Poetry Corner
Hello Poetry Lovers
I’m off to Bristol for a couple of days.
Dobby will take charge of this site and will have a quiet reflective weekend looking at and editing my new poetry collection. So I’m glad it’s in safe hands/paws.
And all being well, I hope to do poetry at this lovely venue in Southville (if I can find it)
A charming place just ripe for reading about Scrubbers
Thanks for tuning in, PL’s I will share my adventures on my return
Hello Poetry Lovers
This time we turn to other creatures that clever Ogden Nash has featured, such as the Eel. We never really hear their side of the story.
And this one is quite handsome. A ‘good catch’ you might say.
A lady I knew bought an eel for her marine fish tank. I adored him, and named him Eric. He cost £120. Anyway, he died the next week. So best not to get too attached to them really. Bless you, Eric.
The Eel
I don’t mind eels
Except as meals,
And the way they feels.
The Octopus
Tell me, O Octopus, I begs,
Is those things arms, or is they legs?
I marvel at thee, Octopus;
If I were thou, I’d call me Us.
Is it me or does that first Octopus look hacked off?! I expect they’re fed up with stupid questions like that!!
The Rhinoceros
The rhino is a homely beast,
For human eyes he’s not a feast.
Farewell, farewell, you old rhinoceros,
I’ll stare at something less prepoceros.
This one I find a bit mean. I think she’s rather nice, and probably a vegan! Shame on you, Ogden. 
Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. Do send your own preconceptions of animals in to the usual address.
Hello Poetry Lovers
Sorry for my absence but the cupboard has been bare. 
Oh, don’t get me wrong – I’ve had some exciting times with the Booming Lovelies and other events, but I’ve run clean out of poems.
So, what does a bereft poet do?! Yes! Turns to Ogden Nash. These super pieces are from Parents, Keep Out, a great paperback of his from 1969. 
Do read the following, they’re great fun…
The Kitten
The trouble with a kitten is
THAT
Eventually it becomes a
CAT.
This is Dobby’s favourite. Can’t think why! 
The following ones not so much…
The Fly
The Lord in His wisdom made the fly
And then forgot to tell us why.
The Wasp
The wasp and all his numerous family
I look upon as a major calamity.
He throws open his nest with prodigality,
But I distrust his waspitality.
I’ve often wondered if there are ‘regular’ wasps out there. They still go around in a swarm but not really into violence and stinging people. Or are they all just evil like Daleks?! What do you think, PL’s?
Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. We’ll be back with more poetry action real soon…..
The Booming Lovelies are back at the Ageing Well Festival on Thursday 1st October at 2.15 pm.
Trisha, Sharron and I are very excited to return to the Hop 50+ in Hove. Details of tickets are above. We hope to see you there. 
This is us rehearsing online. I don’t know why our dogs and cats got involved!!
And on Sunday 4th October 6 till 8 pm, we have another Poetry Performance at the Adelaide pub, Teddington.
Our featured poet is lovely Liz Newbery and the optional theme is Light. Andrew Evzona is our MC. It’ll be a great night.
This is me ‘preparing’ the room.
What an exciting week – eh? A great start to October….
Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. We’ll be back with more poetry action real soon….
Hello Poetry Lovers
Well, what can I say about our trip to the Morecambe Poetry Festival?! A rich array of poets and poetry – and that’s just the first layer!
This is us, Trisha, Sharron and moi with the wonderful Matt Panesh! What a bloke!
As you can see, we took our art very seriously as we couldn’t resist the Eric and Ernie cutouts there!
Dr John Cooper Clarke, Henry Normal, Luke Wright, Robin Ince, Rowland Crowland and Hannah Wood were one of many talented poets on the bill, and we particularly loved Patience Agbabi. This marvellous poet from Colwyn Bay captured the era of mods and Northern soul so distinctly in her words. We were captivated. Such a wonderful human being.
We also had a passion for Salena Godden, such a fantastic reading and presentation.
This is me, Sharron and Dennis Tomlinson in anticipation of Brian Bilston…
Mr Bilston was droll and witty and topped the bill of sheer talent on Sunday night.
