thank you thank you thank you

What the 100 Poem Challenge Was

On the 5th and 6th November 2011, I wrote 100 poems in 48 hours to raise money for EEC International, a charity who fund research into EEC Syndrome [a rare form of ectodermal dysplasia, a condition I have], especially relating to the eye sight problems associated with gene p63. It is likely that people who have EEC Syndrome will lose their sight. If a cure could be found for this then it would benefit thousands of people [not just those with EEC] worldwide.

All of the poems I wrote in those 48 hours can be found on this blog, just scroll down.

I also released a 200 copy limited edition print run of the poems. The 100 Poem Challenge poetry collection is sold out.

Many thanks to those who bought a copy or who donated to the cause. A total of £4250 [that's 5100euros/$6800] was raised for EEC International. 


Details of the challenge itself can be found below, and also at http://www.indiegogo.com/100-poem-challenge

----


February 2012.

This morning I went to the bank and transferred the money raised from the 100 Poem Challenge to EEC International. The total raised was £4250 [which is €5100/$6800], and will go to the research centres looking for a cure for the degenerative eye disease associated with EEC Syndrome. Hurray!

So, THANK YOU so much to everyone who donated, bought a postcard or a pamphlet [or both!], and to those who tweeted about the project, and who sent encouraging messages during the weekend of the poetry writing itself. If you want to read the poems, they're still online over here.

Y'all are lovely. Thank you. xxxxxx

100 Poem Challenge poetry collection - for sale!

Head over to this blog post for details on how to buy the 100 Poem Challenge poetry collection! x

A quick little blog post.

All the poems on postcards from 100 Poem Challenge have been posted. If you're in the UK, you should have yours by now. If you're further away, you should receive your postcard next week. Hurrah!

In the next week or so, I will be selling limited edition collections of the 100 poems from the 100 Poem Challenge, bound together, numbered and signed, with a beautiful cover illustrated by the lovely Greg McLeod [who is also illustrating Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops].

Look, here's the cover:

Pretty, no? There will be 200 copies. They will go on sale on my main blog. All proceeds go to EEC International. [*cough*they will make nice Christmas presents*cough*]. Greg's just finishing up the artwork for the back cover and, once that's done, they will whizz off to the printers. Check back soon.x

Challenge Complete!

At ten minutes to midnight, I completed my 100 Poem Challenge - writing 100 poems in 48 hours for charity. Hurrah! There was much stress, and some swearing, and definitely not much sleep, but I got there in the end. Thank you so much to everyone who supported me on Twitter throughout the weekend. I couldn't have done it without you!

You can read all one hundred poems over here.

If you like what you see, please consider donating some pennies.

Lots of love x

#100

There is field, and we are in it.

This is it, you say

crouching low over your shoes.

We prepared to leave as

milk bottles came

chose instead the ones

the tide brings - green

buckets on ropes

        hanging low

from our shoulders. We

find the cows out

in the field. A drunken farmer

too busy making

snow angels. We milk instead

then walk the twelve 

      miles to the beach 

avoiding slot machines 

until our beds are checked. 

On the edge of the pier

    we can begin again

to see ourselves. We dip

chipped mugs deep in buckets

    for our bones. 

[tag word: ENDING - Jen Campbell @aeroplanegirl]

100 Poem Challenge: writing 100 poems in a weekend to raise money for EEC International. 

#99

Buckled shoes on
the edge. She feels
small talk rising
in her stomach.

When you think
and when you look:
it's still long way down.


[tag word: TRICKLE - @12books12months]

100 Poem Challenge: writing 100 poems in a weekend to raise money for EEC International. 

#98

Pandora resents her parents
for the name they threw upon her.
She wears it on a pin badge
lest they ever forget
why she binned her favorite jewellery case.
                        And how
she's never invited to birthdays
because presents makes her nervous.

These days she sleeps, closed,
as Schrodinger's cat -
          wanting them guessing.
If she's in one box, she reasons
then she won't open another.



