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.
Inspired by the fabulous Sharron Green and Trisha Broomfield at the Poetry Party workshop at Solar Sisters Cafe this Wednesday, I got my head down and tackled this fascinating form.
You won’t be surprised to see that the piece is nostalgic. Didn’t we all dread the end of school holidays?!
Do read on…
The betraying spring that sprung my sorrows
Only Meant going back to school
The end of my late bedtimes
And going to the shops
For chocolate bars
A dreadful hand
To be Dealt
Out by
Life
H Moulson 2023
I hope you enjoyed that, PL’s. As you see for yourself, the first line is 9 syllables, then 8…… and I know you have a nonet in you, so on a postcard please to the usual address.
Thanks for tuning in, Poetry Lovers. We’ll be back with more poetry action real soon. Don’t touch that dial!
When I came across The Golden Shovel, I was mightily confused by the term, but I came across this version/form.
Getting a quote from another’s poem with at least 10 words, and moving the relevant word in every following line sounded easy but I found it a struggle. Hopefully it paid off.
Many many thanks to Annie Havell who kindly gave permission for me to use a line from her lovely piece Silence from the recent anthology Poems for the Ukraine.
I’m not quite sure how Dobby got in on the act but she appears to feature here. Do read on….
I awake before sunrise and feeling an urge to walk
Silence by Annie Havell 2022
I can’t believe I’m up early again!
To awake in that grim half light
Nearly up before the milkman
I don’t welcome sunrise, too cheerful
I’ve got an interview and a meeting
I do get the sinking feeling I’ll be sleepy
I’ll eat some apples and have an orange for energy
I will not get an sudden unnecessary urge to doze
The most tempting and easy way out is to sleep
I resolve that I will go healthy route and walk
Wasn’t that just a terrific piece?! An intriguing form and worth trying.
Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. We’ll be back with more poetry action real soon…. Whoops! Here’s Dobby with an invoice for her services….
I make no apologies for staying on my favourite subject Cats! So fittingly, the lovely prolific poet Sharon Andrews has penned this beautiful cat sonnet.
Featuring a wonderful alphabet series, this is Sharon using the C word as a sonnet. And using it very wisely. Excellent subject, Sharon, and thank you for letting me put this lovely piece up in lights.
Cat Sonnet
The cat is such a curious creature
Sometimes aloof, sometimes affectionate
Sometimes a queen, most often a leader
Cat’s owner a slave to her temperament
If cat loves you She might bring you a gift
Something Special to decorate the house
Puss will be offended should you feel miffed
By the sight of a dead bird or squashed mouse
Cat will eat her meals when she’s in the mood
Some days she will eye her dinner with disdain
You’ll worry and treat her to gourmet food
Calling her to come in from the rain
You’ll love her and maybe she’ll love you too
It’s simply chance, there’s nothing you can do
ShAndrews 2023
Wasn’t that beautiful?! Look out for Sharon’s Instagram feed @inksomnia_poetry where this clever poet features amazing sonnets and other skilled pieces. Thank you so much, Sharon, keep them coming.
Thanks so much for tuning in, PL’s. And I want to see your cat poems. We’ll be back with more poetry action real soon…..
It’s pretty inevitable I’m going to talk about my favourite subject – Cats.
When I was a child, the world seemed full of Eleanor Farjeon’s poems. Her beautifully illustrated collections were everywhere, and her pieces used to be a real favourite at school as many of her poems were read to us. The following one naturally stood out.
A prolific writer of poetry and children stories, among others, Eleanor Farjeon left behind a wonderful legacy when she passed away in 1965. Now read on…
Cats
Cats sleep, anywhere,
Any table, any chair
Top of piano, window-ledge,
In the middle, on the edge,
Open drawer, empty shoe,
Anybody’s lap will do,
Fitted in a cardboard box,
In the cupboard, with your frocks-
Anywhere! They don’t care!
Cats sleep anywhere.
Eleanor Farjeon (1881 – 1965)
Wasn’t that just lovely? I’m sure a lot of you PL’s will have a favourite Eleanor Farjeon poem. Answers on a postcard please…..
Thanks so much for tuning in, we’ll be back with more poetry capers real soon…..
On the trail for a new poetry form once again. This time I’ve hunted down the Trimeric. A superb and fun form. Along with keywords from Sue Burge’s mindgym (highly recommended), I used the words vacant, vacancy and void.
