Interview with Anna Somerset

Hello Poetry Lovers

Welcome back to the talk show studio! (Rapturous applause from the audience)

Today we have the honour of the vibrant poet, Anna Somerset being our guest. (Audience get excited).

Now you lot settle down, because here is Anna Somerset now !!

(Our esteemed guest wafts elegantly down the lighted stairs).

Anna! Welcome to the show. So pleased you’ve agreed to be our special guest! And I LOVE your dress!

Thanks Heather!  Honoured to be in your boudoir, reading old copies of Bunty!

Oh yes! I have plenty of them here. Plus Judy and Mandy.

Do take a seat. You don’t mind if I eat this cake, do you?

When did poetry become a part of your life, Anna?

My parents were both visual artists, but decided to make me right-handed which seemed to nip any talent for that in the bud.

I enjoyed writing poetry at infants school, and studied poetry in French and German at university and had a wonderfully inspiring work colleague and poet, Anna Stearman in my 30s, but I was directly called to verse myself after the unexpected and tragic death of a friend in my late forties. 

Poems kept arriving fully formed at 4am.   A working Mum & stepmum, supporting my mother with my Dad’s dementia and after his death, caring for Mum, kept the poetry a modest trickle for a number of years. 

I came across Survivors Poetry by chance in 2016.  Debbie, Keith and the gang were a revelation, and from Survivors  Jason Why encouraged me to darken the doors of Paper Tiger poetry in 2018. 

Since then it has become a healthy addiction and escalated to other places where I have been lucky enough to do feature slots.

What a journey you have had, Anna. And I hear Survivors Poetry is wonderful.

Who were your biggest influences?


I am lucky enough to have found Greenwich Poetry Workshop, run by Doreen Hinchcliffe and every Thursday do a poetry masterclass, which exposes me to poets I wouldn’t otherwise have encountered together with kind and helpful criticism. 

 I did an excellent workshop with Vanessa Lampert which inspired a new poem in a completely different style. 

I love the energy of the performance poets I see regularly – Steve Tasane, Richard Allen, the irrepressible Lee Campbell and you, Pip Macdonald and PoetryBird Heather. 

It has been wonderful  to see people grow as poets – Ian Preznansky and Rachel Tansy Chadwick for example. 

Shelley is a favourite – To a Skylark fills me with joy and the Mask of Anarchy resonates still.  I prefer D H Lawrence’s poems to his nvels. I find Lorca spell-binding, but sadly only in translation.  Goethe and Heine enchant me, as does Rilke.  Benjamin Zepheniah was a shining light of wonder whom I was lucky enough to hear in person.  I would love to have heard the amazing Maya Angelou. I loved seeing  Toria Garbutt, whose performance at Morecambe Poetry Festival was extraordinarily moving.  Liz Berry is someone I will be seeing in person soon.

Aw! Blush! Thank you.

What impressive influences, and I know Vanessa Lampert. Wonderful poet.

Tell us how From the Doggerlanders came about

And are you working on anything at the moment?

This, my first collection, came together thanks to the grim days of Lockdown.  I became properly aware of England’s Atlantis, Doggerland and had the time to research it.  It struck me how fragile the world is and how it has always been in a state of flux. 

The collection is like the Woolworth’s  pick a mix of my youth.  Lots of different stuff – from the first poems I wrote in the wake of the death of my friend, Jean-Claude to some angry political stuff, to constantly being fatshamed and some humorous observations about being a carer.

Working with gifted renaissance man Keith Bray on the editing of my work was an absolute delight.   

I am most of the way through a second collection, A State of Catlessness, which again covers lots of different themes, and is funny as well as serious. 

Fantastic, I really look forward to reading that. The title alone is right up my street!

With your stunning detailed words, it will be excellent. And yes, Keith is great, isn’t he.

Now, (sweeps everything off the desk, audience gasp) What’s the best gig you’ve ever done and the Worst?!



My most recent feature spot at Talking Rhythm was an absolute delight.  I love the mixture of music and poetry.  Performing alongside excellent fellow poets is constantly a huge thrill.

I loved the energy of the first Play on Words, Lee Campbell’s Aurelia Studios Poetry Night that I went to, and am really excited to be doing a feature slot there in November. 

