POETRY AT BICKERING POINT

The bench at Bickering Point is the venue for poetry in Bickering on Sea. We hope that you enjoy the poems you find here; and appreciate the view of our lovely town; Fisherman's Quay, Uriah's Folly, Bickering Castle, and the rest of the old town.

A bench might seem like an unusual poetry publisher, but this spot has long been a site to inspire creativity in literary minds. It is said that Jane Austen, rumoured onetime visitor to Bickering on Sea and one of the UK’s greatest authors, enjoyed the unparalleled view of the town and Bickering Castle, before writing Northanger Abbey. Also, many of the less well known Great War Poets found the sunset view an elixir against the horror of war, while billeted at Bickering Hall.

Contributions of poetry and prose are welcome. They enrich our life together. Simply follow the link to the Contributions page to find out more.

Perhaps you will be inspired by this extract from Ode to Bickering on Sea, by a member of the Parish Council...

I long for a story, I long for more life,

I cherish each moment where there is less strife.

I want just to write, and to read, and to craft,

tales of the people, who struggled and laughed,

to live to the full the life they were given,

and find a new path in their seaside haven.

Whether romance, adventure, mystery, or crime,

fantasy, sci-fi, humour, or rhyme,

the stories of Bickering are meant just to be

a distraction from life and fun just for me.

And here is a rather less uplifting extract from the Life by the Sea, a poem by Arthur Rowbotham, a visitor to the 1975 Bickering on Sea Real Ale and Absinthe Festival.

Oh, sewer pipe upon the beach,

your contents rich with poo and bleach,

to mingle with the sand and stone,

and cover children going home,

spreading awful things abroad

collected from your sinister shore.