This poem by lovely poet Trisha Broomfield from her first collection The Equator and Other Disappointments really struck a chord with me – with us. Mostly the pack of lies grown-ups told us when we were children! And how we fell for it!
I also recall how I was betrayed by Beano comic that Australasia was upside down! Apparently it isn’t! How could the hallowed Beano spin me a line like that?! There, you see how the bitterness is unleashed. Shame on you, Beano!!
Read Trisha’s frank and personal piece below, and I think you’ll feel the way I do….
The Equator and Other Disappointments
They told me if I watched the water as we crossed the Equator
It would
Flow the opposite way
Down the plughole but it didn’t
They told me if I was good when I had my tonsils out
I could have ice-cream
But they brought me junket
Have you any idea how that tastes?
They told me if I ate the skin from the fish
I would be brainy
Really
They told me if I ate all the crusts from my toast
I would have curly hair
And if I finished my supper
there would be no starving children
in the world
TB 2016
There you are, Poetry Lovers, so true, it’s almost painful. What nonsense were you told as a child?! Adults were just awful, weren’t they?!
A beautiful piece, Trisha. Thank you so much for letting me publish it on here.
Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. We’ll be back with more poetry action real soon…..
Welcome back to the Talk Show studio (audience cheer rapturously)
Today, our special guest is prolific and talented poet Adam Gary (standing ovation)
Dobby! Let him in!
(Eventually) our esteemed guest glides elegantly down the lighted stairs. (Rapturous applause)
Welcome to the show, Adam. I hope Dobby didn’t give you a too hard a time back there.
Hi! Thank you so much for letting me take part in this!
No problem, Dobby just demanded Dreamies. Luckily, I had a packet on me!
That’s a relief! Thank you so much for coming on the show.
Why don’t you fill us in on your background, Adam?
My first creative passion was performing arts which is what I had started pursuing first from 12yrs old right up until about 26.
I’m a proud alumnus of the National Youth Theatre and have found myself on some pretty exciting sets over the years.
25 was when I began transitioning into poetry, and my exploits with that include a YouTube channel (Adam Gary Poetry) where I make videos of all styles, but always centred around poetry.
I also have a company called The Poetry Cove, where I’m trying to create the most extensive poetry community available.
From a community forum, magazine, online school, we even had a 24hr poetry radio station at one point, which I hope to get back to when things are more financially suitable.
I’m also now at the forefront of a new county Laureateship programme, which aims to bring more poetry events across the whole of Surrey, which I’m very passionate about.
Gosh! The hallowed National Youth Theatre. Only the best get in there. So impressive.
They’re really impressive projects, Adam. And I can certainly recommend your YouTube channel…
When did poetry become a part of your life?
My journey with poetry has been an ironic one. When the poetry module came round in year 10 or 11, I survived just one class. The rest I used to truant and bunk off over on the heath that backed on to my school, Feltham Community College; I think it’s rebranded now to an academy.
Funny to think that, when I’ve now wound-up teaching basic poetry writing to mayors! I don’t blame the teacher; it just never sparked my teenage, rebellious side.
Then when I was 18, I wrote my first poem for the first love of my life and electricity raced through my veins. It felt like an actual physical thing happening inside of me. The best way I can describe it is the moment Harry Potter gets his wand. I never felt that with acting.
After that, my poetry writing went dormant for about 3 years – but the sensation always stuck with me. Then, on the underground to work, I was reading an autobiography by Ray Manzarek, ‘My Life with The Doors’ and discovered Jim Morrison was an avid poet and poetry appreciator.
Once I found out that The Lizard King himself found poetry worthwhile, I fully accepted my inner poet and haven’t looked back since!
I have happy memories of that school from Slimmer’s World! A lifeline to me once.
I drive past it a lot, it’s looks completely changed now.
It’s funny isn’t it where life takes us. It sounded like the time just wasn’t right. It certainly is now.
When did poetry become a part of your life ?
Coming from a performance background, and growing up in England, Shakespeare has been inescapable. He is my biggest influence. His technique and word choice and influence he’s had is admirable and definitely something I look up to.
On the other side of that, the other biggest influence on me has been Jack Kerouac, of the beat generation. Two very different voices and styles, which I like to think somehow fuse together in my own work.
Fascinating influences, Adam, especially the latter.
Are you working on anything at the moment?
Just the other day I started work on an anthology I will be publishing through The Poetry Cove. It will collect poetry from the 1600s right up to 1920s.