The New Poetry Shack has a cool vibe and Paper Tiger is enchanting.  Was thrilled to run away to Morecambe poetry festival and stalk you!  I love the painting Keith Bray did of me….

 And the worst?!!  There haven’t been bad poetry gigs.

  A couple of decades ago I was Widow Twankey in a touring production of Aladdin.  We had three shows a day and had to drive the minibus and put up the scenery. 

Little boys would lift up my skirt; Abanazar stank, we ran out of 50p’s for the electric meter and one day whilst we were playing bingo in an attempt to keep warm between shows, the minibus was broken into and my make up bag nicked…. that was a bad gig!! 

Oh my word, Anna! That sounded like something out of Mike Leigh!

You could write a collection on that alone! What an experience!

That is a beautiful painting. Something to be treasured. Very talented artist.

So, what you doing tonight? Off to Poetry?

SSh! I can clearly see Dobby’s asleep on your lap there. Perhaps it’s best I tiptoe out now.

Excellent idea, Anna. So see you in Morecambe in September!

Er – well… (our esteemed guest looks shamefaced)

You’re taking Dobby instead, aren’t you?! Oh don’t worry, I’m used to getting the elbow for Dobby! (Puts on a brave face)

Yes, well, must get along to Paper Tiger Poetry now! Bye!!!

(Our esteemed guest legs it up the lighted stairs)

(Ecstatic applause)

Wasn’t Anna the most wonderful and glamorous guest?! Really look out for her new collection. It’s marvellous!

For a real treat, and to purchase From The Doggerlanders, click on http://londonpoets.com

Thanks for visiting the talk show studio, Poetry Lovers. We’ll be back real soon….

Cat-opoly

Hello Poetry Lovers

Now, any cat lover worth their salt, knows how a cat always gets their own way – with only rare exceptions.

And clever and wonderful poet Trisha Broomfield has had the genius concept of what would unfold in a cat’s board game! (Or Bored game, depending on their mood).

This is a fantastic game, unjust for humans but ideal for our furry friends, and should be marketed immediately at John Lewis and such top notch stores. Order now for Christmas but think twice before you throw that dice!

Read these rules immediately …..

Cat-opoly The Rules

1)     A cat gets the top hat, any owner, the old boot

(both of these icons have been replaced by rubber ducks and penguins)

2)     Players must throw a six to start, except for cats who may miaow loudly for instant access.

3)     The banker is always a cat.

4)     Properties: Park Lane is already owned by an absentee landlord, who happens to be a cat. Rent applies to anyone landing here and must be paid in Dreamies, number to be negotiated.

5)     Any player may purchase Piccadilly provided they have a close relative who is a cat.

6)     Water Works is owned by a consortium of cats, all of whom only drink from the toilet.

7)     Cats’ Chest cards all fall in a cat’s favour.

8)     Cats’ Chance; cats have nine chances, unlimited access to any road and free parking.

9)     Cats may visit an owner in jail but may walk free at any time.

10)  An owner may purchase Old Kent Road and build houses, but any cat may move  in rent free.

11)   Income Tax does not apply to cats

12)    Owners may purchase Marylebone but must visit Java Whiskers Cat Café.

13)   Any fines will be paid in bites and scratches, the severity of which may be reduced on receipt of Dreamies.

14)   Payment on passing GO will be forwarded to The Cat’s Protection Racket * overseen by battle scarred tuxedo cats.

15) The winner; the winner is always a cat.

The Cat’s Protection Racket is not affiliated in any way to the charity, Cat’s Protection *

Don’t tell me. You lost, didn’t you?! How could our cats not win?!

What a great game. Thank you so much Trisha for letting me loose on my favourite subject. More please.

Thanks for playing, PL’s. We’ll be back with the next round real soon…..

Comic Strip Adventures

The story of the Booming Lovelies so far….

I can clearly recall loving Trisha Broomfield’s poetry at Cranleigh Arts Centre (and admiring her floaty trousers)

Then having the delight of meeting Sharron Green in that very same venue

How optimistic we were sitting together that night in early 2020, knowing we were in for a good year….er…..

Well, anyone can make a mistake! So fast forward to September 2022 at the Willoughby Arms, Kingston for a great poetry night to raise money for the Ukraine.

