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Chasing Your Own Tale
by James Pogson
being just being
being who you are
all of the time
most of the time
sometimes
just to suit other people
being you, being me
to be
to be or not to be
to be or not to be positive, focused, determined
nice, quiet, considerate, not nice
bitter, sweet, tired, alert, multi cultural and multi-skilled
to be on top of the world, or afraid of heights
having the world as your oyster but disliking the taste
to have the whole world in your hands or watching it as it slips between your fingertips...
Chasing Your Own Tale
by James Pogson
to be or not to be
to be better off not knowing
not knowing whether you could have made it
whether you were right or wrong
whether the day you did should have been the day you didn't
sometimes, sometimes not knowing too much can be a burden
dumbed down so you don't intimidate or shame someone
Its a good thing isn't it, ignorance can be bliss, for some
to be or not to be wise after the event
hindsight, a blessing or a curse?
wisdom, knowing what you know
but how do you know what you know and when do you know that you knew it?
to be or not to be confused
I don't know whether I'm supposed to be good or bad
it depends on who you talk to
am I sane or mad, happy or sad
you say potato, I prefer chips...
Chasing Your Own Tale
by James Pogson
to be or not to be the man I always thought I was
the man I want to be the man others said I couldn't be
the man you said I wouldn't be
to be or not to be a positive person
but if you are does it mean that you're overconfident
inconsiderate, big headed or insensitive
try being positive in a room full of negativity
a square peg in a round hole
there must be something wrong with you
to be or not to be determined, of unwavering mind, resolute, firm
if I'm determined to do something
am I ignoring the need of others
am I just selfish
to be or not to be what?
happy, at peace, calm, satisfied, content...
Chasing Your Own Tale
by James Pogson
they say a strong man masters others but a truly wise man masters himself
things don't just happen, they happen just
they say you must structure your world
so that you are constantly reminded who you are
you must live with your sacred truth
so when I try to be
I see things for what they are
not for what I want them to be
I am who I am
so I strive to be me, myself and I
why?
because I'm valuable to me
therefore to be or not to be is not the question
but I've given you an answer
and I think I know what I'm supposed to be
do you?
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James PogsonJames Pogson is a writer and Arts Administrator and a member of the Black Writers Development Agency who has worked on a number of projects including BBC radio programmes, school workshops and other initiatives that use poetry as a means of social and personal transformation. He also worked as an arts administrator on a number of projects including the Caribbean Festival of Arts in 2000 and co-ordinated workshops and other community arts programmes. Chasing Your Own Tale Patrick Centre at the Hippodrome A multimedia live performance prose piece incorporating monologue, rhyme, hip-hop, dance and jazz beats with visual imagery. Chasing Your Own Tale addresses the journey of self-identity and personal transformation as a young man struggles to write an evaluation of the definitive story of his life the night before a major presentation It examines the internal and external development of the character, the purpose of his journey, the obstacles life presents and the lessons learnt from the experience. It is part monologue, part oral/visual presentation, utilising a soundscape to reflect an emotional and physical odyssey of events witnessed by a live audience as one person struggles to define their past, present and immediate future. Part of The Three Eyes, a three part poetry and film event under the Artistic Direction of Amani Naphtali, famous for writing and directing Ragamuffin. |
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