Podcast: Will Ford

Cardiff writer Will Ford talks about his writing, performances and publications and offers advice to other writers. He also offers a writing prompt "There’s something flickering in the corner of my eye and I don’t know whether I should look at it..."
Do share your poems in the comments below or at info@patrickwiddess.co.uk.

www.willdeanford.com

Photo by: Yvette Robertshaw Photography

Here's an extract of Will's long poem The Coward which he discusses during the podcast.

The candle on the wooden table
Casts a shadow that moves in the breeze
That steals in between the planks of this hut
In my head I sink down to my knees
Clasping my hands in a desperate prayer
The blood in my veins starts to freeze
In my head I see myself
Thrashing around on the floor
A stray bullet rips at my left side
My guts open up like a door
My insides all outside
Not even the pride
Of dying a hero in war
But what's so heroic about being dead?
Every man one day must die
But not every man will use his last breath
As the fuel to ask himself why
A coward will lie forever condemned
Not just till the day that he dies

To die in battle is to die with honour
So they told us in basic training
Even if just one step is taken
And you slip in the mud that is raining
When the shell impact turns you into meat
There'll be no time for complaining
When shellfire turns you into a hero
And your remains are collected and binned
You'll be remembered for your sacrifice
And the cheerful way that you grinned
But I asked myself in my coward's crater
Where will your medal be pinned?

Will Ford by Headstand on Mixcloud

Jazz, Comedy and Open Mic this week in Cambridge

Any budding writers should head to the Arts Picture House bar tomorrow night for Object Writing, a friendly writing group that involves various games and writing exercises to get the creative juices flowing. You can get more info and sign up here or just turn up at 8 and look for the table with all the pens and notepads. You can read writing by members of the group on the blog.
On Tuesday night The Junction plays host to UK contemporary jazz master Courtney Pine. I've heard great reviews and now I look forward to hearing the music. Tickets available here.
On Thursday there's a choice between Open Mic at Hot Numbers which is bound to attract a good audience and some great performers or comedy at The Junction with my guest on the last show Tom Stade. If anything else comes up I'll let you know, possibly via Twitter. Follow @headstandradio.