Sheffield Makes Me… by the Words Aloud audience!
6 April 2008 | Published in Poems | 10 Comments
At March’s Words Aloud, we had ourelves a little go at audience participation. Everyone hunted down a pen and piece of paper and tried to write a short couplet (this rule was seriously flouted, of course, viva the revolution!), which had to follow the line ‘Sheffield makes me…’
What came back was a mixture of touching, affecting and occasionally downright troubling responses. Oh, and some shameless, but wonderful PR work. Here they are in all their glory.
Sheffield makes me
It’s decent bars and seven hills,
It’s cooling towers and green spaces,
It’s down to earth, it’s av a laugh,
It’s nowt wi’ airs n’ graces.
Sheffield makes me wonder, it’s built on seen hills.
Just like Rome, they say, with dark satanic mills.
Sheffield makes me glad, that when I moved, for love, it wasn’t to Leeds.
Sheffield makes me grin,
Sheffield makes me smile,
Sheffield makes me eat relish,
And loads and loads of pie.
Sheffield makes me glad without fail,
It could be the parks, but I think it’s the ale.
Sheffield makes me…
…pleased as punch I stuck it out, when choice was running thin.
It’s pulse and people make a home, where everyone fits in.
Sheffield makes me come in my pants and on my bedsheets.
I quite like Abbeydale Road, and I’m rather fond of Woodseats!
Sheffield makes me…
Stronger (with them hills)
Drunker (with that beer)
Happy (with those friends)
More Southern (sorry about that)
Sheffield makes me want to dance and smoke,
So many boys, to give a good poke
Sheffield makes Me
It’s green and hilly, pity it’s so fucking chilly.
Sheffield makes me want to know the Cornucopia Radio Show.
It’s sketches, plays, ideas and features,
will appeal to many creatures.
Monday April 14th at 6pm, 93.2 FM
Big thank you to Gavin Cockrem for the Tinsley Cooling Towers photograph.
April 10th, 2008at 22:13(#)
I like it! How about a thread or forum here where people too shy to speak in public could post their offerings?
April 10th, 2008at 23:03(#)
…it could be called words aquiet!
April 11th, 2008at 10:16(#)
I’m still too shy to speak in public, but Words Aloud is less public than it is a cosy little friendly community, so I can trick my stupid brain into getting up there.
I like the idea of a Words Aquiet, and I’m sure a thread on here would do the trick. I’m not sure Iain needs an entire forum adding to his ridiculously full plate
On another note, I must tell anyone who doesn’t know already that Saul Williams, US performance poet (Nuyorican Poets Cafe’s 1996 Grand Slam Champion) turned hip-hop musician is playing Plug on May 22nd. I wish he was doing a reading too, but you can’t have it all. I already have my ticket.
April 11th, 2008at 10:18(#)
That smiley has a mind of its own. It was supposed to be after ‘plate’. Little rebellious bugger.
April 11th, 2008at 10:38(#)
Hi Kells, thanks for posting! As Crowth says, if you’re going to give it a go anywhere, Words Aloud (WA) is the place to do it. We’ve had lots of first-timers perform (and blow everyone away) at WA, so do feel free to book yourself a slot or even just grab one of us for a chat on the night.
Words Aquiet? Hmm, I like it. Keep your eyes peeled!
April 12th, 2008at 17:21(#)
A devoted young climber named blakesley
Said ‘I go climbing when the need takes me’
And when asked to expand
On the issue in hand
He replied ‘It’s because Sheffield makes me’
April 13th, 2008at 18:22(#)
[...] the second installment of March’s Words Aloud. It features rap, rabbits and a selection of Sheffield Makes me poems from the Words Aloud [...]
April 13th, 2008at 18:24(#)
Excellent KW - keep ‘em coming folks!
April 14th, 2008at 19:12(#)
here’s my shamelessly contrived contribution
———————————————-
when jobs were scarce i ventured pastures new
and braved this bright new city, quite alone
before too long my hope and passion grew
cos sheffield makes me feel as though i’m home
with city life and calming country shades
i realised there’s more here than i’d guessed
the knives and forks and surgical sharp blades
which sheffield makes, mean little to the rest
i seem to have been plunged into the midst
of this great place, and who knows what’s in store?
the day, the night, the life force which exists
in sheffield, makes me want to see much more
i’m glad my life has took me where it takes me
because i like to smile, and sheffield makes me
April 16th, 2008at 23:23(#)
[...] now for the final part of March’s Words Aloud, featuring yet more wonderful Sheffield Makes Me… poems from the Words Aloud crowd as well as a smattering of tremendousness from Cheryl, Pat and the inimitable [...]