Two words – Lemn’s Craic
Poet extraordinaire Lemn Sissay came into Children's Express Belfast Bureau like a tornado and swept around the office asking everybody 'How ya doing'. At first we thought he had an identity crisis because he seemed to think he was Joey from the American sitcom Friends.
| Lemn says it takes him between two seconds and 20 years to complete a poem. |
Sissay, 33 years old has been writing poetry since he was twelve. He is recognised as outstanding Black British poet and has published The Emperor's Watch Maker, a book for children.
Lemn says it takes him between two seconds and 20 years to complete a poem: "creativity is around us all the time and we have just got to use it, it will make us happier people."
When he was younger he found his English teacher, Mr Unsworth to be supportive. "I believe that inspiration is around us all the time. We are constantly inspired, I don't need to search for inspiration. I just need to tap into it; it is a natural source that is in everybody," he said.
If Lemn was granted one wish he said it would have to be 'that every child is kept safe'.
Lemn writes every day and when he is not writing he likes to get down, strut his funky stuff and party. When he was in Children's Express doing a poetry workshop for young journalists, Lemn leapt around the office asking for metaphors, focus and images that reflected love or hate.
For a while he became a rhyming dictionary as he charged through the alphabet looking for words that rhymed:
- Cloud - Proud
- Milk - Silk
- Dove - Love
- Worls - Curled
Lemn's poetry extravaganza was more than exciting and not as dull as some might have feared. He talked to the young audience rather than at them, he cracked funny jokes that were not groaned at, he respected the work produced and was supportive when he saw the final copy.
He reached the poet inside us all.
About the team
This article was produced by Stephanie McCann, 14, Mairead Duffy, 16, and Sheena Hall, 13. It was published on the website of the 2001 Belfast Literary Festival.
