March 2007 Poet in Residence @ Poet's Letter

Welcome to Helen Long's Page

Helen Long is a very young poet who lives and writes in Tonbridge, Kent. Helen came to writing from a very early age and a very passionate young poet who loves taking poetry as far and as unlikely places as possible. She writes as Prude Fledgling. Prude is, apparently the poet laureate of Helenland! Beings of a poetic nature, they can't remember first being interested in poetry. Helen does recall that she learnt to write in primary school, but feels listening is more romantic. She continues to learn things from people who agree to stand and talk to her, and trees who don't really have a choice.

Here is what Helen wrote about her life and writing

I was born in Greenwich Hospital, London on 12th November 1987. I was taken home to a flat in Hither Green which I don't remember. I remember living in a flat and then a house in Catford. In 1998 I moved to Tonbridge in Kent with my mum Fran, dad Fred and brother Peter.

I was lucky enough that my first place of study was an inner city primary school called Rushy Green, with lots of immigrants. It was great; we had a different festival every week. Creative writing was taken just as seriously as spelling, or punctuation. My last year of primary school was spent in
Tonbridge, bored. I then went on to Hillview School for Girls, a secondary modern. Unfortunately I spent a lot of time off sick with M.E. /C.F.S., and missed it very much. Also, when I was there I wasn't really able to take part. I took Single Science, Maths and English Language.

Lastly, I attended West Kent College, where I took A Level Government and Politics. I found this really interesting and continue to be interested in such matters, and bore people with them.

I also went to study skills sessions, as I had not practised writing essays enough at school, so needed to learn. In September I went back to primary school to work in an after school club. I am paid to play on climbing frames and find the end of the sticky tape!

I am having a sort of gap year period, exploring possibilities and potentials and different ways of living. I have been to pagan and Quaker meetings and might find out about Buddhism. I'd like to visit communes. I'm about to start yoga lessons, and would like to take weekend courses in other things too.

I learn a lot by talking to a variety of different people. Recently I took notes while a nice old man I had just met gave me a personal lecture on the Bloomsbury group. One is given a lot of leaflets at demos.
With Mum I have been to 'small change' meetings, where we learnt how to lessen our impact on the environment.

I can't remember becoming interested in poetry. Mum says I always liked nursery rhymes and children's books with 'flowery language'. My parents kept a row of books on the carpet where I could reach them. I liked to be read 'Two Shoes New Shoes' and 'Squirrel Nutkin', even when I was too young to have a clue what it was about.

At primary school age I remember walking down the street reading, and liked to write stories and poems. I remember sitting between the curtain and the French window, watching the rain and writing, or under the table. I liked imaginary games. I don't know much about other poets. I know more about lyricists in bands.

For this I have the excuse of being a teenager. Dad has a 'young poets' book, but they're probably old now. I enjoyed 'Too Black Too Strong' by Benjamin Zephaniah. A couple of weeks ago, on Mum's advise I purchased a William Blake book. I opened it in the middle, while waiting for an Indian
take away to bring back to a book fair. I read 'to see a world in a grain of sand'. I didn't quite cry, and I didn't quite write it straight onto my wall when I got home; but I knew this was what I wanted to do. I also read 'I went to the garden of love', and ate in the churchyard with a big grin and no shoes.

I write because I enjoy it, and have things to say. Writing poems is quicker than writing books, and they don't have to make sense. The things I would like to say are less suited to sense than poetry. I see a problem in this world of people thinking they are bad, and lacking the confidence to go out and change things. I think poetry can speak to the nonsensical part of people, which is not so concerned with meeting targets, and competition and the like. It can awaken their passion for life and faith in humanity. It can bring out emotions. Experiencing emotions is, I feel, very important to our
development as well rounded, functioning and contented human beings.

I think when people remember they are human, they will remember there is a point. Also, through A level politics I learnt people only take notice of your ideas if they fit into one, short memorable quote. I must practise writing well.  

Post from Helen Long  on March 9, 2007 

Right To Moan

What with no subtlety or grace
Will vandalise a public place
Undignified and cumbersome
It snatches leaving you with none
Who was that law written for
Speaking for all at the table
While it's mouth is full

Well researched and well debated
Big is more sophisticated
Who saw it first, was first to claim
Responsible but not to blame
Who was that law written for
As playground penal doctrine deems
Inaudible screams

With it's stair gate fortified
The law of reason is denied
The code of honour is trespassed
It's snubbing everyone it asked
Who was that law written for
Is the rational judgement day
Hearing what they say

Keep out the temple when there's space
Stay on the path when past it's place
A concept above the thirsty
Gaia is sold to slavery
Who was that law written for
No entry into discussion
Electorate shunned

