#NaPoWriMo 2021 - Haiku of Life (1972 and 1973) / Introduction

 

1972

In a incubator

you spent your first six weeks

struggling to breath.

(When I was born in 1972, it was touch and go for the 3 months

I was going to live)

1973

Crying you didn’t stop

when you saw an Elephant

that very first time.

(Growing up I always had a love of going to the Zoo, although the first time nearly put that to bed)

*

(Here we go again guys with the start of a journey where I will be writing a haiku about every year of my life. As I am 48 and will be turning 49 during it, there will be some days where I write two and I will also putting footnotes of other NaPoWriMo blogs I am enjoying and other bits as it happens. Enjoy the ride and any comments – let me know)

Haiku of Life - Introduction

The past year or so in writing has being a case of reflection throughout lockdown about where I have being with me firstly completing a number of out-standing projects almost as if to clean the slate for what came next which ended up eventually being a collection of Haiku called Underground Haiku which explored life in lockdown on trains in lockdown. Beyond that with lockdown still not showing any signs of finishing after studying people’s lives in Lockdown in Haiku was to look back at my own life in Haiku and therefore over April in #NaPoWriMo I will write a haiku for each year of my life. All 48 and a extra one at the end when I turn 49 on 28 April 2021.

Underground Haiku - a little background

 

I first started writing Haikus it has to be said last year properly, although I had attempted it at least twice before at university many years ago and once before without success. As soon as we went into lockdown last year, my first plan was to finish off several incomplete manscripts which had being dangling around for some time before then deciding I needed to learn another poetry form.

Haiku was not my first choice it had to be said, but after discovering a wonderful poetry group on facebook called ‘The Daily Haiku’ it peaked my interest and I knew within doing my first few Haiku’s, I had to set them all in their own world.

‘Underground Haiku’ came from this original thought and covered a lot of my travels during this time of the emptiness and loneilness in train stations and the places around it.

‘Underground Haiku’ is 50 haiku’s linked together looking at people’s lives taking pictures of them with a few words instead of a camera to help build up a greater understanding of the way life has changed over the past year.

The book can be purchased from Amazon. The UK address for it is:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Underground-Haiku-Journeys-underground-ebook/dp/B08YHLGZ9K/ref=sr_1_1?crid=JXDD7JVZY600&dchild=1&keywords=andy+n+underground+haiku&qid=1617045446&sprefix=Andy+N+U%2Caps%2C175&sr=8-1

You can see me reading out a few of the pieces from the book here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxpe0v0pAR0&t=1s

Underground Haiku Readings

 

I'll write more about this tomorrow but you can see a little reading I did about my new poetry collection 'Underground Haiku' at the following places:

https://www.facebook.com/andynpoet/videos/1237349120001183/

(Facebook)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxpe0v0pAR0

(Youtube)

https://www.instagram.com/p/CM9yCaUF19RpaT1nn_m3bOYdyh9s1UK0WNEBYE0/

(Instagram)

New / Forthcoming Ocean in a Bottle releases

CURRENT / NEW RELEASES: (Updated 07 March  2021)

Ambient Online Compilation  Volume 10

Two new Ocean in a Bottle tracks have appeared on the latest album by the Ambient Online "Watching Jam float between the earth and the moon" and "Watching Jam float between venus and the earth"

At the Edge of the Milky Way

A new two track album exploring the darkness and light at the edge of the galaxy

Mars Perseverance

The track 'Final Approach before landing on Mars' has appeared on the Aural Films project "Mars Perseverance". 

Deep Electronic Mix (Ambient Sessions)

Nearly a hour mix covering tracks from releases from Ocean in a Bottle, old and new from his work on Slightly Off Kilter, AmbientOnline, Off Records and several new tracks recorded specially for this mix. 

Dreaming of life on Venus

A 4 track album, or 2 EPs if you wish released on Slightly Off Kilter Records exploring the mysteries of the Planet Venus during news about the possible discovery of life taking the listener on a sound arc of bewildering feelings that take on a journey throughout a world which is covered in mysteries and light.

Unusual Christmas Present 

Part of a various artists series on Camembert Electrique where artists were called upon to create or donate a piece of music or sound composition for the occasion of Christmas. Owning to demand, the label then decided to carry on into January, retitling January 1 December 32 etc.

The Ocean in a Bottle track featuring me Andy N on vocals is some nonsense I had great fun writing recently. 

Jingle Bells

A various artists Christmas album on Silber Media Records featuring various versions of Jingle Bells featuring a track by Ocean in a Bottle called "Stopping playing jingle bells abruptly when watching children playing outside in a snow storm". 

Ambient Online Themed Compilation 12: Earth

Two new tracks on the theme of Earth have appeared on the latest comp CD by the wonderful  Ambient Online Themed Compilation "Standing outside a canteen in the middle of a storm near the edge of a cliff" and "facing the desert at the end of the earth"

Sampler MMXX

An exclusive edit off  "Leaving Saturn" on from the album "On Saturn's Wings" has appeared on the end of 2020 sampler for the excellent label "Camembert Electrique". Hopefully we will have more to follow on this label shortly.

Floating in Space with Harold Budd

Wrote and composed over Christmas as a humble tribute to Harold Budd, a dear inspiration to Ocean in a Bottle, this track appeared as part of the Dronery series for Silber Media Records in January 2021.

Forbidden Love  (Demos, alternative takes and out-takes)

Volume 2

Volume 3 

Volume 4

Volumes 2, 3 and 4 of a ongoing series of Demos, alternative takes and out-takes from releases from the archives which after a archive in December 2020 I came across and thought deserved to be heard. Volume 5 and Volume 6 will follow in later Winter / Spring 2021.

FORTHCOMING:

March / April 2021 - (Volume 5 - demos, alternative takes and out-takes) 

April / May 2021 (Volume 6 - demos, alternative takes and out-takes)

May / June 2021 (Volume 7 - demos, alternative takes and out-takes)