By Geoffrey Aitken
no hint
of insanity
in my childhood
teens
late youth
until girls
asked questions
of me
my strength
tested
on dance floors
in restaurants
clubs
theatres
saying
take me home
while answers
still search
for anchor points.
even my Psychiatrist is puzzled.
Geoffrey Aitken is an awarded South Australian poet and retired educator who writes on unceded Kaurna land. His ‘lived experience’ concerns him about mental health along our avenues and he uses it thematically to share with readers and listeners who find his expressiveness both timeless and warmly comforting. His debut industrial signature-styled Chapbook ‘i want that in writing’ was generated from his ‘open mic’ spoken word poetry in 2020. This has been followed by an insightful look into the shadows of poor mental health in ‘No Laughing Matter’ demonstrating his brand of ironically wry irresistible humour. He began his journey after winning a place (of three in 2018) in the Friendly Street Poets Anthology “New Poets 19”. His poetry credits include AUS, UK, US, FR, CAN, CN, and Fr. Geoffrey has been the featured poet at ‘The Good Word’ – Capt. Rehab on Nile Street in Port Adelaide, ‘Speak Hear’ in the city on Hindley Street at Wakanda Multicultural Bar, ‘SPIN’ the ‘open mic’ of the Adelaide southern suburbs at the Willunga Alma Hotel, and most recently at VoiceBox again in Port Adelaide.
losing our grip on purpose 