Guest Post: A Poem from Isobel Turton

One of the new formats for the Mobius blog will be written creative responses to current events, and occasional contributions from Mobius team members. This week’s new blog is both – a poem from our very own Isobel Turton inspired by a verse from Walt Whitman’s A Song of Myself. Here’s her intro, followed by her poem.

Often when the world is challenging, I reach for art in many forms, including theatre. But I’ve found that during the lockdown it has been harder to engage with art than usual.

An art form that I have found myself leaning towards is poetry, one anthology in particular, Poems for a World Gone to Sh*t.

When I received this present for my birthday in January, I did not realise how much this title would resonate with me. As I pick it off my shelf now, the irony is blinding. I have reached for this book to look for understanding but also to look for joy. I feel like those two sentiments pretty much sum up what art’s purpose is for me – understanding and joy.

One poem particularly stuck with me- ‘From Song of Myself’ by Walt Whitman – although it is only a few lines the idea of being content with doing something as simple as sitting seemed to really reflect what I am trying to obtain currently, as a result of this I wrote a response piece.

From Song of Myself:
I exist as I am, that is enough,
If no other in the world be aware I sit content,
And if each and all be aware I sit content.

And my response:

I exist as I am, that is enough?
I have not sat for such a long time
The stillness is invigorating, and nauseating in equal measures
Business and clatter became a regular visitor
But now I sit

Although the world feels unfamiliar
As if it has been separated into acts
Act 1: Before
Act 2: Now
I can still sit

If I can still sit
I can still rise
My eyes may need to adjust to the intensity
But when I cut through the glare
I can see the world again

Different and complicated but that is the world

I am still here
I can sit and rise
Read and sing
Scream, cry, love, lay, dance, feel
Sit.
Still.

The world has not taken a hiatus or pressed pause
I know that for certain
Because I am here
There is a power in presence
And presence in being

If I want to, I am going to sit
Not by forcing
I will sit because I can
I will sit because despite it all
I am content

Isobel Turton is Print and Distribution Coordinator at Mobius  @IsobelTurton

If you'd like to keep up to date with all our blog posts, important and exciting stories in the worlds of theatre, arts and media, plus job ads and opportunities from our industry friends, sign up to our daily media briefing at this link.