Rebecca Bullard
I'm an Associate Professor of English Literature at the University of Reading in the UK. I'm looking forward to exploring poetry with you.
Location Reading
Activity
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Rebecca Bullard made a comment
Welcome, everyone! It's great to see so many people from different walks of life and different parts of the world coming together to think about poetry. I'm really looking forward to working with you over the next couple of weeks.
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Rebecca Bullard made a comment
Hello everyone - it's Rebecca here, your lead educator for the course. It's great to see lots of you joining our facilitated run. I'll be here for the next two weeks with mentors Sarah and Alannah. We're looking forward to exploring some poetry with you this week and, next week, to write some new poetry of our own. Thanks for contributing all your lovely...
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Angela Millard
So many great questions here, Angela. I love the fact that you respond to and question the minutest details of this poem.
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Susanne Mathies
Oh, what an interesting connection that is Susanne! It's amazing how one poem can call to mind snippets of other texts, isn't it? Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Lesley James
I love the idea of being on 'team speaker'! Thanks for sharing the things you wonder about in this poem. Wondering is an underrated activity, I think.
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What a wonderful response, Sylvia. I love the way you consider the emotional impact of the different patterns you identify.
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Matt W
Yes -- I think that does sometimes happen, Matt. Sometimes poems help us to see things in and about ourselves that we hadn't previously noticed or understood.
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Rebecca Bullard made a comment
It's wonderful to read these really imaginative responses to three very different poems. It can be quite hard to visualise a poem as a room -- it takes quite a leap of imagination, and some people find it easier than others. It might feel like a strange way to think about poetry at first, so please don't worry if you're finding it a bit tricky. Have a go --...
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I completely agree. There's a kind of alchemy in the relationship between words and music.
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Lesley James
These are wonderful memories, Lesley. Sounds as though your parents were proud of your poetry even if you were embarrassed! I was also really lucky to have wonderful English teachers all the way through school.
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Teresa Holmes
Wonderful! I'll be interested to hear whether it works for you, Teresa.
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Hi Alannah -- and hello to everyone joining the course today! I'm so looking forward to journeying into poetry with you all over the next few weeks.
I think that poetry creates different associations for us depending on all sorts of factors -- the season we're in, the things that are going on in our lives, how we're feeling... I think that for me, during...
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Rebecca Bullard made a comment
You have all shown amazing sensitivity, courage and commitment in your responses here. It can be quite hard to think about poetry in a new way -- for instance, by imagining a poem as a room. Sometimes we can feel quite vulnerable when we do it. Thank you so much for your willingness to experiment in this way! I am so enjoying reading all of your responses.
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Rebecca Bullard made a comment
I'm so enjoying reading your descriptions of rooms that are important to you. They are hugely evocative. I'm struck by how many of the senses are engaged in rooms that are important to us: sight, hearing, smell, and touch all figure in what you've written as a group so far.
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Rebecca Bullard made a comment
There are some wonderful, thoughtful responses to the three poems here. Why not find someone else who has engaged with the same poem as you and compare their response to your own? It's always fascinating when the same poem elicits different responses in different readers.
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Hello, Alannah and hello everyone. It's great to see so many people here on the course already. We're really looking forward to working with you on this course over the next two weeks. I'm going to suggest three more words that are important for me when I think about poetry: vision, song, and joy!
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Rebecca Bullard made a comment
Thank you, everyone, for taking part in this adventure in poetry! It's been a real privilege to follow your comments and to read your ideas and your poems. I'm honoured that you've chosen to spend your time with me, Alannah, Yinka and everyone who produced recordings for the course over the past few weeks. I hope that it inspires you to go on writing and...
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Thanks for this lovely comment, Sue. The films for this course were made by a company called MotionBlurr Studios, which was set up (quite a while ago now) by one of my former students. It's always a pleasure to see what our students go on to do in their careers after university, and an even greater pleasure to get to work with them both before and after they...
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Rebecca Bullard made a comment
Wow! Lots of these posts read like one-line poems, complete in themselves -- just gorgeous. Thanks for sharing them.
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Rebecca Bullard made a comment
Thank you *so much* for your generosity in giving and receiving feedback. It's a real act of kindness and grace to spend time with someone else's work. We can learn so much from one another, I think.
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Rebecca Bullard made a comment
Today, I'm looking out at the clover that peeps through the grass in my garden. Some people might think it needs mowing, but not the bees!
I'm really enjoying reading about the things you're looking at and imagining where in the world you might be.
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Rebecca Bullard made a comment
Has anyone tried playing this game over a video call? It could be a good way to connect with friends and family while we're socially distanced.
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Rebecca Bullard made a comment
There's a great deal of very delicious-sounding creativity on this thread! I wonder -- what effect has the recent lockdown had on people's creativity? Maybe you've found it hard to focus on things you usually enjoy, or maybe you've discovered (or re-discovered) new kinds of creativity? I'd be interested to hear your experiences.
