to your night!
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