The three of us finally united to read together. Then the wonderful Anne Warrington came up with a great name for us!

So after that night, we never looked back. Many frequent trips to Sharron’s house in 2023 for cake – I mean, rehearsal. And then…

there we were performing at the Guildford Fringe 2023. These were followed by gigs at Cranleigh and the Guildford Institute. We had love and support from our loved ones.. sort of.

Before we knew it, we had a very successful gig in Soho at the vibrant Spice of Life pub…

Thanks for tuning in, Poetry Lovers. The second instalment will be going to press real soon. Put an order in with your newsagent right now!

Launch Day

Hello Poetry Lovers

Well this particular launch day happened on 2nd November but never too late to share such a wonderful event.

We were proud to go to the lovely Cranleigh Arts Centre to see prolific and talented poet Trisha Broomfield launch her collection My Acrostic Mother.

What a great afternoon. Trisha, Sharron, cake and meeting new people – what wasn’t there to like?!

Most of all was Trisha’s wonderful readings of her acrostics, where you closed your eyes and your mother was back there with you. Very poignant and tangible.

We had delightful pieces including Face Packs and Sunday Lunch, Fight the Flab to name but a few. Plus heartbreaks that the poet only found out about in later life such as Desmond. All illustrated by an up-and-coming artist!

Stuffed with cake and tea in a classy setting, it was a wonderful afternoon. Thank you Trisha and Cranleigh Arts Centre.

Treat yourselves to a copy of this beautiful book – and a great Christmas present for someone. Contact me for details.

Thanks for tuning in, PL’s, and sharing my adventure. We’ll be back with more poetry action real soon…..

Booming Lovelies

Hello Poetry Lovers

And we’re off….. to Soho on Tuesday. It’s finally here at the Spice of Life on Tuesday afternoon. Getting very apprehensive now.

No more rehearsing, and nursing a part, we know every part by heart as the song goes. Which isn’t strictly true, there’s some pieces I still have to use the book but you get the gist…

Please come if you can. 2 pm 5th November at the wonderful Spice of Life in Soho.


Please click the following link for tickets https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/meet-the-booming-lovelies-live-at-the-spice-of-life-soho-tickets-1022749791157?aff=oddtdtcreator

Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. See you Tuesday!

Interview with Paul McGrane

Hello Poetry Lovers

Welcome back to the talk show studio (rapturous applause)

Our guest tonight is talented and prolific poet Paul McGrane! (Pandemonium. Security nervous)

Now settle down, PL’s, because here comes Paul McGrane now!!! (Cheers and vast applause)

(our guest descends elegantly down the lighted staircase)

Welcome to the show, Paul.  I’ve been looking forward to having you as our guest.

(Audience cheers in agreement)

Pleasure to be here, Heather.

Fill us in a bit on your background and when did poetry become a part of your life?


It wasn’t until I was in my early 40’s, I’m 62 now… before that, I didn’t even know that poetry was still a ‘thing’, even though I studied English at university. I thought that only dead people wrote it.

I’d been taking a creative writing night class at City Lit when I noticed that the reaction by the rest of the class to my poems was more immediate and louder – actual applause! – so I was hooked.

I quickly took an introduction to poetry class and I’ve been regularly dabbling in poems ever since.

I was ‘in-between jobs’ at the time but luckily I became the Poetry Society’s Membership Manager soon after and started up a poetry group in Walthamstow -Forest Poets. I also run monthly poetry open mics in Walthamstow and Soho -‘Poems Not Bombs.’ So you could say poetry dominates my every waking hour.

Fascinating, Paul. Interesting how it takes others to help us see the way.

Who have been your biggest influences?

When I started writing poems, I chanced upon an online poetry forum run by Adele Ward – Adele and the rest of the group were tremendous at giving constructive feedback and I feel blessed to have been part of it all. I’ll always be grateful to Adele.

I read quite widely but I’ll usually come back to poets such as Fleur Adcock, Jackie Kay, Elizabeth Bishop and Kathleen Jamie – as comfort reads and inspiration.

 

Oh Paul, what a wonderful support group you had there.

Fleur Adcock left us very recently, as you know. End of an era, such a powerful poet.

Are you working on anything at the moment?

I’m writing quite regularly at the moment, which hasn’t always been the case.

