Recently I received an invitation to a book launch.
Despite having self-published my book babies and contributed to several poetry anthologies in the past, I’d never actually been to a book launch.
Let me back track slightly here though….
Several months ago, I received an email at work looking for people to submit poems to a local charity to be compiled into a book that would be sold to raise funds.
I duly trawled through my two poetry notebooks (I don’t write that many poems), selected two that I felt fitted the bill and sent them off then I heard nothing for months……
Out of the blue a few weeks ago, an email arrived to say that both poems had been chosen to be included in the book.
Cue invitation to the book launch!
So, who are Mind Mosaic?
Mind Mosaic Counselling and Therapy are a local charity funded mental health organisation offering individual counselling and therapy sessions to adults, teenagers and children. They run group sessions and also offer training. Mind Mosaic have been in existence since 2012 and have grown steadily over the years….and they continue to grow.
Girl Child agreed to be my chaperone for the evening, neither of us too sure what format the event was going to take.
As the invitation says, the book launch was held in the function suite at the local arts centre, The Beacon Arts Centre.
For two hours we were treated to an evening of poetry and music to launch the book, Inspirational Poetry.
The book comprises of 42 poems by 23 different “poets”, local people who have been brave enough to make themselves vulnerable by sharing their heartfelt words. The theme of the book is mental health awareness and the poems cover a diverse range of aspects of this. Each poem is accompanied by a photograph,
As the editor of the book, Johnny Woods, commented, it’s two books in one. It’s a photography book with poems and a poetry anthology with photos.
Personally, I felt the first hour of the launch was a little intense as the poems that were read from the book centred around bereavement, loss and depression. Local musicians, Yvonne and David Lyon, lightened the mood with a short set of folk influenced music though. Fabulous!
After a brief interlude for tea and coffee, proceedings took on a more uplifting vibe. Yvonne and David returned to the stage to perform another short set. (Yvonne – loved the song about the little angel. Could visualise it in my mind’s eye.)
Three further speakers recited some of the more uplifting and motivational poems from the book.
And then, with a vote of thanks, it was all over.
So, what did I contribute to the book?
These…
A Teenager’s Bleak Despair
I stare into a bleak world of despair
Easy to be drawn into its depths.
Voices echo inside my head.
Their cries fill the void.
My mum hates me,
Wishes I’d never been born.
My grandparents loathe me,
I’m letting them down.
My peers despise me,
I’m not from this town.
A mirror appears from the dark.
My haunted face stares back.
A light shines from behind
Clear and golden and bright.
Still the darkness draws me in.
Hidden From Prying Eyes
Deep inside me
Hidden from prying eyes
Hides me.
The public me
Paints on the smile
And glides through the working day.
The mummy me
Offers cuddles and hugs
Showering my children in unconditional love.
The friend me
Is calm and loyal
Always there to support and assist
The real me
Stays hidden
Quiet emotional
Nervous and scared
Frightened she’s found by prying eyes.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Mental health awareness is a subject close to my own heart and I am proud to be associated with this book.
If you want to show your support for Mind Mosaic and this fantastic anthology, copies of the book can be purchased for £10 a copy by contacting them at admin@mindmosaic.co.uk or calling the office on 01475 892208 (option1)
And remember, folks, it’s ok not to be ok.
Also, check out Yvonne Lyon at www.yvonnelyonmusic.com
Coral McCallum 