Tag: chronic illness

• Update on The Summer Book Project

  In the second half of 2020 I started a book-long erasure poetry and collage project: The Summer Book project.

  I have been mining Tove Jansson’s The Summer Book for poetic lines that express the isolation of living with a bewildering chronic illness and the struggle to keep a sense of purpose. This came about after reading a line in the introduction about how “an island can be dreadful for someone from the outside” and how it “has no need of you”. I just couldn’t decide if I’m the person the island has no need of or if I’m the island.

  Progress has been slow, because I’m constantly distracted by a million things. Then there was some growth.

  I wrote a post a while back “Where to go from here“. I talk about how I realised that this victim narrative was keeping me trapped in my discomfort. So now I’m making a conscious effort to draw out the positive instead of the negative.

  I’d like to share some of these newer erasure works with you today 😊

  You can also follow my progress on my Instagram page.

  ---

  

  

  

  

  

  February 24, 2023

  bibliotherapy, blackout poetry, chronic illness, Collage, erasure poetry, mental health, mindfulness, Poetry, Poetry therapy

  ---

• Submerged (a poetic personal essay) @ The Winged Moon Magazine

  

  If you’ve been reading my work for a while, you will have noticed that I don’t shy away from writing about highly personal, and often painful, experiences. I suppose my urge to write has come from a need to get a handle on situations that have uprooted me and have sent me on a journey of self-discovery.

  This essay, that was just published for the first time by fellow poet Jai-Michelle Louissen in her Substack magazine The Winged Moon, tells the story of a woman who was set adrift by a creeping chronic illness and a disintegrating relationship. Having grown up on the Belgian coast, I was compelled to use the imagery of a submerged land, called Doggerland, to build a poetic mindscape that mirrored my emotional state during these hard years.

  This essay means a lot to me, because of the subject matter, and also because it’s my first proper lyrical essay (in a braided form, to use technical language). It would mean the world to me if you could go to the magazine and read it.

  You may be asked to sign up with your email, but it’s free to do so!

  I hope you like what you read there! (The other poems and art are absolutely wonderful!)

  READ “SUBMERGED” BY CONNY BORGELIOEN

  February 23, 2023

  chronic illness, lyrical essay, memoir, Poetry

  ---

• Please pay at the reception desk on your way out @ Kaleidoscope

  

  The first time my poem “Please pay at the reception desk on your way out” was published was in the late autumn of 2020. It was accepted by Blanket Sea, a small indie publication dedicated to poetry about chronic illness. I received the honour of having my poem nominated for the Best of the Net Awards that year.

  But the poem’s journey didn’t end there. I have been lucky enough to have this poem picked up a second time. This time it’s appearing in Kaleidoscope magazine, a publication run by United Disability Services (Ohio, US), that creatively focuses on the experiences of disability through literature and the fine arts.

  Please visit the online edition of Kaleidoscope: Issue 86 to read my poem (it’s on p. 61) and enjoy essays, short fiction, art, and more on the theme of discovering unexpected truths.

  ---

  January 18, 2023

  chronic illness, disability, ME/CFS, Poetry

  ---

• Poetry in translation: Thawed

  after Mustafa Kör

  Comes a day when you
  all promises notwithstanding
  are no longer in
  the midst of battle commanding
  bread and love

  The body proved a tool
  that performs what the prompter asked

  Done with the unrest
  and the tragedy of hearts
  The mystical had a star role
  especially for you

  You wailed across the world
  when you became human and balled your fists
  to face life
  that wailed in unison that day
  for the fate that would befall you
  like frost on blossom

  This poem is a translation from the Dutch. The original poem “Ontdooid” is by Belgian/Turkish poet Mustafa Kör. It speaks of life with a disability.

  March 11, 2022

  chronic illness, disability, Poetry, poetry translation

  ---

• The problem – poem published @ Rogue Agent

  

  In April of last year, I wrote a series of found poems as part of a project for NaPoWriMo. One of my favourite poems from this series has now found a home with Rogue Agent.

  The poem is based on an essay by poet and science writer Kate Horowitz entitled “Performance of a Lifetime: On Invisible Illness, Gender, and Disbelief.”

  I’d like to thank Jill Khoury for her support and Kate for lending me her wonderful work!

  You can read the poem on the Rogue Agent website.

  January 2, 2021

  chronic illness, Poetry

  ---

• The Emma Press Anthology of Illness book launch!

  

  You may have heard that I had a poem accepted by Emma Press for their latest anthology. I am thrilled to bits and will be attending the book launch, which takes place on Zoom on Oct 2, 2020 at 07:00 PM (London time!)

  If you would like to join in, you can use this link to register for the event.

  The Emma Press anthology of Illness is available from the Emma Press webshop.

  September 25, 2020

  chronic illness, Poetry

  ---