[tag word: SALVATION - Stella @StellaKateT]

100 Poem Challenge: writing 100 poems in a weekend to raise money for EEC International. 

#97

We drive to places in the countryside our mouths
cannot pronounce. We spend hours climbing trees there.
You stamp on the earth to make sure it will remember us.



[tag word: BEAUTY - Chloe Henderson @ChloeHenderson9]

100 Poem Challenge: writing 100 poems in a weekend to raise money for EEC International. 

#96

As the very last
     in line   for living
he hiccoughed in the wind.

Stood on rocks
to look for shipwrecks.

Counted years
off on webbed toes.


[tag word: ENDLING - Tom Atherton]

100 Poem Challenge: writing 100 poems in a weekend to raise money for EEC International. 

#95

In the middle of the night,
we rewrite the world's beginnings.
Let our bed frame grow
its branches back, and
cover us with leaves.



[tag word: DANIEL - @boyofmelody]

100 Poem Challenge: writing 100 poems in a weekend to raise money for EEC International. 

#94

Too much of her: he'd die.
Too little: life was bitter.



[tag word: SUGAR - @al_vihm]

100 Poem Challenge: writing 100 poems in a weekend to raise money for EEC International. 

#93

Cupping her head
like a fragile Christingle
he prayed: 'Please. 
Oh please - just
shut the hell up.'


[tag word: VERBOSE - Lesley H @lesley_joy]

100 Poem Challenge: writing 100 poems in a weekend to raise money for EEC International. 

#92

You got me to stand under
an olive tree. Said it would make
me look European. I was left
comparing branches
with the width of my thighs.



[tag word: CANVAS - Stella @StellaKateT]

100 Poem Challenge: writing 100 poems in a weekend to raise money for EEC International. 

#91

The maps were larger than our eyes.
Made our knees buckle. We wished
to see the world in wooden boats.
Carve our names into waves, and shout
the wind down from the clouds.
Talk with him, invite him home
and cook him eggs for breakfast.



[tag word: ALMIGHTY - Sarah Potten @almightycrouton]

100 Poem Challenge: writing 100 poems in a weekend to raise money for EEC International. 

#90

I found you in a photograph
       completely free of people.
I could feel you standing
        just behind the lens.



[tag word: DETECTIVE - Sarah Chapman @Bibliomouse]

100 Poem Challenge: writing 100 poems in a weekend to raise money for EEC International. 

#89

In the dim lights backstage
they became fireflies
tucking in their caterpillar waists.



[tag word: CORSETS - Louise McLeod @brothersmcleod]

100 Poem Challenge: writing 100 poems in a weekend to raise money for EEC International. 

#88

As the woodcutter's daughter
she kept watch for girl red.

Slipped the wolf some money
before chopping off her head.



[tag word: AXE - Mike Grace @ZeRootofallEvil]

100 Poem Challenge: writing 100 poems in a weekend to raise money for EEC International. 

#87

It is not just malleable
     things themselves
we lose
            but names.
   
If we cannot call
     back out for them
they will not know
that we are looking.



[tag word: ENVIRONMENT - Rod Grainger @NowRod]

100 Poem Challenge: writing 100 poems in a weekend to raise money for EEC International. 

#86

According to his body clock
he was late for many things.
Waistcoats that needed refitting
rabbit hutches to build in garages.
He twitched his nose, tilted his hat
poured another cup of tea.



[tag word: TIME - Scott Ellis @blahblahellis]

100 Poem Challenge: writing 100 poems in a weekend to raise money for EEC International. 

#85

Lucy keeps lists hidden in sleeves
like vinyl. Names she isn't keen on.
In English she rids speeches
of Macbeth's wife
substitutes them for older girls
with large allowances and nails.

At break they cry in science labs
washing hands until they bleed.


[tag word: SCHADENFREUDE - Yvann @readingwithtea]

100 Poem Challenge: writing 100 poems in a weekend to raise money for EEC International.