But before that, we had the joy of performing as Booming Lovelies in the Arndale Shopping Centre. Here we are with Susan Osborne aka A Laff from Lancashire. Thank you Susan for your support. Heather Sullivan and Anna Somerset also performed beautifully.
Sharron and I enjoy a break …
So farewell Morecambe until next year … (don’t know why Heather has such a wry smile there!).
Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. We’ll be back with more poetry action real soon…..
Hello Poetry Lovers
We’re off to Morecambe for the Poetry Festival!
And this time we will be joined by the third Booming Lovely, Trisha
The first time for Trisha but a third visit for me and Sharron. We will be performing on Sunday at the Arndale Shopping Centre at 1.30 pm. An interesting experience!
Will report back next week and share my Morecambe adventures with you.
Meanwhile have a good weekend and come up with a poem for the Arts Richmond competition….
Well, Poetry Lovers, what a week of poetry it has been!
Last Sunday we had the joy of Sir Richard Eyre as featured poet at the Adelaide. Honoured by his visit, we loved his poems and anecdotes.
This is my most treasured photograph, in the company of a lovely and clever man.
In fact, there was strong poetry read all round. Including the founder of Poetry Performance, Anne Warrington.
Then on Friday, I had the privilege of performing at the Guildford Institute with the Booming Lovelies
I’m looking quite furtive here for some reason !
It was a terrific audience and a great success.
I look shifty here too!
Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. We’ll be back with more poetry action real soon…
..to a theatre near you!
Exciting news ! The Booming Lovelies are returning to the Guildford Institute next Friday 11th September at 3.30 pm.
Trisha, Sharron and I are very excited about reappearing at this lovely and welcoming venue and had a great rehearsal in their library. We were also thrilled to be featured in the classy R&A magazine.
Finishing off with lunch at the lovely Cote restaurant opposite the castle. I had fish stew – num!
For tickets, please go to the link below, and we hope to see you there.
https://www.guildford-institute.org.uk/event/booming-lovelies-e121/
Hello Poetry Lovers
Inevitably I’m going to post a tribute to the late Tim Curry. A unique actor and singer and a great loss to us all. 
Anyone will know he was a lifelong pash for me. I’ve been crazy about him since I was 16!!
But not only that, I also try to explain his golden days to Dobby! This was not an easy feat! 
Read on…. Apologies for the poor quality of the photos, by the way
Of course the news reached me on 26th August 2026 so I explained my deep attachment to Dobby…..
We travel back in time to June 1974 to Kings Road, Chelsea
This was the Kings Road Theatre, Dobby. Ann and Grandad (whom you never met) took me to see the Rocky Horror Show. I was only 15!
And the lead role, Frank-n-Furter, scared the life out of me! By God, my parents had a lot to answer for!
I wasn’t aware of Tim Curry then until January 1975…
and I never looked back. Talk about love at first sight!!
Watch out for the next instalment
Thanks for indulging me, PL’s. Stay tuned for more poetry action real soon…
Hello Poetry Lovers
I have to share with you the great night of poetry we had on Friday at the Parade’s End Bookshop in Ham.
Rachel Thomas, the wonderful bookshop owner hosted a night of poetry. This is me before it all started. With the marvellous Sharron Green, the vibrant Sam Ball and siren Del Bowen. Wine at the ready, we were full of apprehension.
I invited this marvellous group of poets to read and I was so happy they all accepted. From your left, there’s Dr Niazi, yours truly, Sharron Green, Sophie Palombo at the front – an open micer who I’d really like to see more of – behind is Dennis Tomlinson, who really broke the ice, and the lovely Liz Newbery in front of him.
Behind is boy genius Phil Porter standing next to lovely Ian Lee-Dolphin followed by maverick Sam Ball. Stylish Dilly Orme stands out in her pink, and glamorous gals Sarah Boyd and Del Bowen. What a gang!
Everyone read great poetry for five minutes, then after a very brief break, I featured with material from my new book Slummy Mummy.
This is my favourite image. Thank you, Heidi for taking this. And I’m so happy I sat next to Sharron!
Packed full to capacity, we finished just after 8 pm. Drained but happy. We really hope to do it again.
Thanks for reading about my evening, PLs. We’ll be back with more poetry action real soon.
Have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
