So, the collection I have put together about breaking my ankle is going to be published, and I am happy about that. Even if it wasn’t going to be published, I’m still happy to have written the 24 pages of poetry needed for a chapbook.
Ginninderra Press are going to publish my book “Angles on Ankles”, and are currently working to fit in the poems I have sent to them for the book. It’s been an interesting process, still underway. When I’ve looked at some poems, I’m always finding useless words that can be cut away, without losing anything in the sense of meaning and worth to the poem.
When you have an idea of how small a space you have, if you want your work to be published, that is a great incentive to put on your editor hat and get cutting! The two processes, poet to write the poems, then editor to make them publishable, that’s how good poetry books can be created!
This small collection has been therapeutic for me, making me feel like a worthwhile person, and thinking more about what my life is at the moment, as I currently not supposed to put any weight on my right leg, which I fractured at the end of September, and was operated on, on the first of October.
Zero weight bearing has been my way of life since the fracture, and I’m very much looking forward to trying partial weight bear, starting next week. Then I’ll get another x-ray, before seeing the surgeon who operated on my ankle to ‘fix’ it.
It’s been a tedious time in some ways, but the poetry writing has been a huge help, giving me something important to do as I wait. And now, of course there are the things needed to further edit this collection, to make it fit the strictures given by the publisher. I have 24 pages only, and small pages at that.
In the end this little book which will be titled “Angles on Ankles” will tell the story of what I’ve been through, and what I think about it all, having my first ever bone fractured. I’m glad about it in one way, because I’ve never before been able to find a small but important theme for such a book.
I wouldn’t recommend fracturing your ankle though, just to get a poetry collection published! But it it had to happen, I couldn’t ask for a better project to have, to help keep my mind away from the boredom, and the discomfort of it all.
I couldn’t ask for a better carer than my husband either, he has been awesome! I’m doing all I can, but it’s so much easier for Graham to get something, than it is for me to struggle up onto my Knee Walker, and make my way around the furniture. I’m so looking forward to being able to get up and just walk!
Joy in the simple things! The sofa I’ve been spending most of my time at, has a view of the front road, and of a small patch of the front yard. And with the back door open, I can hear some of the birds out there. This has been a quiet time, of sitting, struggling, and doing little things as I can.
If you’ve ever experienced anything like this, I’d love to read about it, please leave a comment!
Carolyn Cordon - Creative 