None of This Makes Any Sense

In December 2023, I collaborated with my long-term creative partner Keith McKay on a project to produce four poems and four artworks that would inter-relate with and respond to each other. 

We entered the manuscript to Hedgehog Press 'Little Black Books' poetry pamphlet competition. And we were ecstatic when we learned we'd won! We were joint-winners alongside the softly mesmerising 'Snow', produced by Palo Almond and Peter Kenny.

Our pamphlet 'None of This Makes Any Sense' was published by Hedgehog Press on 15 May 2024. 

But is it poetry?

None of This Makes Any Sense is comprised of four poems and four asemic poems. The four poems I wrote are formed from words. Intelligible words, hopefully! But what about the four asemic poems Keith created?

First off, what does ‘asemic’ actually mean? Analysing the word's roots, it means ‘A-semic’ or ‘non-sense’. 

I’d describe asemic writing as part of a genre of visual poetry, which is becoming increasingly popular as an art form, and increasingly interesting. The asemic poems Keith has in this pamphlet are a selection of works he wrote using computer code, and writing freehand. See Keith’s website for more info on the genre.

So, I have a question for you. Can it be poetry if it's essentially meaningless? Isn't that the exact opposite? Isn't the point of writing to express how we feel about things? 

Our pamphlet is A6 in size, with full-colour images of Keith’s asemic works, one of which was sought out for an exhibition in Buenos Aires in November 2023.

My poems muse on the search for meaning and purpose in life, when – sometimes – it can seem none of it makes any sense.

You can order your signed, limited edition micro-pamphlet direct from Carol (and Keith) for £6.99 including p+p (UK only) via the link at the bottom of this post.

You can order None of This Makes Any Sense from the publisher, Hedgehog Press, too

Is it poetry? 

Is it art?

Let us know your thoughts via the 'comments' section of this blog post!