I’m also slowly putting together my next limited-edition Chapbook. I started making DIY chapbooks – my first being Fungal Matter, which came out in April and is themed on mental health.
They are handmade and each one I try to make individual with a slight tweak on the cover somewhere and are numbered on the inside like a collector’s item type thing.
Oh beautiful, I’ve always wanted to do that. They’re a joy and a treasure.
Okay, (sweeps everything off the desk – the audience gasp)
What is the best gig you’ve ever done? And the worst?!
Gosh! That’s really difficult. Every time I visit an open mic night for the first time, I truly leave elevated. I love being in new surroundings and enjoying new poets.
Each open mic night has its regulars and it may sound odd, but I enjoy observing each different friend group and witnessing the bond they’ve forged through their poetry.
Open mics always recharge me, and I get up the next morning feeling like I’ve had a night on the town, less the hangover.
The worst night? Actually, a couple of weeks ago I was at a night and I thought I’d gotten there early. I hadn’t, I was right on time but I was the first POET to arrive.
The organisers had set up and were enjoying a cold brew before the festivities kicked off, but centre stage was a gentleman rather off his rocker. It was only 7pm and the night hadn’t even begun and there was this guy barely able to sit up straight in his seat.
For clarity, he clearly wasn’t there for the poetry… he had been day drinking in another part of the venue and had wandered through to our bar.
Anyway, as you can imagine he didn’t sober up as the night went on, rather the opposite, until eventually he was asked to leave by the landlord. Of course, he didn’t go quietly and didn’t leave until he’d slammed a few doors and called our host a few names I shan’t repeat here.
He was very appreciative of the live music (it was a mixed night), getting up and giving it full air guitar, but less so with the poetry. It was difficult to get through my set but thankfully I’ve managed to build a thick skin from the inevitable hate comments one receives when putting yourself out there on platforms like YouTube. All in good fun, eh?
Lordy! What a learning curve!
I’ve also experienced difficulties with inebriated patrons, their ungenerous presence can really put you off. But you’ve seemed to come out of it as a stronger person.
You’ve been a fascinating guest, Adam. Where are you off to now?
Well, I’ve got some Dreamies left to bribe Dobby to take me to an exclusive open mic
Dobby told me it was all booked up! I should have known!!
Have a lovely evening, and beware, Dobby gets a bit wild! Thank you so much for coming on the show, Adam.
(A standing ovation as the plucky and talented poet ascends the lighted stairs)
Wasn’t Adam a wonderful guest?! So full of insight. Do look at Adam’s website, it’s brilliant. http://www.adamgary.co.uk
Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. We’ll be back with more poetry action real soon…..
Welcome to our Poetry Tea Break. We all deserve one of these as hard-working poets!
The prolific and talented Trisha Broomfield has summed up this vital backbone-of-the-nation drink very well, and how we would do anything sometimes for a cup. And it’s a ghazal – a form in which I fall at the fence. So that makes it even more special.
Read on, it’s marvellous ….
Ghazal TEA
It’s been eight hours since my last cup of tea
I’m close to going out and buying a cup of tea
Cappuccinos, lattes, espressos will not do for me
fobbing me off with Ovaltine? I’m spying a cup of tea
my poor old body’s starved of tannin not to mention
caffeine of a certain strength, there’s no denying a cup of tea
I know you have some, I’ve heard the kettle, seen the tea cosy
hot chocolate will not do, you’re lying, you have a cup of tea
I sneak a peek in your kitchen cupboard, wrong I know
I can see the box and the caddy, I’m prying, there’ll be a cup of tea!
I see a real pot and strainer, I just need boiling water, leaves
that’s all a girl like me needs for scrying, a real cup of tea
I’m desperate, any tea, provided it’s hot and wet will do
almost, though I draw the line at herbal. I’m trying a Rooibos cup of tea.
Well that was ghastly, Rooibos doesn’t do it for me
compromising doesn’t suit, I’m still dying for a real cup of TEA!
I have had the honour of being invited to read at the Folk Week Fringe in Broadstairs.
The wonderful and enigmatic poet Nick Goodall, the Bard of Broadstairs himself, kindly asked me to perform on 13th August. I am so looking forward to it.
Thrilled to return to Broadstairs again, I haven’t been since 1996. And now I’m returning to perform at the marvellous Chapel Bar and Bookshop, in Albion Street, Broadstairs. Proud to be part of such an impressive bill of performers.