Being part of a poetry group definitely helps. It gives me the spur to come up with at least one poem every month to present to the group for feedback.

I’ve got a bunch of poems about my family so I’m hoping to turn them into a new poetry collection soon.

I’m very excited about that, Paul and looking forward to reading them. Families are right up my street!

Now my favourite question! What is the best poetry gig you’ve done?  And the Worst?!

I once did a gig where the only people present were the two organisers, one of their mates, and us three poets. I opened my set with ‘can you hear me at the back?’

Actually the lack of an audience made the event quite cosy and we all had a drink afterwards in the bar so I rather enjoyed it.

I launched my first poetry collection in the same room when it was standing room only, and I had a lot of friends there so I’d say that was probably my best moment at a poetry gig – people laughed quite loudly at my funny poems, which is never a guarantee.

No, it really isn’t, is it. Not knowing quite how people are going to react keeps us on the edge.

Well, Paul, it sounds like your worse gig had a sweet edge to it, and I remember your launch of British People in Hot Weather at St Anne’s Church. It was a terrific atmosphere.

Thank you so much for coming on the show, Paul, you’ve been a wonderful guest.

(Earpiece crackles in the Host’s ear) I’ve just had Security on and they say Dobby’s on the prowl! Would you like to go out the back way?

(Proudly). Not at all. I’ll go out the way I came in!

A big hand for the wonderful, talented (and brave) Paul McGrane

(audience give a standing ovation as our guest ascends the stairs)

Ooh! Wait for it! (Screams of pain are heard up above) I think the lovely Paul has just met Dobby!

Wasn’t Paul McGrane a fascinating guest?! A wonderful poet. We look forward to seeing him as a guest at Teddington next year.

Treat yourselves to Paul’s collection British People in Hot Weather published by Indigo Dreams

http://www.indigodreams.co.uk/

Thanks for visiting the studio, PL’s. We’ll be back with more poetry action real soon….

A Cat For All Seasons

Hello Poetry Lovers

Uncanny! We’re still on the subject of cats!! How did that happen?! Bliss, isn’t it!

Lovely and clever poet Heather Cook kindly gave me her Cuddle of Cats collection from 2016 which I can’t stop devouring.

There are many wonderful pieces about cats and I’ve put on here one of my absolute favourites. A Cat for all Seasons. Read on, you’ll love it too

A Cat for all Seasons

Springtime Cat

He steps into the scented garden,

Sniffing the freshness;

His owl eyes track the birds,

Busy in branches of dotted green.

Summer Cat

He stretches in pooled sunlight,

Kneading the warm grass,

One ear swivelling to catch

The song of shimmering wings.

Autumn Cat

He chases swirling leaves,

Wild-eyed, hook-tailed,

Dabbing at ghostly toadstools

In deserted, dappled woods.

Winter Cat

He comes at night with frosted fur,

Trailing soft coldness

Across smooth satin pillows

And his owner sleeps more soundly.

Heather Cook 2016

Wasn’t that a wonderful piece, PL’s. Thank you so much, Heather. A beautiful collection, and there’ll be more to come. Watch this space

Thanks for tuning in, Poetry Lovers. We’ll be back with more poetry action (and cats) real soon….

Dear Cat

Hello Poetry Lovers

One of my favourite subjects features today. I think you can guess from the title which it is!

Clever and talented poet Trisha Broomfield has written a beautiful piece to her cat Perry in blissful tercets. One of my favourite forms.

I wonder if every cat lover writes to their cat like this at some point in their relationship. It does seem all take and no give yet we still adore them.

A fabulous piece, do read on

Dear Cat

Dear cat why can’t you wash a dish

those paws are good at catching fish

but housework, dear cat how I wish

dear cat why can’t you learn to cook

instead of giving me that look?

You’ll never catch that crafty rook

dear cat why can’t you make a bed

you sharpen up your claws instead

and by the way, you have been fed

dear cat, it’s not a lot to ask

that you perform a simple task

you wear a haughty, ‘who me?’ mask

dear cat I wouldn’t change you for the world

you sleep on cushions, snoring, curled

so I guess it’s down to me then.

Trisha Broomfield 2024

Isn’t that such a true and profound piece?! And isn’t Perry gorgeous?! (Don’t tell Dobby!).