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Rebecca Bullard made a comment
It's fantastic to see so many of you noticing different patterns in the poem. It really brings home to me the benefits of this online format, where we can read one another's comments and learn from each other.
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@SueSpencer Hi Sue -- that's a great question. A caesura is a stop or pause in the middle of a line of poetry. You can read more about it here: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/learn/glossary-terms?letter=C. (I really like this poetry glossary from the Poetry Foundation website; hope you find it useful too.)
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It's really interesting to put David's and Joanne's observations together here: if the poet is using soft sounds about a harsh landscape, that's a kind of tension that it might be exciting to notice and think about as we respond to the poem.
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Nathan Firby
I love Simon Armitage's work and this article. Thanks for sharing the link, @NathanFirby.
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Maggie Gardiner
There are lots of different ways to respond to the exercise, Maggie, so please don't worry. Some people really like to visualise a room like you have here; others keep the idea of the room as more of a metaphorical guide. Both are great and definitely neither of them is a 'wrong' kind of response. Thanks for your contribution!
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Rebecca Bullard made a comment
Wow! I love touring through these rooms. It feels like passing through the collective memory of this group of learners. Your descriptions capture so vividly the experience of being in these different places, and the physical and emotional feelings they gave you. Thank you for these brilliant contributions.
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Rebecca Bullard replied to zara E
Yes - I love it when that happens, @zaraE. It's interesting that Leigh Hardy says something similar in his comment, below.
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Rebecca Bullard made a comment
Welcome, everyone! It's very exciting to see people joining this course from all over the world. I'm really looking forward to spending time with you over the next two weeks.
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Personal is great, Sue. Thanks for these lovely words. Enjoy the course!
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Sarah L
An accomplishment indeed! Congratulations, Sarah, and thanks for your lovely comment.
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Diolch, Stanley -- mae'n anhygoel! / Thanks, Stanley -- that's amazing! It's wonderful that so many people are enjoying this course. I'm delighted to see the range of responses to it.
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Rebecca Bullard made a comment
Thank you so much, everyone, for your contributions to this course. I'm sorry that I can't respond to each of your comments individually but I have read them all. I am deeply grateful to you for spending time with me, Alannah and Yinka over the last two weeks. It has been a privilege and a pleasure to journey into poetry with you. I've loved reading your poems...
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Saskia A
What a wonderful poetic response to the course, Saskia! Thank you so much.
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Rebecca Bullard replied to David Steadman
That's really helpful feedback, David -- thanks so much.
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Emil S
Thank you, Emil - and thanks to your teacher too!
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Thank you, Wyn, for these lovely comments and for participating in this course.
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@JacquelineF I'm so pleased that this course has inspired you and @MarjoleinGurses to go on to sign up for more!
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Natalie Merriman
Thanks for all your reviews, Natalie. I hope you receive some more feedback on your poem soon.
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Rebecca Bullard made a comment
I'm really delighted that so many of you are enjoying receiving and offering feedback. Many thanks for engaging with one another in such a supportive way!
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Stanley Jones
Diolch, Stanley!
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@SaskiaA Me too!
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Wen Zhang
That tea sounds delicious!
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Briony T
I hope that input from others on this course will help you too, Briony. Enjoy week 2!
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Rebecca Bullard made a comment
This is such a poignant exercise at this time, isn't it? Right now, I can see a damp boundary fence and a red kite high above, and I can hear a thrush singing somewhere in a tree, out of view. I'm so interested to read about the things that you can see and hear from where you're sitting.
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Rebecca Bullard made a comment
I am so enjoying reading your responses to this game and the mini-poems that are emerging out of it. Has anyone tried playing with friends over video link, or even on the phone? It could be a good lockdown game.
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Fahad Almutairi
I'm so pleased that this course is inspiring you to engage with poetry, Fahad. Thanks for being here.
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Ann B
Yes -- it's amazing how new forms of creativity can sometimes emerge out of the most stressful of circumstances, like this lockdown. Thanks for your contributions to the course, Ann.
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Rebecca Bullard made a comment
Emotion, expression, love and rhythm are all coming out strongly here. Please feel free to keep adding your ideas. We love reading them!
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Rebecca Bullard made a comment
Thanks so much for your thoughts and feedback, everyone. Lots of you have mentioned the supportive nature of this learning community and I agree entirely. You've all been so generous in offering your thoughts and ideas, and commenting on what others have written. Many thanks! I'm really looking forward to heading into week two with you all.
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I'm looking forward to reading what you write next week, Alison. Thanks for taking part.
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Dennis G
Yes! You should definitely be here, Dennis, whether or not you're doing A-levels. What the course has made me realise is just how many people love thinking about poetry, regardless of whether they are studying English in a formal setting. Thanks for your contributions this week.
