Busybird Publishing Open Mic Night 108 A Sudden Passing and Beyond Poems

By Sue Ellson

On Wednesday 19 March 2025, I attended the Busybird Publishing Open Mic Night #108 (my fifth appearance) and shared a thank you message and read out my poems ‘A Sudden Passing‘ and ‘Beyond.’

I started with a thank you to Kev Howlett and Les Zig for the opportunity to present and Yvonne Junor and Laurie Smale for their kind words about my professional services.

I mentioned how I have been typing up the many poems I have written in the past and I came across the poem I wrote on 16 March 2022 after the Founder of Busybird Publishing, Blaise Van Hecke died suddenly just over three years ago on 13 March 2022 at 53 years of age..

I then read the poem I wrote as a reflection, ‘A Sudden Passing.’

Next, I mentioned how on 26 January 2025, I was contacted by composer / arranger Jeremy Landig in Chicago USA who asked if the Beyond Poem could be used as the lyrics for a piece he was composing for a secondary school boys’ choir. I read out the ‘Beyond’ poem and played a small sample of the music.

Finally, I mentioned I had written a poem on a sensitive topic and I called for anyone who worked in the area of counselling to reach out to me to review it.

I spoke to several people after the formalities were over and I was referred to a counselling professional who I contacted by email and she provided excellent feedback the following day. I also had a brief chat with Les Zig who mentioned it is important to publish content from the ‘lived experience’ and not just from the ‘medical perspective.’ I will be sharing the Suicide Poem very soon.

Special thanks to Yvonne Junor for the photo!

See my previous Open Mic Night #102 here, #103 here, #105 here and #106 here.

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