I wonder what cats would be like at household chores really. Thank you so much, Trisha. And more please!

Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. We’ll be back with more poetry action real soon….

Going to the Ball

Hello Poetry Lovers

The lovely poet Alan Gregory (@truculentbutamiable on instagram) has written a beautiful piece Going to the Ball.

Alan is a prolific poet and writes incredibly clever pieces such as villanelles and other complex structures. A hero of mine.

This time Alan has done me the honour of letting me illustrate this particular piece. My futile words cannot describe this powerful and clever poem, so I will simply let you read for yourself.

The opening piece, and fittingly Dobby is the hero(ine)

Got very fond of that mop..

Particularly love this section, my first ever attempt at a horse!

A profound stanza

Isn’t it a wonderful piece, I’m so flattered Alan used my sketches. Of course, there’s no living with Dobby now, it’s all gone to her head. But She was the rightful star of the show, natch.

I’m now practising reading it for a next poetry session. I want to get it right.

For more information on this talented and prolific poet, click on this link to see an interview with Alan himself https://heathermoulsonpoet.com/2023/01/04/interview-22/

Thanks for tuning in, PL’s and reading our collaboration. We’ll be back with more poetry adventures real soon….

Interview with Timothy Ades

Hello Poetry Lovers

Welcome back to the talk show studio

(Rapturous applause).

Our very distinguished guest tonight is poet and translator Timothy Ades.

(Standing ovation that could get out of hand!)

Now settle down, PL’s – because here he is now!! (Deafening applause as our esteemed guest walks down the lighted stairs)

Welcome to the show, Timothy. I love that crushed velvet suit!

It’s a pleasure and an honour, Heather. And what a lovely audience!

Aren’t they just?! But don’t talk too soon, Dobby’s on the prowl!!

Why don’t you fill us in on your background, Timothy?

I’m a rhyming translator-poet, in love with languages. I learnt French and Latin at school and was sometimes in Egypt in the school holidays.

My granny spoke French and my Mum loved rhymes. When the penny dropped that Latin is a dead language, I turned to modern languages and our own times.

A lovely classic background, Timothy.

When did poetry become a part of your life?

In my education there was plenty of poetry: English, and Latin, some French, even some Greek.

And quite a lot of translating. But after that, it was a long time before I started to write anything at all.

Yes, you are a very prolific translator.

Who were your biggest influences?

Shakespeare, Tennyson, Virgil, John Betjeman, songs, rhymes, hymns, and all the foreign poets I’ve translated, especially Victor Hugo, Robert Desnos, Alfonso Reyes, Bertolt Brecht.

Such incredible influences there, Timothy.

Are you working on anything at the moment?

Always! So many possible books in my computer. Always new poems.

Going on Facebook and YouTube. My bookstall of translated poetry.

We’re so impressed with your output, and so beautifully produced.

What’s the best poetry gig you’ve ever done?

  

 The best must be the launch of my biggest book, ‘Robert Desnos, Surrealist, Lover, Resistant’ with Dame Marina Warner, and Sonia Masson reciting in French and singing: I sat slumped and stolid, crushed by the weight of that book, 860 grams in paperback.

And two with music from Venezuela, thanks to Gloria Carnevali and pianist Clara Rodriguez. All those are on YouTube.

Biggest live audiences were when I won the Valle-Inclan Prize and the John Dryden Prize. Many others…!  

 

And the Worst ?!

 

A solo evening of all my books. Even with friends to read in foreign languages, it was dire!

Well, if anything, it made you stronger.

Evenings like that seem very long, don’t they?!

Thanks for coming on the show, Timothy. You’ve been a fascinating guest (Audience cheer)

Are you out on the town tonight? A poetry nightclub perhaps?

I think I’ll go home and iron this velvet suit, Heather.

Thank you so much and goodnight.

(Looks around nervously) Er – is Dobby about?

(I nod)

(Our esteemed guest legs it very fast back up the lighted stairs, followed by cries of agony and ‘watch the suit, Dobby!’ )

Wasn’t Timothy Ades a wonderful guest, PL’s?! We have the honour of his featuring at the Adelaide in March next year. Can’t wait!!

Thanks for coming to the talk show studio, Poetry Lovers. We’ll be back with more poetry action real soon….