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…….
Welcome back to more life advice and skills. This is a very quirky piece by the lovely poet, Trisha Broomfield.
So uncomfortably true and a real joy to read. I know this will resonate with a lot of us. There is a great dishonesty in this piece that applies to us all. What we should, and what we shouldn’t…….
Do read on
Life Skills
Do follow a recipe, then add your own ingredients
get clothes ready the night before, change your mind in the morning
plan each evening meal, then get a takeaway
shop for sensible shoes, buy outrageous heels
give up biscuits, then munch when no one’s looking.
Trisha Broomfield 2023
Wasn’t that a wonderful piece?! Thank you so much, Trisha. Please keep them coming. Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. We’ll be back with more poetry action real soon…..
Today we have a didactic poem. I love giving out instructions, even better if it can be in a poetry form. A very loose one admittedly.
Now forgive me if I have directed it more to women PL’s than men. There are still things we can all identify with, especially the first and last line.
Now, I don’t know what Dobby’s doing in that poetry wardrobe but I’m getting her out right now!
Ten Things you shouldn’t be without….
A hot cup of coffee in a nice cup
A china one with a snippy one liner on the front
You must only brush your hair with a paddle brush
You put on your good coat – one of your Mum’s preferably
For the warmth and security you need
Before your stockinged feet step inside a pair of good shoes
from a shop that would measure your feet if you asked them to.
Put a nice scarf around your neck, despite the inevitability
that it will blow back against your face and be covered in lipstick
Damaging the self esteem you were determined to carry with you like a favourite handbag
Put a nice piece of jewellery round your neck and please don’t lose it
And check that you have a notebook and pen with you for obvious reasons
And if you come home to a purring cat, you can’t go wrong
Now I hope that advice was life-changing. Though I appreciate these are things you had all along. Now, PL’s, I’m sure you have life advice all of your own, answers on a postcard please……
Oops! Dobby’s just gone into the Poetry Basket. That can only mean trouble! Thanks for stopping by, Poetry Lovers, we’ll be back real soon……
Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. We’ll be back with more poetry action real soon…..
Now, PL’s, I’m sure you have life advice all of your own, answers on a postcard please……
Heather Moulson 