The Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is Cottage Garden by Chris Armstrong. On his profile page Chris describes himself as “sailor and librarian, navigator and researcher, teacher and trainer, and – always – a traveller. Although born in Sussex, I have lived in Wales most of my life.” In his answers to our questions, he says that the Anglo-Welsh poet RS Thomas is one of his biggest influences, and adds that “much of what I am expressing has to do with memories and loss”. 

 

How long has poetry been an important part of your life and can you remember why it became so?

I don’t think I was a great reader of poetry in my youth or early life. I took an English/American studies/librarianship degree as a mature student when I left the sea and – inevitably – poetry became a small part of my life. I began writing poetry about 15 or so years ago as a response to what was happening in my life – a place to take myself and express my feelings – probably something I’m not very good at normally. As you may have gathered from some of my poems, I lost my wife a few years before I began writing and much of what I am expressing has to do with memories and loss. There was then a sort of lapse of some years while I was busier with life and I have come back to it over the last couple of years. Putting together a poem is, for me, a truly enjoyable time and it has been wonderful to have some positive responses from [people on] Write Out Loud. My few attempts to get my work published in the past have been singularly unsuccessful. I am trying to put together a small volume of poems – some of which you will have seen.
 
What kind of poetry do you write?  What motivates you?
I may have already answered this, to some extent – motivation comes from my life. As I said in my brief biography, my life has shaped the poems which reflect the joys and tragedies that life brings. Most of my poems are fairly short but I am now working on a longer piece (which you may not see for a few weeks) – the styles vary considerably … I suppose that comes from a lifetime of reading. If I was pushed, I would have to say that I have recently really enjoyed creating the more experimental ‘K.’, ‘Lost’, ‘Ocean’ and ‘Love’ – most of which have not produced any feedback on Write Out Loud!
 
If you could only have one poet’s work to read which one would you choose?
This is a really difficult question as I dip in and out of so many volumes. In the last few years I have visited or revisited Walt Whitman, Ezra Pound, Auden, Anthony Hecht, RS Thomas, and Adonis (in translation) … and many others. But it has probably been the Anglo-Welsh poets that most influence me until recently so my answer would probably be RS Thomas … and then from your/my desert island, I could wish I had made another choice!
 
Do you perform your work and if so, where are your favourite places to perform?
I have never published – other than on Write Out Loud -  and have never had the opportunity to perform my work. I read and re-read each poem so many times as they are created that in some senses it would not be difficult as they are all in my voice. But I am not sure that I would be a very good performance artist!
 
If you found yourself cast away on a desert island, what luxury would you pick?
My luxury has to be music. Or books. Perhaps a good library which would give me both!

 

 

COTTAGE GARDEN

by Chris Armstrong 

 

Much more than half my life ago

Some chance led us to this place;

Now, my heart is caught and held

By the peace of its earth and space.

 

Some while past, when first she left me 

I could not make my soul adjust

But cached it safe within the plot

Beside her memory and her mortal dust. 

 

And as the family aged and spread

My lonely tenancy grew content

Past spectres guiding present life - 

Perfect dreams too often dreamt. 

 

So, time passes. Rooted, alone

This place is all I want or wish to know

And only where I wish to stay - 

To tend, to minister, and bestow. 

 

Where else would my heart worship?

The land, my chancel; the air my steeple cross

I am the warden, priest and choir

Cloistered with my earthly loss.