Weekly Poem Feature: Teleport Memory by Patrick Chapman
In this week's selection, The Poetry Programme presents "Teleport Memory," a captivating poem by Patrick Chapman that seamlessly blends science fiction and poetry. This intriguing piece is a testament to Chapman's versatility as a writer, who has made a name for himself in various genres, including short film, short fiction, and children's TV.
"Teleport Memory" is not Chapman's first foray into poetry. His seventh poetry collection, "Slow Clocks of Decay," published by Salmon Poetry, showcases his talent in this genre. The themes in "Slow Clocks of Decay" are diverse, encompassing loss of friends, suicide, depression, love, ageing, the destructive effect of religion, and more.
Meanwhile, The Poetry Programme will also feature Julien Clancy reporting on the Poems for Patience project at University Hospital Galway. On a separate note, biographer Jim Mayer will discuss the poetic side of polar explorer Ernest Shackleton.
For those eager to hear "Teleport Memory," it can be listened to below. Patrick Chapman himself will be a guest on The Poetry Programme this Saturday, 5 November, at 7:30 pm on RTÉ Radio 1.
In a separate poem, Helen Hunt Jackson's "August" captures a moment of seasonal transition, using vivid imagery to evoke a sense of impermanence and melancholy beauty. This sonnet reflects on the passage of time, the inevitable decline of summer's fullness, and the contrast between appearance and reality—how summer tries to mask its waning beauty but ultimately cannot hide the signs of approaching autumn and loss.
This week's Poem of the Week selection, "August," portrays summer as "poor" and "middle-aged," struggling to conceal her decline through a "blazonry of color." It serves as a poignant reminder of the natural cycles we all must navigate, the bittersweet nature of change, and the subtle surrender of our peak vitality to the inevitability of time passing.
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