10 Years Of Living, Travelling and Writing Poetry: Daniel Rowland AKA 'The Pavement Poet'

With a one-way ticket to Amsterdam, one-hundred-and-eighteen euros in his hand and the bag on his back, Daniel Rowland, also known as the 'Pavement Poet', began his nomadic journey ten years ago.

The political poet looks back on his adventurous life to where it all began. The moment he decided enough was enough, "F*** it", Danny said. He packed his bags and went aboard, somewhere far away from the hazy town, he grew up in. Swindon, England was not the place Danny wanted to stay in. In his mid-twenties, he wanted to "get high and just walk somewhere", Danny explains.

The poet began his unconventional lifestyle because he no longer wanted to satisfy judgments of what he ought to do. After a few years of a nomadic lifestyle, his poetry blossomed. Danny was not only influenced by society, the government and his own experiences but his spirituality and connection to nature inspired him to keep going and keep writing.

Danny has been known as the 'Pavement Poet' for many years, although his poetic carvings on the pavements around the UK have been extended to France, Spain and Germany from time to time.

His artistic words mark the streets of hundreds of towns and cities over the years, withstanding the test of space, time and the weather. The colourful chalk on the pavements is not just poetry, but written art that covers the UK's streets for a fleeting moment until the rain washes it away.

I met Danny about five years ago. He was wearing a sophisticated dark shirt tucked into his jeans. With faint chalky imprints on his trousers, knelt on the ground writing his poetry on the bustling streets of Cardiff's city centre. Over the years, we occasionally crossed paths or pavements, let's say. His eccentric demeanour seemed to intrigue people from all walks of life. Beside him are the stumbling strangers peering down to see his written words unfolding onto the pavement. Memories, experiences and his inner thoughts on social constructs are all embedded within his poetry.

When asked why write on pavements, with a shrug, Danny responded:

"Why not? I was at Stone Henge, fell asleep and woke up with the sun rising in my eyes, then I began to start writing. The decision to write poetry with chalk was a "seed that was planted in conversation I once had," he said.

Danny describes how he used to write poetry when he was younger but had not written for years. He said, "I studied Politics and Economics at Bath University. It was weird. At that point in my life, I felt really distracted. Something was missing."

According to Danny, his experimentation with psychedelics during education helped change his views. "It was a breakdown for whatever construction that was created for me, it was a knock-on effect. Perspectives were changed, on my art form and the life I was living," he admitted.

The poet felt closer to nature, he said "I truly appreciate what I had more than ever, it balanced me and gave me a deeper connection to my surroundings." The way Danny talks about his experiences reveals the uttermost care that he holds for nature and the world around him.

Danny addresses his views on spirituality, "What happens to your energy when you die? I try to be a spiritual person, we are only human aren’t we?" he explained.

Although, over the last decade, life on the road has tested the poet's strength and ability to carry on living a nomadic life. Danny said: "No matter which path we have taken, we would have ended up on that path regardless. Without the rain and wind, we wouldn't appreciate the sun."

Despite the darkest moments, this nomadic writer has found himself continuing a journey of being at peace with the world. Coming to the end of his 10-year mission to live with less, Danny has plans to stay in one place in the upcoming months, a house with a little garden in the Midlands. "I can't remember the last time I have even spent a winter indoors. Plus, a rootless tree blows over doesn’t it."

The travelling poet explains how he has been through all the emotions over the years and experienced real loneliness at points, especially during the cold nights camping in forests. Danny highlights that he learnt the hard way how living the nomadic lifestyle can make it hard to build connections and relationships.

Despite the short documentaries and countless towns he has travelled to, Danny felt that many people knew him but he did not know many people. Yet, this did not prevent him from travelling around from city to city.

Danny mentions his hopeful prospects of staying in one place for a change and how he is looking forward to more time to write books. Although he is known for being a street poet, a new home will be a space for him to focus on other ventures. "More books than pavements this time," said Danny.

The 'Pavement Poet' confesses that the pandemic gave him time off. Instead of constantly on the move visiting different places, COVID-19 helped to highlight the importance of staying still and appreciating the present. He began writing his book which he had hoped to do for a while. Danny wants to finish writing sooner but believes that everything happens at the right time.

Upon reflection of his past, Danny said: "I don’t think I would do anything differently. Even the not-so-good choices all led somewhere. If I get rid of that darkness, is there anywhere else you can shine a light. Would I have learnt that lesson or gained the same insight?"

After a decade on the road, Daniel Rowland still urges others to travel as much as possible and to see and do whatever they want to do. The 'Pavement Poet' continues not just a new chapter in his life, but a new book in progress. This time his poetically composed words will be on pages instead of pavements.