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both written and performed, and also encouraged to write their own, in an atmosphere free from the encumbrance of having to get a good grade.” An additional barrier can be that librarians, teachers and booksellers can sometimes feel wary of poetry. Joshua has some top tips which include inviting professional poets into institutions wherever possible to do performances and workshops. He suggests putting a range of accessible poetry in prominent positions within buildings and reading and watching a range of poetry so as to be in a position to verbally recommend to others.


Humour


Joshua’s passion is palpable. He is a keen champion of poetry and is one of National Poetry Day’s ambassadors. “I’ve been an ambassador since 2016. It is a very loosely-defined role, but it tends to involve spreading the joy of poetry wherever I go, which is usually in schools. National Poetry Day is a great initiative, as it unites the whole country behind this art form, and makes everyone feel part of something bigger. I’d love to see libraries and bookshops putting poetry front and centre, during the time around National Poetry Day but also more generally.” Part of the motivation behind his


I try to have a notebook, or my phone with me wherever I go, so I can jot down ideas as and when they come to me. – Joshua Seigal


championing of poetry arises from the role Joshua feels it can play in acting as a gateway for less traditional readers. “Poetry is a great way of engaging anyone and everyone. Even people who think they don’t like poetry (hence the title of my first book). I think there is a poem out there for everyone, including less traditional readers. Poems tend to be quite short, so they might be a good option for people who find it hard or are unwilling to read for a lengthy period at a time. People who might not normally think of themselves as readers may be surprised by how much they enjoy poems, providing they are exposed to a wide variety of work, and are able and encourage to pick and choose what they like.”


Humour is another useful hook, and among the many accolades which have been lauded upon Joshua’s writing, he is a winner of the Funny Prize. “Humour is hugely important, and apart from the Lollies Award I think it is not taken anywhere near seriously enough by awards and reviewers. Humour is a great gateway for reluctant readers, and it can also be incredibly complex. I try to construct the humour in my work with a kind of mathematical focus and precision. Every syllable needs to be just right. I think a lot of people don’t appreciate the artistry that goes into humour.”


Despite this, Joshua is keen to avoid being pigeon-holed solely as a humorous poet. He has some really thoughtful and wide-reaching influences which permeate his work. “Whilst my performances are primarily comedic, I have also been known to make people cry with the occasional sad poem. My work for grown-ups is also greatly inspired by psychoanalytic theory, which I would not describe as ‘funny’. I think it is important to be diverse, and to have a range of styles and themes up my sleeve.”


Reaching out


Alongside the diversity in the themes Joshua writes about, he finds the shortness of the form appealing and has personal reasons behind this. Poetry has provided a platform to explore aspects of his personality and aspects of his own thinking. “I have a variety of mental health conditions, and writing, along with sharing my work, is absolutely crucial for me. I love reaching out to others via my work, and although I am known as a ‘funny’ poet, it is sometimes sharing the more reflective or personal pieces that gives me the most satisfaction. I do also find humour to be an important way for me to tackle issues pertaining to mental health. My ADHD poem is funny (I hope). I also have a poem about OCD which I once shared. Unfortunately,


Spring-Summer 2024


PEN&INC. 17


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