It’s a great line-up of poets so please come if you can.
Look up more details about the wonderful Nick Goodall. A very clever poet. He will be in residency nightly from Friday 9th August through to the 16th.
No don’t adjust your sets! It’s me, Sharron @rhymes_n_roses turning the tables on the lovely Heather Moulson because it’s time for her to take the spotlight!
Dougie switch the torch off! You’ll blind her!
You’re looking beautiful in that black velvet trouser suit my dear! Sorry about Dougie’s hair – Dougie Down!!
Don’t worry – Dougie and I are pals since our rehearsals in the garden last year – not much chance of that this Summer! Dobby says hello – she’s drying off at home.
Well, please pop that beautiful handbag down before the handle breaks, take a pew and we’ll get started.
When did poetry become a part of your life?
It became important to me at 11 when I was desperate to win a school prize. I wrote this piece about a modern house. I remember a line about central heating – a real luxury then.
Ooh central heating – best invention ever…
I know! Anyway, I won the prize – a book which I still have today – and then retired from being a poet and turned my back on it all.
What a tragedy …
Fast forward many years later, when my friend Anne Warrington wanted to set up a regular poetry meeting in 2017, I got inspired to start writing again.
Thank goodness for Anne, she’s a treasure to us all
I know, Anne’s wonderful isn’t she?!.
I discarded writing about a house this time, and concentrated on nostalgic pieces. Then I couldn’t stop, the poet in me was unleashed! It must have been fighting to get back out all along!
It’s hard to hold back once you’ve started isn’t it? And what a plethora of poems you’ve produced!
Tell the audience how the Booming Lovelies got together
Early March 2020 at the Cranleigh Arts Centre when we all naively thought that 2020 was going to be a good year! I’d already met Trisha Broomfield before but that was the first time I met you, Sharron. You made a good first impression. I recall us sitting together at a table.
Yes, we shared a packet of salt n vinegar – you were very restrained
Yes, for once! Despite the Booming Lovelies not really happening until 2022, at the Willoughby Arms, I think it was always there just waiting to be unravelled. With our love for a certain era and nostalgia and the older woman’s angle, how could it not come to light?
Definitely – we found our niche – Baby Boomers Rule OK!
Are you working on anything at the moment?
I’ve started several projects and they’ve just gone by the wayside. I would like to publish another pamphlet, as my last one Bunty, I miss you was published in 2019. I can’t believe how long ago that is now.
I LOVE your Bunty pamphlet – definitely a collector’s piece!
Ah thank you. Inspired by your’s and Trisha Broomfield’s new book, I would ideally like to write pieces with illustrations.
Your cartoons are A M A Z I N G – that’s such a good idea!
Remembering the blackouts and power rations as a teenager, I would like to concentrate on these.
Tell me about it! Obviously, I was a bit younger but I remember lighting candles at night.
Erm…I just wondered if…..
Yes of course you can pop out for a ciggie – please don’t let Dougie have one, he’s been banned from vaping
Welcome Back – I was wondering, what’s your favourite personal piece?
I really love Penfriend that I read during our Booming Lovelies act. It’s so true and makes me yearn for Ingeborg again. (Wherever she is!).
Think the other piece is Bloody Liar because I remember my school friend, Julie did that all the time!! And yet, I still fell for her lies! Why?!
They both always raise a laugh don’t they? (although my friend Julie was a bit upset about that one)
What’s the best gig you’ve ever done?
Definitely with the Booming Lovelies at Cranleigh Arts Centre in April. They were a great crowd and with us all the way. I also adored that dressing room.
Yes, our first Green Room – with a mini bar! Very rock n roll!
Wasn’t it great?!
From a solo view, I think it was at The Poetry Café in 2018 at Hampton Hill and Dorking is Talking in 2019. Isabel Morris set up poetry gigs in a Mediterranean restaurant with a great turnout, and the audience fell about. Exhausting but exhilarating. It’s a shame that died out. COVID ruined so many things.
And what about your Worst gig?!
That’s hard to answer because I’ve bombed numerous times and they merge into one!
I suppose it was at the Torriano House in December 2022, I was so thrilled to be invited there and no-one turned up! Luckily, I took along my 3 pals, and the lovely Barney Ashton-Bullock came and cleaned up on the open mic.
Where would we poets be without our friends?
Yes, indeed. My pals were a bit nonplussed, to say the least.
