One early evening last week, I was walking through Cardiff City Centre to meet a friend when I heard an obviously harassed young mum lean over her fractious toddler and warn some people nearby, "you have to watch this one, he'll create". I've never heard this expression before and I wonder if someone out there in the community can tell me if this is a typical Cardiff, or south-Walian, or just British bit of slang? As a euphemism for mis-behavior it is both funny and apt.

It has always seemed to me that one of the distinguishing qualities of creative people is the need to rebel against expectation, to resist cliché, to overthrow the stale examples of the past. To do so requires a certain native gusto, not a little ego, and a cultivated fearlessness. Here is where I (look out!) inflict a poem upon you. 

Parents Evening

by Rhian Edwards

We feel she may be cheating

at reading and spelling.

She has failed to grasp the planets

and the laws of science,

has proven violent in games

and fakes asthma for attention. 

She is showing promise with the Odyssey,

has learned to darn starfish

and knitted a patch for the scarecrow.

She seems to enjoy measuring rain,

pretending her father is a Beatle

and insists upon your death

as the conclusion to all her stories. 

(from Rhian Edwards's Wales Book of the Year winning collection 2013, Clueless Dogs) 

Portrait of the artist as a young dog, indeed! This was a kid who would certainly go on to 'create'. 

I'm sure others will argue that this 'artist as misfit' trope doesn't always apply, but it is curious

how often it does. I'm hoping all the NTW community will take the chance to browse some of the

poetry books in the Seren Pop-Up Shop. I will address 'fear of poetry' in future blog.