I’ve written a pretty vacant(!) poem here. Do read on
Trimeric Form
There is a void in this vacancy
In fact it all looks pretty vacant
According to the Sex Pistols
Back in that barren summer
In fact it all looks pretty vacant
Unused and unloved, unwanted
This space tells me nothing
According to the Sex Pistols
There’s no future for us
However, that was in 1977
Back in that barren summer
We wilted and believed them
Those punks knew everything
Thanks for reading, PL’s. Now I know there’s a Trimeric in all of you, and I want them on a postcard now please.
Yes you heard right I had a night out with the wonderful Brian Bilston! Well, me and about a 100 others but never mind….
The marvellous and clever poet Sharron Green got tickets and invited me! I was thrilled. The Candid Arts Trust was down a dark and unassuming road in Islington. Torrens Street – not dissimilar to the Ziggy Stardust album cover.
There were so many familiar faces in that long winter’s night queue, including Donal Dempsey, Dilly Orme and Lee Campbell.
Introduced by the charismatic Jack Shamash to an incredibly full room, we knew the evening would go with a bang!
Forgive the red light, someone said it was like being in a photo lab, but I quite liked it. Reminded me of a Warhol film!
There was a wealth of featured poets such as Brett Van Toen, Cheryl McLennan and Jude Simpson. So very unique and clever.
Then it was open mic and lovely Sharron Green read her great Oasis Nightclub piece, the marvellous Dilly read her wonderful three short poems, and Lee Campbell showed us his amazing teenage scrapbook.
With all the stampede to the open mic, I couldn’t believe it when I actually got a spot! I read ‘Scrubber Two’, a personal favourite and one I knew off by heart. The audience were receptive and warm.
When the hallowed Brian Bilston came on, the house came down! Mr Bilston asked me not to share his photos on Social Media. I can only respect the poet’s wishes, and therefore this is the one I’ll put up. Also there’s a tabby cat there – and I LOVE them! (Don’t tell Dobby!).
Anyway, who needs photos?! Not when such wonderful poetry was read! (That’s not him in the picture!)
From his new book Days Like These, the audience creased with laughter as he read about days before the internet where the only followers you got then were religious cult ones. Followed by humorous pieces from You Got The Last Bus Home, his older collection. He also pondered on popular superstitions, James Bond wielding a Hoover, and an updated last few Famous Five Books. Very surreal, political and witty.
The room went quiet for his poignant reading of Refugee, you don’t always have to laugh. And then read The Very Angry Caterpillar, based on Eric Carle’s classic children’s book.
All too soon, Brian’s readings were at an end. I arrived as a curious observer and left as a real convert. Thank you, Mr Bilston, come back soon.
What a great night of poetry! Thank you so much, Sharron for booking that and inviting me. And thank you, New Poetry Shack for bringing such joy…
Thanks for tuning in, PL’s, and reading about my night in Islington. We’ll be back with more poetry action real soon…….
I really want to share a wonderful event on Wednesday 11th January at the Solar Sisters Cafe in Guildford.
Genius poet Sharron Green held a poetry party at this great venue. From 2 till 3.30 pm, and a cake and cup of tea later, a group of us got our heads down and wrote some magical poetry. This week it was haiku and triolets.
Joined by the wonderful Dilly Orme, Andy B J Low, and Cassie Moriarty, we had a great masterclass. These are some of the wonderful examples
Senryu (haiku about love)
Love embraces all
Pierces hearts exquisitely
A pain we treasure
Sharron Green 2023
Sad Song
I met a friend in town today
I listened to the saddest song
her smile was down her eyes were grey
I met a friend in town today
she said her love had gone away
she didn’t know what she’d done wrong
I met a friend in town today
I listened to the saddest song
Trisha Broomfield 2023
Sadly, Trisha couldn’t be with us on this occasion due to poor health. We look forward to her joining us in February.
That night Sharron also guested on Radio Woking on Elaine McGinty’s show. Excellent and articulate. Well done, Sharron.
This marvellous venue also has open mic poetry once a month, thanks to Sharron. The next one is Thursday 16th February at 7 pm.
And our next wonderful poetry party is on Wednesday 8th February at 2 pm. I’ll be there! Please join us if you can.
Thank you for sharing this unique experience with me, PL’s. I’ll be back with more poetry action real soon…….
Heather Moulson 