Politics and Religion

There is an old saying that in polite company you should never talk about religion or politics. It is a quote that has been attributed to just about every high profile figure from Mohandas K. Gandhi to Micky Mouse. There is another famous quote, this one directly attributable to the writer and poet G. K. Chesterton (the author of the Father Brown mysteries). He said: 'I never discuss anything else except politics and religion. There is nothing else to discuss.'

So who is correct? And in poetic circles, is it taboo to write about politics and/or religion? 

I know for a fact that several members of my own online group, Invisible Poets, feel strongly that neither should be the subject of one of their poems. Others in the group feel that poems about religion or politics should be removed from the group stream so that people aren't offended. And believe me, there have been poems about both topics that have offended some and caused others to leave the group. Yes, politics and religion are divisive, and often cause a lot of consternation among readers.

But does that mean that poets should steer clear? 

My view is that poets should always write from the heart. If what is exercising your mind is a theme about injustice, poverty, lawlessness, or conflict, then you should write about it. In so doing, you will be touching on political sensibilities. If your mind is full of questions about eternity, your soul, life after death or the meaning of life, than write about it. In so doing, you will be touching on religion in some form or another. Yes, you are liable to upset someone, or cause a ruction among readers, but isn't that what poetry is for? Isn't that what all art forms seek to achieve? 

Another famous quote is 'Anything can make you look, but only art can make you see.'

Personally, I write often write poetry to provoke a reaction. Whether it's about my strong conviction to improve the lives of those in difficult situations, I find that writing to provoke is a very powerful tool to raise people's awareness of a context. If I'm writing about homelessness (one of my more frequent topics, after spending years supporting rough sleepers) or about starving kids (I have seen this at close hand in Africa), I am not going to pull any punches. I'm going to hit you right between the eyes with the problem. And I will make no apologies if I offend someone with my poetry. 

Perhaps they needed offending so their eyes could be opened to the truth. Is that the job of a poet? You bet your life it is. In the immortal words of the great philosopher Tom Petty 'No, I won't back down.' 

And neither should you.

Steve Wheeler

Image above copyright Steve Wheeler 2026 (Gambian children fetching fire wood)

Beating writer's block

Writer's block... you know it. That helpless feeling that you want to write, you know you need to write... but the words just don't come. Or you write words, and they either make no sense to you, or they are fit for nothing more than the trash can. All writer's suffer from it at some point in their lives. Some have regular bouts of it. 

Wikipedia (that super intelligent font of all knowledge) helpfully states that writer's block is a non-medical condition. I had a snigger at that. That means, without too much extrapolation, that writer's block is psychological in nature. Now... if only there was a psychologist to hand to explain this.... oh, wait... there is. 

When you experience writer's block and you feel as though your muse has deserted you... create some inspiration for yourself. Here are seven useful ideas to get your flooded engine kick-started again:

1. Pick up any everyday object.... an old tea cup, a pair of muddy boots, a set of car keys... your dog or cat.... and write something about them. Doesn't need to be anything flowery or profound. Just write. 

2. Listen to some music. Any music will do. Close your eyes. Listen. Write about the first thing that comes into your mind.

3. Sit in silence. Close your eyes and listen to the noises around you. Some will be distance noises like the wind, traffic on the roads, children playing in the street.... write about that.

4. Grab any old image, or photograph... and write a poem about what that image evokes in you.

5. Turn on the TV or radio news. Yeah, I know it's depressing. But the very next new item that is presented becomes the basis of your next poem.

6. What was the last conversation you had? Can you remember? Write about what was said (or not said).

7. Let your imagination run wild. Think of two characters from history, or from a novel or from the world of pop music or the movies. Pair up the most ridiculous two you can possible imagine. Micky Mouse and Barack Obama... go on holiday together... there's a poem right there. (NB: I would have used Micky Mouse and Donald Trump, but there isn't a ridiculous angle there). 

I'm sure you can come up with plenty of other ideas to break open that writer's block. So come on... share your ideas in the comments box below. I would love to hear your ideas and suggestions!

Steve Wheeler

Image from Wikimedia Commons