Interview with Dennis Tomlinson

Hello Poetry Lovers

Welcome back to the Poetry Talk Show Studio. (Ecstatic applause)

Yes, you should be excited! Because our special guest today is talented and prolific poet Dennis Tomlinson!

(Standing ovation as our tattooed and esteemed guest glides elegantly down the stairs)

Pleased to be here, Heather. Er – can you stop Dobby from growling at me?

As soon as I could write I produced little books of poems in childish imitation of Lewis Carroll and Hilaire Belloc.

I dabbled in poetry at school and university but I didn’t make up my mind to become a Poet until 2006. That’s when I joined the Poetry ID group in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, who hold weekly workshops where you’re encouraged to write on the spot.

Since then poetry has become an essential part of my life, both as a writer and as a reader. My principal motivation is still to record experiences and memories that would otherwise disappear into oblivion.

My English teacher introduced me to Robert Frost, whose every poem tells a story, and Philip Larkin, who expressed harsh truths in lyrical verse. They’re still working away in my brain.

Reading and writing haiku has often helped me to pare language down to the essential in short lines. I quote the master Matsuo Basho from the 17th century, as translated by RH Blyth:

   Ah! Summer grasses!

   All that remains

   Of the warriors’ dreams

I have also gained a lot from personal acquaintance; Yuko Minamikawa Adams (of Poetry ID) has influenced me with her startling, surreal combinations of images.

No. In the spring I self-published The Alexandra, a collection with a running theme of pubs and bars and a tribute to my late father Tony Tomlinson, a talented poet himself.

If you’d like a copy, you can contact me through my page at http://www.poetrypf.co.uk/dennistomlinsonpage.shtml

I compose one or two poems every month but I have no big project at the moment.

My best experience was maybe at the Grey Horse, Kingston upon Thames in March 2024. The young ladies who run the Homely Poetry night had invited me to read as the featured poet.

I presented a selection of my poems and showed the Nymph tattoo on my shoulder, taken from the cover image of my book Ornaments. 

I got plenty of applause, laughter, a £15 fee and a sense of satisfaction. Be grateful for small mercies!

I’ve never had a really bad experience, just weak clapping or awkward silences.

But when I took part in a night with two Poetry Society groups (‘Stanza Bonanza’) at the Poetry Cafe a few years back, I included what I thought was a light-hearted reference to a contemporary Chinese poet. But a friend exploded with a passionate rant about ‘racism’ and ‘Western imperialism’. You have to be aware of people’s sensitivities!

Actually, Heather, I might make a run for it while Dobby’s not around! She might want to remove my tattoos herself!

(Our enigmatic guest legs it up the stairs followed by screams of pain! )

Whoops! A brave attempt, Dennis but Dobby will always get you.

(Our host can’t bear to hear such agony and puts her hands over her ears.)

Wasn’t Dennis Tomlinson a fascinating and wonderful guest, PL’s?!

(Cheers of agreement and a standing ovation).

Please check out Dennis’ website above for a real poetry treat.

Thanks for attending the Talk Show Studio, PL’s. We’ll be back with more poetry action real soon…