Today we look at the Blackout poem. Thanks to a prompt from Surrey New Writers Festival, I took on this daunting task. For the uninitiated, you have to find an article or piece of about 500 words, and select 30 to 40 words
Like so, as they used to say on the TV. It can be quite fiddly. So I selected 30 words from Matt Rudd’s column in The Sunday Times magazine. Then listed them all and composed some sort of logical piece.
The idea is that they can summarise the original piece, or present a counter-argument. Not sure if I’ve done either but it’s been fun trying.
Easter Choirboy
Vicar Desired God
Sin Forgiveness
Woolworth Pilfered Sweet
Bonfire Spreadsheet
Pearly gates Absolute Hell
Almighty
Religion Concluded Childhood
Christian Reason
Seventh Day
Death Nothingness Eternity
Kinder Neighbour
Magical Comforting
Purgatory
H Moulson 2023
Phew! Another form learnt. Now, PL’s, there’s a blackout poem in your soul – don’t argue – and I would love to see them. Cheers to Surrey New Writer’s Festival for opening another door to me
Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. We’ll be back real soon……
Well I said there was some exciting news and here it is. I cannot believe we are doing this wonderful venture at the Guildford Fringe Festival this year.
However, it is all confirmed, booked, decided and I still keep pinching myself (ouch!).
Upstairs at The Keep Pub – opposite Guildford Castle – on Friday 7th July at 8 pm, we – the Booming Lovelies, with Sharron Green and Trisha Broomfield – will be performing there. Our first ever Fringe! So exciting.
To think, last June, when we went to see the fabulous poet Robert Garnham perform at that very same venue, it did not occur to us we would be performing there ourselves. How unpredictable life is.
The lovely Robert will be back there on 28th June so do catch his act, and please catch our’s a week later. There will be many many updates…..
This is an extract from the online brochure….
“Meet the Booming Lovelies! Ladies of a certain age, unafraid to share their wealth of life experience with anyone brave enough to listen and curious to hear. Poetically primed and eager to charm with verses on everything from nostalgia for the last century to lost loves, the menopause and the joys and complexities of modern life. All welcome – there’s something for everyone – so relax and enjoy a wonderful performance.”
TICKETS £10
These are pictures of us at rehearsal yesterday:
So watch this space, PL’s, for further updates. Thanks for tuning in…..
Click on the link below for more information and how to get tickets….
How could I not write about seasons during this turbulent weather?!
Glimpses of sun and warmth filtering through vicious wind and chill.
So I selected the verse that used to be on the back of exercise books. There are two versions but I chose this one because it was longer. Now, we all know this one and it’s followed by a beautiful piece by Christina Rossetti, which is far more visual…..
Thirty days has September,
April, June, and November,
All the rest have thirty-one,
Save February at twenty-eight,
But leap year, coming once in four,
February then has one day more.
Traditional
My Lady Spring
My Lady Spring is dressed in green,
She wears a primrose crown,
And little baby buds and twigs
Are clinging to her gown;
The sun shines if she laughs at all,
But if she weeps the raindrops fall.
Christina Rossetti
Wasn’t that a lovely piece? How I wish we could see her read live.
Now, you must tell me your favourite seasons and poems! That’s an order!
Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. We’ll be back with more poetry action and some exciting news real soon….
Do you remember The News of the World, that old Sunday staple? Well, this following poem is not dissimilar to one of their scandalous headlines!
Our cub reporter was there in person, readers, and brought us all the scandal of this poetry party and their lewd behaviour! Such an expose! Read on if you dare….
Sestina fell in love with Haiku
Swearing blind their love was true
Limerick swooned over Trimeric’s verses
So did Villanelle – who muttered curses
Triadic held tight onto Epic’s arm
Staying susceptible to Elfchen’s charm
One Minute Poem with Tanka flirted
All Serious issues completely skirted
Didactic gave their orders and instructions
Tritina went through the usual functions
Ekphrastic and Dactylic Hexameter kissed
While the sonnets were busy getting pissed
The Chant poem just went on and on
While nonet and couplets got it on
For Triolet, it was love at first sight
Walking with Madrigal in the moonlight
(The Italian version!)
H Moulson 2023
Would you believe it, PL’s?! Those nice innocuous poems! Or so we thought! Stunned and shocked by their behaviour! Any poetry scandal you have, please pass this way! Good for circulation!
Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. We’ll be back real soon….
I’m afraid this post is by invitation only, and NO trainers beyond this point! This is the party event of the year.
I was just reading about Truman Capote’s Black & White Ball in ‘66 which was the triumphant event of the season! Well, not anymore, Mr Capote! Eat your heart out!
Wonderful poet Sharron Green has given us the party to end all parties. Only the very elite are sent a gilt-edged invitation. Those chosen guests, please line up at the door……
Poetry Party
A poetry party’s odes of fun, it flows so well, excuse the pun.
There’s room for all from far and wide, both long and short stand side by side.
There’s Limerick who’s such a card, and Sonnet posing as the bard.
Pantoum all dolled up like a dame, and Villanelle the household name.
Sestina leaves all guests in awe, but Epic has been known to bore.
Elfchens and nonets take good care they count their words so none are spare.
Haiku and Tanka spend the night ensuring syllables are right.
A few like ghazal and rondeau repeat themselves but charm us though.
Some guests are free verse others rhyme and all rejoice at party time!
@rhymes_n_roses
Wasn’t that just a terrific party?! Thank you for that, Sharron. Please keep those invitations coming.
Now, PL’s, I’m sure you’ve got a terrific social engagement to share with us. Answers on a postcard please.
