‘A little nugget of nonsense’ promises poet AF Harrold
THE AF Harrold Limited Edition Kid’s Poetry Podcast is back for another series.
After two series in 2020, children’s author and poet AF Harrold has recorded a third series of collected poems.
Though Harrold himself refers to it as the AFHLEKPopod, which is perhaps fitting as he also describes it as “often absurd.”
Every series of the podcast features 21 episodes, each episode consisting of an original work of poetry, written and performed by AF.
The poetry is aimed at children, and with no episode longer than five minutes, he says that it is a neat way to introduce more poetry into children’s lives.
“It’s another resource that children, parents, and teachers can use, wherever there’s a quick five minutes to pop it on, and it’s available all the time.”
Despite admitting he was unsure of podcasts, his own series is not the first time he has dipped into the medium.
Before the poetry podcast, he was a guest on Robin and Josie’s Bookshambles, a literary podcast hosted by comedians Josie Long and Robin Ince.
“I’ve known Robin from live work for yonks, and their setup is far more professional, with a producer and that kind of thing.
“I also like Radio 4’s In Our Time– Melvin Bragg speaking on a random subject every week is marvellous is something I follow dutifully.”
But his podcast is a little different, he says.
“It’s not that sort of thing with guests, it’s not discursive, if anything it feels like an exercise in ego.
“It’s wholly unnecessary and often absurd in only the finest of ways.”
“But it behoves poets to get their work out into the world, and it’s our business to champion things.”
AF says that he is no stranger to putting out his work to others, but notes that it is ultimately up to others to react to it.
“I’ve been kicked out of a bakery for reciting guerilla poetry during Havent Literary Festival– physically ejected from Gregg’s for an unwanted poem.
“I make things, and it’s up to an audience to respond, once its in their heads its their business.”
While he has worked on children’s poetry and literature, AF says that he is reminded of how poetry affected him during his childhood.
“You remember the importance of
the books and poems that got to you before you were 10, the ones that build your personality.
“And we ought to aspire to our own work doing the same.
“The podcast is a little nugget of poetry, which doesn’t last very long so you can dip in, and it’ll make you chuckle or think of somebody, in a way that isn’t a commitment.”
It is just a part of his work to bring poetry to a younger audience, Harrold explains.
“I visit schools, I’ve made videos and songs which are up on my website, and I’ve compiled poetry anthologies for seven-year-olds.
The latter anthology is one of the things that reminded him of his own influences.
“I loved Lewis Carroll, and later Roger McGough.”
But he says that something small is often all that is needed to inspire, citing an anonymously written poem often attributed to Spike Milligan.
“I think that something like Peas is a nugget of pure sense, and as a child little poems like that just stick.”
Series three of A.F. Harrold’s Limited Edition Kid’s Poetry Podcast has new episodes are available on your usual podcast platform every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.