Some wonderful poets have responded to a portfolio of my recent photography for a project called Picture This. I am overwhelmed by the beautiful work I've received. I have also worked with photographer and film-maker Craig Thomas, on a short film entitled Still Life, containing a selection of these images. I was very happy when Steve Tasane wanted to take part in the project, especially as his poem is inspired by a picture of our cat, Happy Meal. Living as he does with two photographers our cat knows his best side and is very happy in front of the lens. The poem below really captures something of that 'cat nature' I have only really fully appreciated since becoming ill.
Steve is Writer-in-residence for Dickens 2012, and his young adult novel Blood Donors is to be published by Walker Books in 2013. He is the master of tongue-twisting poetry with a sharp political edge.
The Purring
The Life Shadow crouches at the corner of a blank page.
A white void waits while the blackness watches – twitches, flexes – a stillness keening to spring
into the scent, the cloud-carried rumour, the rustle, a breeze, a cottoning on.
The Black Cat blinks a green eye, swishes her impatience and at once her poetry is.