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That's a really interesting observation about the word 'unseen', Ray. I agree that poetry works on both ear and eye. 'Unseen' is an adjective that is often used in formal (exam-oriented) settings but your comment makes me think about its limitations. I'm glad that you've enjoyed this first week of the course.
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I'm so pleased that this week has been useful, Esther.
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I'm so glad that you enjoyed this week, Scarlett. I'm looking forward to reading the puzzles that you create in the next week of the course!
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Wonderful! I'm glad that this course has given you a bit of relief during the lockdown.
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Thanks, Sandra. There will be lots of opportunities to develop your writing next week. I'm looking forward to reading what you write.
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I'm so pleased that this week was useful for you, Molly.
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Roi Ry D
I love it when one word echoes inside another. I'd never thought about 'Patagonia' and 'phantasmagoria' but I think this is a brilliant response to the poem!
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Rebecca Bullard made a comment
There are so many wonderful responses here. Many of them read like short stories or prose poems. Thank you so much for sharing your memories and experiences.
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You paint a really vivid picture of the physical and emotional experience of being in this room.
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Michelle Oakes
Great! Keep that puzzle in mind as this week progresses, Michelle. I think it's exciting to sit with the puzzles in poetry.
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Jen C
Wonderful! I think that analysis can be (should be?) creative. Thanks for your response.
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Stanley Jones
Thanks for sharing your response, Stanley. It'll be interesting to see whether your ideas about the poem develop when you come back to it towards the end of this first week of the course.
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Joanne James
I'd love to go to her home in Amherst, Joanne. Thanks for your response to the poem.
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Roi Ry D
A wonderfully imaginative response -- creative and critical.
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Lyn W
I'm so pleased that you read it out loud. I always find that that helps me 'feel' a poem.
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Rebecca Bullard replied to David Robinson
Your description makes this room sound quite disconcerting -- even ominous. I think that's a really interesting response to this unsettling poem.
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Sally-Jayne Braisby
I love the fact that your reaction is a really strong one, Sally-Jayne. Some poetic rooms we might like and admire, others make us want to get away!
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Rebecca Bullard made a comment
It's wonderful to have so many participants from all over the globe. It's very exciting to be taking this journey into poetry with you. The mentors, Alannah and Yinka, and I will do our best to respond to your comments and answer any queries you may have, but we may not be able to catch every single one. Do feel free to respond to one another and to engage in...
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There's a wonderful range of words already, isn't there? Welcome to the course, Christine.
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Poppy C
I hope it will too, Poppy. Welcome to the course.
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Dennis G
Ha! Yes -- and maybe also the blank spaces in between them. Maybe.
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Mari R.
These are lovely, Mari.
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Great to meet you too, Trish! It's lovely to read your enthusiastic response to our first task.
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It's a wonderful way to distil and process life, isn't it? Welcome, Margaret.
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This reads like a mini-poem, Patricia!
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I really like the idea of poetry as 'design,' Lillian. Welcome to the course!
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I love these, Alison (and I find it hard to make up my mind too!)
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Alan Passey
Well done you too, Alan, for completing it. Really glad you enjoyed it.
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I’m so pleased you feel that way, Lisa. Thanks for joining us.
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Stephen Haggie
I love this, Steve!
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I suspect you're rather better at it than you think you are! I hope that this course gives you more confidence in and enjoyment of your abilities, Jennifer.
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Rebecca Bullard replied to JOHN SHARP
That's a wonderful response to the game, John. Thanks so much for sharing it.
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Peter Wright
You are very welcome to link to it, Peter. It is very exciting to see all these wonderful and diverse poems together.
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Rebecca Bullard
@GemmaR. I'm so pleased that you enjoyed the game. I did too!
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Rebecca Bullard made a comment
Thank you all for your wonderful contributions to this course. It’s been a pleasure and a privilege to be your lead educator. I hope that the skills you have gained will continue to support your enjoyment of poetry in the weeks, months and years to come.
Very best wishes,
Rebecca -
Rebecca Bullard replied to Vincent Kenny
I love this reflection on a lifetime of creativity, Vincent.
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I hope so, Philemon. Thanks for participating.
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Thanks for taking part, Nic!
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An interesting question, Philemon. I think we often feel the impact of these changes even before we’ve read a poem closely, but close reading helps us to experience them in new and often more profound ways.
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Rebecca Bullard replied to John Easton
Thank you, John.
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Suzanne Cobb
Thank you, Suzanne - and a very happy Christmas to you!
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Rebecca Bullard made a comment
It’s wonderful to read of the generosity you are all showing one another in offering and receiving feedback. Thank you all very much.
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Jan Miller
Thanks for your kind words, @JanMiller
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Gloria Potter
I enjoyed it enormously too, Gloria. Thanks for all your contributions!
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Anne P
Thanks, Anne - I hope you do!
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Rebecca Bullard replied to Ian Huckson
That’s such a perceptive reading, Ian - thanks for sharing it.
