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Writer's pictureDavid Mclaughlan

NOT QUIET AS IN QUIET

In the podcast Poetry Unbound Padraig O' Tuoma (https://www.padraigotuama.com) talks about his love for certain words, but the realisation that those same words will have differen meanings, different depths, for other people.

He uses the example of Victoria Adukwei Bulley's Not Quiet As In Quiet But...

- NOT QUIET AS IN QUIET BUT...

as in peaceful / as in slow to anger / as in shy / as in sulking or sullen / as in nice / as in clean, tree-lined streets / as in well-resourced libraries / as in good, outstanding schools / as in not much new / as in no news is good news / as in the war is over; has been for decades now / as in early to bed / curled up with a book / as in the newborn is sleeping / as in TV barely audible / as in subtitles / as in subtext / as in someone should’ve done something / as in don’t just do something, stand there / as in could & should but wouldn’t / as in well the British are / so polite / as in placid / as in placated / as in nuanced / complicated / as in careful it’s a conflict, not a siege, a conflict / as in objective / as in both sides / as in well behaved / as in safe / as in too quiet / as in almost silent / as in almost no sirens /

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It's a good writing - and understanding - exercise. Read through it, feel the lines, notice the stages... Then pick a word of your own, and do the same (in your own way).




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