A lack of balance creates needs
Mutual support stops selfish deeds
A lack of support cuts the soul
And needless hoarding fills a hole
Who was that law written for
Let changing circumstance dictate
Communal mandate

It steals the earth from those who care
From those who love it and would share
It steals those people from the earth
Have we forgotten what it's worth?
Who was that law written for
For not much more can it ignore
It should speak for us

Combined with an integral force
Police need not keep us on course
It bolts a door but not my jaw
And shakes still passed through chained hands
So what, was that law written for
If land I am offered
I shall have a quiet word

(09.03.07)

Return To Earth

To know what I am looking for, but not the universal law
To know what I would do, without becoming a world view
And when an answer isn’t found, at least a question’s asked
It’s not that I seek solitude, just not to be in shade

Found not solely in religion, needing knowing of a god
Dispelling self obsession, and the finding of self worth
And when an effort was in vain it’s still and exercise
It’s not that I would interrupt, just ensure I am heard

By conviction, but not by conceit
Discipline, but not denial
When stumped where we are to proceed, opens space to create
It’s not an endless possible, it’s all that I imagine

This is not a heaven, but the place where I belong
This is not all Eden, but we each see where it is
And when wild strawberry moments go, stalks continue still to grow
No divine creation, just contributing a seed

This is not sloganeering, but meaning assigned to life
This is not symbol worship, but a beauty recognised
And when we get back to the core, we can find our way out
Yes spirit is a constant, only ruled by nature’s law  

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These hands were made to hold

Bullying takes a knock
When hands are held in lock
We naturally mould
These hands were made to hold

To comfort and to heal
To open up, to seal
To model, craft and mould
These hands were made to hold

Cradling earth in hand
Not tied to any land
The soil was my mould
These hands were made to hold

To show that we care
To team up, to share
Community the mould
These hands were made to hold

Fit in like a rainbow
So we see each light glow
The breaking was the mould
These hands were made to hold
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I Am Determined To Enjoy Myself.

I am determined to enjoy myself .
I am more than particles renewing
I have a will to go on
my poems are more than ponderies relayed
my poems are my will
and I am more than willing
to consider what I want

I am determined to enjoy myself .
creativity is more than brightness
it shows an individual's spark
the words carry more than definitions
as offerings with an added charge
so I think of more than where poems began
to find where spark and charge were first struck up

I am determined to enjoy myself.
to develop more than verses
sculpting the structure of myself
making more than communications
learning how to connect
for poems come from more than common language;
there is a place within us which is shared

I am determined to enjoy myself .
I believe we all can get there
along more than one path
nature is more than the world outside
it's much more fun to socialise
with guides more than instructions
with maps and open minds

I am determined to enjoy myself .
see surroundings as more than scenery
see homes and characters
breath for more than survival
breath to taste the air and live
venturing not only for conclusions
but to appreciate the journey
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The Human Condition

I am a multi elemental compound
Comprising creatures plants and ground
I am not in authority
But I sew society
I am what brings collective health
Beyond the sustenance of self
I am a cycle and a source
Above what circumstance may force
I am a well nourishing spring
Reliant on a stream you bring
I am a directionless flow
When stable never running low
I am the one you cannot trace
To one discernable place
I am adjoining chasms realm
Propelling the physical helm
I am the friends that I can feel
And all one needn't prove is real
I am a trailing catacomb
By life's lessons I am known
I am as much as I respect
And missing all whom I reject
I am the love from whence we came
And all emotion in one name
I am what's us in side of me
I am neither power not property

I fetch the world into my mind
I shuffle and search outside to find
A future of fairness and compassion
I am what each of us imagine
And united we will fashion
(As good as we believe)

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Patronising Pattrilineal

Impulse buying raises the blood rate
The top shelf of a food chain
Local branch, awaits
Meat market
Bait
I won't be patronised
Head hair proves your not a chimp
But intellectual styling is
Limp
I wont be patronised
Linguists to the hunt
Kill with a
Grunt
I wont be patronised
I evolved, I thought and realised
I won't be patronised
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To read more of Helen's works please visit: www.geocities.com/prude_fledgling

I Want To Be A Rabbit

Her teeth are weird and edgy
Wonder if they bite
Or nibble up the skirting
Glinting in moonlight

Her shadowy undergrowth
Wonder what I'll find
Delving in that darkened pit
Sight will be refined

Her eyebrows look delinquent
Wonder if they'll raise
My pupils too will dilate
Should she catch my gaze

Her feet stand their ground firmly
Wonder what's her plan
Knows no obstacles no nose
Can point higher than

Her breasts stick up for themselves
Wonder if I'm licked
She lets herself grow on up
Won't be pushed or picked

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To read more of Helen's works please visit: www.geocities.com/prude_fledgling 

Copyrights belong to Helen Long

In Publication Since March 2004

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