Joanna Nissel
SHALL WE TRY
A found poem
Shall we try / the greatest stories all in one place / could someone say, Well done / new poem / #Gloucestershire / Overdid it yesterday / What was the last / tough / goggle box / listening to Tame and Paula / putting on makeup to clap in the street / a conversational patter / this video / covers it / all our hardback titles / I think ICU Jimmy has a better ring to it / There are so many more important things / Sweet Nothings / It’s what we choose / Am I the only / sort of person who would happily burn / the most intricate / number of messages asking me to stop / doing a victory lap.
JOIN ME / I'LL BE THERE
A found poem
You’re not just sharing your words / risen incredibly to the / national anthem / herd immunity / now is probably a good time to / take a comedic scythe to / the circulation of cold air / in Spain & it is beautiful, but absolutely terrifying / Tired of pictures of blossom yet? No, me neither / FEAR NOT!! There is still an INCREDIBLE / new Leader / Make list of unachievable goals / join me / I’ll be there / Although I didn’t make the shortlist / I didn’t know I needed / such a fucking waste of time / haven’t yet processed / her attitude to survival / chat with family and friends, chocolate / he remained a lovely man throughout / his little daughter recorded a voice note asking / What did you use for / a beautiful, artful, extraordinary / herb garden in the sky
MEANTIME
A found poem
In lieu of / privileged little cunts / lord bless some of the real ones / the nice weather / a cup of tea / a new roll of toilet paper / looking forward to welcoming / a nice discount/ Hope everyone is doing okay / - better to apply sooner than / self blame in domestic abuse / the kids can’t stop singing / #ThankYouBakedPotato / Gove has gone to Glatso / he doesn’t strongly ever say he is against / the romans / the stuff of Nightmare / have sex and a smoke in the meantime and STILL be on hold / he is a very noisy boy / HER BODY & OTHER PARTIES / please tune in / 98% of women poets apologised during readings / Parliament passed a bill giving / a moment in time / for free so far.
NOW MORE THAN EVER
A found poem
keep a glass of wine in each hand / it ain’t rocket science, folks / you can still / reacquaint [y]ourselves with the work of / hate / trebuchets however, are HIGHLY effective for flinging billionaires / as much as / summer is coming / on the livingroom floor / ruffle front floral print dress / has been unearthed by an Australian-led ream of researchers / Let’s dance ourselves fit / drive round / to criticize each other / We have been graced with / no hesitation / I think it’s affecting me / celebrating the broad bean flowers / How incredible are these / suicides, that are committed by men, too many / I should never have shouted at you / sweating in an improvised gym / Now more than ever / you have to chase after him
A found poem
Shall we try / the greatest stories all in one place / could someone say, Well done / new poem / #Gloucestershire / Overdid it yesterday / What was the last / tough / goggle box / listening to Tame and Paula / putting on makeup to clap in the street / a conversational patter / this video / covers it / all our hardback titles / I think ICU Jimmy has a better ring to it / There are so many more important things / Sweet Nothings / It’s what we choose / Am I the only / sort of person who would happily burn / the most intricate / number of messages asking me to stop / doing a victory lap.
JOIN ME / I'LL BE THERE
A found poem
You’re not just sharing your words / risen incredibly to the / national anthem / herd immunity / now is probably a good time to / take a comedic scythe to / the circulation of cold air / in Spain & it is beautiful, but absolutely terrifying / Tired of pictures of blossom yet? No, me neither / FEAR NOT!! There is still an INCREDIBLE / new Leader / Make list of unachievable goals / join me / I’ll be there / Although I didn’t make the shortlist / I didn’t know I needed / such a fucking waste of time / haven’t yet processed / her attitude to survival / chat with family and friends, chocolate / he remained a lovely man throughout / his little daughter recorded a voice note asking / What did you use for / a beautiful, artful, extraordinary / herb garden in the sky
MEANTIME
A found poem
In lieu of / privileged little cunts / lord bless some of the real ones / the nice weather / a cup of tea / a new roll of toilet paper / looking forward to welcoming / a nice discount/ Hope everyone is doing okay / - better to apply sooner than / self blame in domestic abuse / the kids can’t stop singing / #ThankYouBakedPotato / Gove has gone to Glatso / he doesn’t strongly ever say he is against / the romans / the stuff of Nightmare / have sex and a smoke in the meantime and STILL be on hold / he is a very noisy boy / HER BODY & OTHER PARTIES / please tune in / 98% of women poets apologised during readings / Parliament passed a bill giving / a moment in time / for free so far.
NOW MORE THAN EVER
A found poem
keep a glass of wine in each hand / it ain’t rocket science, folks / you can still / reacquaint [y]ourselves with the work of / hate / trebuchets however, are HIGHLY effective for flinging billionaires / as much as / summer is coming / on the livingroom floor / ruffle front floral print dress / has been unearthed by an Australian-led ream of researchers / Let’s dance ourselves fit / drive round / to criticize each other / We have been graced with / no hesitation / I think it’s affecting me / celebrating the broad bean flowers / How incredible are these / suicides, that are committed by men, too many / I should never have shouted at you / sweating in an improvised gym / Now more than ever / you have to chase after him
© Copyright Joanna Nissel 2020
Joanna Nissel is a Brighton-based poet and nonfiction writer. She was the runner-up for the 2018 New Poets Prize and has been published widely, including Tears in the Fence, The Fenland Reed, Eyeflash, and Atrium. She is social media editor at Tears in the Fence and engagement manager for creative writing incubator Paper Nations at Bath Spa University.
