Interview with Heather Cook

Hello Poetry Lovers

Welcome back to the Talk Show studio. (Audience clap ecstatically).

Our esteemed guest today is the talented and prolific poet Heather Cook (standing ovation).

(Our guest glides elegantly down the lit staircase.) 

(Dobby snarls) – Now Dobby, what was that chat we had?! Be nice to our guest !!! Heather has cats herself, you know! 

Why don’t you fill us in on your background, Heather

Thanks very much for inviting me, Heather.

I’m a south-east London girl and launched myself at the unsuspecting world clutching an A-level in English, a couple of Bob Dylan singles and a general belief that things would probably work out okay. I then did my best to sabotage things by making a fairly disastrous first marriage and moving down to the west country.

Realising the error of my ways at an early stage, I pulled myself together and returned to more familiar territory. I joined the Civil Service – not the Diplomatic Service, you’ll be amazed to hear, but Social Security, and put benefit claimants through their paces in several London offices. 

Later I worked for Social Services, but retirement is easily my favourite occupation.

I know this is a bit of a cliché, but I honestly can’t remember a time when poetry wasn’t important to me; poetry and words.

My dear old mum loved reading almost as much as she loved William Wordsworth and John Betjeman (I don’t think it progressed beyond a respectful admiration, but she was never actually put to the test!). I can remember her reading poems to me that I didn’t understand, but I could feel the music of the words and loved it.

I’m an only child and my mother and I were alone together for much of my childhood – I’m not complaining about that, because particularly in later life I’ve realised how valuable our time together was.

I knew this would happen – I’ve wandered into answering this next question in my last reply! 

I must mention my lovely English teacher who was a very positive influence on me at a time in my life when I could have slipped into all sorts of trouble. I always hated school and didn’t apply myself as I should have done until this clever woman somehow unlocked my dormant passion for words. It wasn’t quite a miracle, but it wasn’t far off.

I regularly feast now on Seamus Heaney’s wonderfully evocative poems, and those of Simon Armitage, who rather selfishly refuses to share his Poet Laureate appointment!

I am a member of the Poetry Society, but struggle with some of the poems in the Poetry Review; others are a breath of fresh air and stretch my elderly brain – in a good way. It beats trying to remember why you wandered into the kitchen!

Thank you so much! I’m a bit of a competition junkie and have entered lots of single poems with mixed results. This time I decided to have a go at entering a small collection.

Reviewing my folders of poems when I was wondering which to submit, I realised that many reflected the extraordinariness of ordinary life. I am fascinated by people and by my surroundings and my inspiration comes very much from my everyday experiences. 

Since stepping down after 10 years of volunteering at a local Category C prison, I’ve had more time to write, so most of the poems in my pamphlet are recent pieces.

I’m very much a newbie in the world of poetry gigs, and I would like to put on record how exceptionally encouraging and supportive my poetry friends have been.

To anyone who thinks they might be entering a world of stand-offish, head-in-the clouds types, I would say that the reality is that you will be welcomed into a warm, amazingly talented and very welcoming community.

My best and worst gigs were one and the same! To almost quote from Rocky Horror, ‘it was a dark and stormy night’ when my husband, aka Poor Roger, ventured into the backstreets around Borough Market looking for a pub where I was due to read my poem, A Carer’s Prayer.

We got hopelessly lost and soaked to the skin before somehow stumbling into this wonderful old pub, packed with lovely people. A couple of large glasses of red wine later, I was unstoppable and had a great time!

Wasn’t Heather Cook a wonderful guest? I’m looking forward to our double act! Two Heathers! Can you imagine?!

Heather will be a featured poet at The Fiery Bird, Woking on 25th January and at Poetry Performance, Teddington on Sunday 3rd March. (Message me for details).

For a real treat, order a copy of Out of the Ordinary from this link http://www.wildfirewords.com/heather-cook/

Thanks for tuning in, PL’s, and listening to another fascinating poet. We’ll be back with more poetry action real soon…