Thanks for tuning in, Poetry Lovers, we’ll be back real soon…..
Now I usually have a bit of a block with dinner parties – meaning I avoid them like the plague!
However, not this one, I’d be breaking down the door to attend, and I wouldn’t be fashionably late either! I’d be the first in the queue.
Clever poet Trisha Broomfield has created an ideal poetry dinner party which everyone in town would dream of being invited to. An equivalent to Truman Capote’s Black & White Balls in Manhattan. What a great piece, Trisha, thank you so much
Dinner Party Verse
Begin with simple couplets,
(You don’t want to overwhelm your guests).
Serve a sparkling Villanelle (shows a knowledge of form)
place bowls of acrostic around the table
Offer a choice of meaty sestina or light cinquain,
season with vowels (a and e only)
this course is best accompanied with a light lyric,
or a more full bodied pantoum, one glass per guest.
Make allowances for any guest who may have haiku,
and those who require a triolet break.
Nonets will calm digestion,
you may include free verse for those rhyme sensitive.
Well, I keep hearing the words Poetry Soup lately and I couldn’t resist sharing my family poetry recipes. All out of my dog eared poetry cookbook, natch. I hope this piece inspires some great poetry meals…..
Poetry Soup
Put in some vowels
Cook on a low heat
until they grow
Then throw in some rhymes
and a drizzling of syllables
before pouring in some humour
Cook till there is genuine warmth
and interpretation
At the least you’ll be simmering
a nice juicy triolet
At the most an alphabet form.
Left to mature they could become
a duplex or a chant
Tuck in and enjoy
Alternatively fry 17 syllables with some nature
and creative oil for a haiku. Or 11 words
for a tasty Elfchen. Avoid limericks if you can.
Skinny poems go on a more medium heat but beware of lines 2, 6 and 10. Do not over season.
Or just throw some ideas in a big pan haphazardly for a free form piece.
For a Trimeric broth, or a Golden Shovel stew, see page 17
For the more ambitious who want to make a
villanelle or sestina, use your slow cooker for
several hours.
For an epic poem simmer overnight.
Be wary that the dactylic hexameters and stressed syllables don’t over cook.
I hope you jotted these recipes down, PL’s, because I want to see the finished products. I know you’ll brew up a fine concoction. A Ghazal pie perhaps? Or a couplet soufflé? The possibilities are endless.
Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. We’ll be back with more poetry action real soon….
Sigh! If only this was true, Poetry Lovers. However, if I’m not skinny, my poem today definitely is. I love the structure of the skinny poem and here is my own effort.
Mirrors have always been a bit eerie and wicked stepmother-ish and bottomless. I feel the one in this piece is no exception. I hope you like it.
Skinny Mirror
My face in the mirror
Bored
Flawed
Crabby
Shabby
Bored
Tainted
Painted
Forlorn
Bored
The mirror on my face
H Moulson 2023
Now I know without even asking you that you have a skinny poem in you. Send in on a postcard please…….
Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. Stay tuned for more poetry action real soon…..
We were all shocked and saddened at the sudden passing of Carla Scarano. Not only a talented poet but a beautiful human being.
A big part of my amazing poetry journey, Carla was supportive every step of the way. A prolific writer with her reviews and stunning poetry, Carla also kept up a busy and absorbing website. I couldn’t stop being impressed by Carla and her beautiful work.
We, at Poetry Performance, had the honour of Carla reading for us on Sunday 5th March (2023). So my memory of her is very recent indeed.
Carla was so vibrant, looking lovely and reading beautifully, translating English into Italian. The whole room was impressed.
In the interval, me and my friend Mary sat down with Carla and had a lovely deep talk about Italy and her background. I’m so happy we did that. Such a lovely memory of a lovely person.
Talking of memories, at the Lightbox in Woking some years ago, Carla on her recent return from visiting Canada, put out lovely and intricate cards on the tables. Each one had a Margaret Atwood poem. Along with some chocolates. That’s the kind of generous person Carla was. Chocolate long gone, but I still have one of those beautiful cards.
Also, on my last very recent visit to the Lightbox, Carla gave out chocolate heart sweets to us. Such a lovely gesture.
Carla will be so sadly missed. As my ‘regulars’ know, I had the honour of interviewing Carla in June last year. (Link below). I also reviewed her two talented collections
Adoring these personal collections both, I will post one from Carla’s current book Workwear. It was hard to choose but I’ve selected Good Friday. There are many personal classy poems in this collection but this piece truly reflected Carla’s Italian roots and her new life in England.
Good Friday
I was surprised to see you at church
on Good Friday,
the day of betrayal and killing,
when we kiss the naked body on the cross
and cry for all our losses.
You were there with your deaf mother,
I was there with mine and her elderly friends.
We quickly caught up fifteen years,
my move to England, the new job,
my son’s wedding, graduations,
my father’s death and my mum living happily.
You were just the same, unmarried,
helping old relatives
organizing their lives and yours,
travelling alone mostly,
your sister pulling out.
Everything looked under control,
neat words ordering a life.
Carla Scarano D’Antonio 2022
We will never forget you, Carla.
Here is the link to Carla’s interview if you would like to have a look.
For the uninitiated, you have to find an article or piece of about 500 words, and select 30 to 40 words
It can be quite fiddly. So I selected 30 words from Matt Rudd’s column in The Sunday Times magazine. Then listed them all and composed some sort of logical piece. 
Cheers to Surrey New Writer’s Festival for opening another door to me 
cookbook, natch. I hope this piece inspires some great poetry meals…..
Heather Moulson 