By the ScratchThat Editorial Board
Pocket Poem Haiku
By Tori Brown
Young artists we sit
Sun hidden by passing clouds
‘I don’t like poems.’
‘Pocket Poems’ Event Reflection
By Sailor Rose
I knew this event wouldn’t be as easy as skipping a week thirteen lecture, but the way that people avoided the handwritten poems and lovingly sketched illustrations I held, you would’ve thought I was offering them a live grenade or an academic misconduct notice. Even when I made sure that ‘free’ was the first word out of my mouth or when we told passers-by ‘it’s just a poem’, people still seemed to scramble for any reason to reject the small squares of paper, saying ‘I don’t like poetry’ or straight up feigning deafness (yes, they could definitely hear us and no they weren’t wearing airpods–I checked). Even my shrimp playing a saxophone was declined–thank you to the gentleman who eventually accepted the shrimp; he appreciated your hospitality.
It seems that the constant asking of students (for time, for politics, for signing up and signing on) rather than giving to students has made them build a defence system so layered that it could make an onion cry (and some of our more rejection-adverse team members too). It was clear to us that, after years of campus life and making the dangerous trek through the courtyard that sits between blocks A and C, even the offer of art now seemed like an assault. Does a table of half-delirious final-year students bowed over a campus picnic table scattered with papers and brownie crumbs, pencils working tirelessly as they scratch out three small sketches in a matter of fifteen minutes while listening to Running Up That Hill really seem that threatening? I guess so.
Well, thank you to the poet who read my poem and smiled (I hope it reminds you to dance in the rain). Thank you to the girl who was gifted two illustrations and chose her favourite (it was the mouse buried in raspberries, holding one aloft, victorious). Thank you to the people who stopped for a live group portrait (I’m glad you had a moment to sit with us in the sun). Thank you to the first man who dared to make eye contact with me and was kind enough to stop for a poem and a chat as well–you made our day. I hope the next time people see the ScratchThat banner, they’ll come a little closer and know that we don’t want anything from them–we just want to bring a little art and a little joy to a day that was, before now, the same as all the rest.
Pocket Poems Reflection 23/O4/2O26
By Xana Robbins
Overall, I think the pocket poems event was a great success. We figured it out as we went along. At first I felt that the pace of the day might be slow, but then before I knew it, we were all stocking up on poems and drawings and handing them out within seconds. The energy was there, the music was going, everyone was laughing. Where we were situated was a key part. As we all know the trek down the hill to the Z block creative precinct can be far removed from those not studying the arts. Being up at A block meant we could spread the word to more communities of study. We met students from education, nursing, (etc), and even some lovely library staff. We even broke through to people who straight up ‘didn’t like poetry or art.’ But one thing they all had in common, that you couldn’t ignore, was them taking a look at the poems or illustrations and walking away laughing, taking a picture, or showing their friends. It was a great experience to jump out of my comfort zone a little bit (a lot) and share all of our creative outlets in such a lovely way. It was definitely an effective teaser trailer into ScratchThat. To those of you who saw us on the day, have seen our Instagram page, or are reading this now, I’d better see you at our Launch Party on the 29th of May Z9 room 130 at six pm! Get your tickets now!