A SPARKLE FROM JONATHAN POTTER: Two poems meet in a moment of synchronicity
A new poetry book arrived in the post yesterday: Jonathan Potter’s The Sweet Spot in the Chaos.
My first surprise was how big, chunky and heavy the book is, and the sheer number of poems! And here was I thinking I write a lot of poetry! What does Jonathan eat for breakfast? Is there something in the water where he lives? I’ll have to ask him his secret. Because this isn’t even his first poetry book. Are the others so big, too?
I flipped through it and marvelled at the gorgeous writing. I’d just finished filming myself reading my poem The Sparkle Revolution, which is all about noticing people, paying attention, and giving small, sincere compliments. I believe that saying something kind to someone, whether you know them or not, is always a good idea.
I’ll never forget a moment in a Spanish supermarket last Christmas. I was packing groceries with my mother, and the beautiful young woman at the till turned to me, right after I’d paid, and told me how beautiful I was. I was so surprised I literally blushed, thanked her, and returned the compliment. And then I sashayed home feeling like an (aging!) movie star.
Anyway, since I’d just taken a few photos of poems from my own book, Illicit Croissants at Dawn, I also snapped a picture of Jonathan’s book and posted it on Substack, tagging him.
A few minutes later, he commented, suggesting I turn to page 190.
Curious, I did. And my sparkle sparkled brighter than it had all day when I saw that he’d dedicated a poem to me! It’s called These Messages, and it’s lovely. What a wonderful thing to do, and such a great idea. Throughout his book, Jonathan has dedicated poems to people, which is bound to have the same joyful effect on them as it did on me.
I took a photograph of my poem and posted it on Instagram, along with the link to The Sweet Spot in the Chaos on Amazon.
Basically, yesterday, Jonathan Potter made my day.
Which just proves what I say in The Sparkle Revolution:
Small, unexpected acts of kindness are incredibly powerful.
Thank you, Jonathan Potter, for this wonderful gift.
Have you reccently had a “sparkle moment” like this? A small surprise that changed the colour of your day?
Lots of love
Cesca xx