It was also lovely to read with the enigmatic Wendy Young, and I had the pleasure of meeting Pauline Sewards, a lovely intelligent poet, so it was a double-edged sword really.
I won’t ever forget that bleakness though and that there were eight of us in total on that dark Sunday night! Luckily, I’d brought some wine and crisps!
Well at least you were all treated to great poetry – and you got home early!
Speaking of which, I’m afraid I have to go now Sharron, I’m feature poet at the Surrey Poet Laureate’s Lounge tonight. Thank you and Dougie so much for having me.
Wow! Congratulations! You really are in demand Heather – and rightly so!
She’s off in that new blue car of hers – going places is our Heather. Now she’s gone I’ll open a bag of cheese and onion and write this up. She makes it look so easy!
Recently, I did an email poetry course with the wonderful Sue Burge on the Seven Deadly Sins.
It’s funny how these biblical things still draw us in and intrigue us. I like the ‘good’ ones of course, like lust and envy. The only one I really fell at the fence with was Pride. A difficult and intangible thing to express.
However, I attempted a half ghazal for Envy. Do read on;
Envy
What does she have that I haven’t?
Please don’t answer that
Is it a thing called talent?
Please don’t answer that
I suspect she’s wearing a wonder-bra
Please don’t answer that
Is this a sign that she’ll go far?
Please don’t answer that
Will that girl go right to the top?
Please don’t answer that
While I stay put in the cake shop?
Please don’t answer that
HM 2024
Thanks for reading, PL’s. I can’t help feeling there are worse fates than being stuck in a cake shop!! Maybe I’m the object of envy here!
Adore these pictures taken last night at Paper Tiger Poetry. Thanks to Antonio for getting these shots. A great night.
Thanks for tuning in to this occasional series, PL’s. We’ll be back with more poetry action real soon…..
Yes, it’s coming up again. The Sealey Challenge – where one reads a poetry pamphlet everyday for the whole of August.
I’ve always wanted to write a piece about this enigmatic task but words have failed me.
However, the lovely talented Sharron Green has come up with a belter! Adore this poem, sums it up entirely. Do read on…
Sincerely Challenged
The Sealey Challenge has been one, it’s harder than it looks. To read and post through August, that’s quite a lot of books!
I’ve mostly kept to ones I have as there are now a few and reading them has long been on my list of things to do.
There is a huge variety in poetry I find – the style, the form and subject – impress upon the mind.
Plus seeing them flow together, the way they grace the page, gives tips and inspiration
for when I reach that stage. I’m grateful to the poets who have channeled words through pen,
and to the Sealey Challenge for the month to savour them.
rhymes_n_roses 2024
Wasn’t that just wonderful?! Sharron captured that daunting yet enticing prospect so well.
Thank you so much, Sharron. Excellent piece. We’ll keep you updated with the Sealey Challenge, PL’s. And perhaps you’d like to take on this task yourselves! It’s surprising how many poetry books one has.
This is a picture of us with our lovely pal Trisha Broomfield, having lunch at Huffkins after a superb poetry workshop at Kingston Library. Every Tuesday morning at 11 am, do go if you can. Taken by the wonderful Adam Gary.
Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. We’ll be back with more poetry action real soon….
Now that we are actually in summertime (I think?), I’ve found this lovely seasonal piece by Sharron Green.
So descriptive and personal, I couldn’t resist illustrating her poem and sharing it with you.
I would love to write a piece like this, but all I have at the moment is a summer triolet that I will have to blow the cobwebs off.
This is a much classier poem, I know you’ll enjoy it. Do read on…
Touching Base
Sit me in a flower bed. Let the perfume fill my head. Chase away the angst and dread. Leave me feeling calm.
Plonk me on a tired bench. Freeing it will be a wrench. Feel my frowny face unclench. Breathe in nature’s balm.
Park me by a tinkling stream. Let the ripples wash me clean. Save the scene for my next dream. Gardens work their charm.
rhymes_n_roses 2024
Fabulous piece, wasn’t it. So visual and vibrant.
Thank you so much, Sharron and more please. Do look at Sharron’s wonderful website for more delightful pieces http://rhymesnroses.com or follow her on Instagram on @rhymes_n_roses Sharron also has a fabulous new collection Willing Words. Treat yourselves!
Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. We’ll be back with more poetry adventures real soon….
And it’s a ghazal – a form in which I fall at the fence. So that makes it even more special.
Heather Moulson 