"Nice form" - Sinead O'Brien judges some original poetry from her Chess Club labelmates

Feat. Jess from Coach Party, Phoebe Green and Alfie Templeman.

Poetry and music go hand in hand, so we’re told. From Lana Del Rey and Arlo Parks, to Dork fave Sinead O’Brien, who has just dropped a really very good new EP ‘Drowning In Blessings’. But are all musicians good at writing poems, or is it a specialist skill?

We decided to ask Sinead to judge some efforts by some of her Chess Club labelmates to see. Actually, they’re not awful. Who knew?

Obvious Guy by Jess, Coach Party

We decided to ask Sinead to judge some efforts by some of her Chess Club labelmates to see. Actually, they’re not awful. Who knew?

Obvious Guy by Jess, Coach Party

Not good at goodbyes And lost at seventeen What will be next for this tambourine dancing queen No he's not from Abba But can sure hold a tune He's also not obvious So don't speak too soon He can feel numb But says it's dumb Our best friend, Obvious or not, Makes our chess club roster red hot

Sinead's Comments: Great cross-referencing of songs here, ('My Best Friend' by Alfie x Coach Party). I love a piece full of references and clues! Let's see about dancing queen title, Alfie?

Taking On Time (Quarantine edition) by Phoebe Green

everything here matters, except for the time spagbol for brekkie with a glass of wine fixated on the way in which the flowers are arranged but oblivious to when you're supposed to get changed the sun has not yet risen, but you've been awake for hours or maybe it's been days, when was the last time that you showered? you've tried to be productive but it's useless and uninspiring taking on time rather than taking on the ironing

Sinead's Comments: I love the way so many daily rituals have been threaded into this one and that sense of time stretching and slowing down during quarantine.

SPACE by Alfie Templeman

Life is a black hole in space chasing you down like a race, there's nowhere to run. When your head needs the sun as a light on the darkness you face. The stars are the moments that shine that stand out from miles and miles they sparkle with hope, when it's too hard to cope, and assure you that you're feeling fine.

Sinead's Comments: I appreciate the rhyming scheme here, nice form and ending with a positive message is a plus too!

The Verdict The winner is Phoebe, I really like her sense of using inspiration from her surroundings, and I can really see that environment and image she's put together. 'TAKING ON TIME 2.0' - Wonder what it would sound like! Taken from the October issue of Dork. Sinead O'Brien's debut EP 'Drowning In Blessings' is out now.