A Tribute to Buttons

Hello Poetry Lovers

Now I don’t mean that well-meaning, if irritating, character who loved Cinderella, I mean Buttons, the ones on our coats and cardigans. Or not, as the wonderful poet Trisha Broomfield points out in this superb and beautifully written piece.

So many memories in this poem, especially with the button tin. Who doesn’t remember playing with a battered button tin at some point in their childhood?! Mum’s had a white dog on it, I recall.

Anyway read on;

To Buttons Everywhere

Once cardigans had buttons,

though buttoning was a chore,

it saved pulling ourselves together

all the time, which was a bore.

Buttons are a blessing

when out in breezy weather

buttoning from top to toe

keeps us all together.

Hanging onto garments

doesn’t look too clever

we need those pearly buttons

to keep ourselves together.

Sadly I think buttons

have probably had their day

and a life without the button

seems to be the way.

My gran once owned a button tin,

which now gives me great pleasure,

a feast of buttons different sizes,

to keep me all together.

Wasn’t that such a lovely piece and observation on our changing times?! I have to agree, there’s something loveless about having a garment with no buttons. The comfort has gone from it.

Thank you so much, Trisha, please keep them coming. A very detailed and personal piece.

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

The Network Theatre

Hello Poetry Lovers

Yes, I have been getting around lately, and I want to tell you about last Sunday at the Network Theatre.

An amazing theatre, established for 80 years, under the railway arches of Waterloo and us poets were thrilled to discover this great venue. With thanks to Alain English and Jason Why who gave us the Golden Key.

At first we were apprehensive, walking down this dark tunnel, a scene not dissimilar to Clockwork Orange and a Rupert Bear adventure. But there was definitely a light at the end of this particular tunnel.

A lovely building and a real sense of community. As you can see, I settled down quickly in the dressing room. A place I had not frequented for some years, and this time there was no Leichner nor ashtray! However, there was still the roar of the crowd, and we waited our turn with trepidation as the lovely Alain announced each poet.

This is me reading, with the wonderful Lee Campbell backstage. How unnerved I was to read on a proper stage! Exhilarated too.

The interval came, and I had the chance to catch up with Lee and his lovely pals outside.

So I was honoured to share a bill with such fantastic poets such as Hannah Stanislaus, Raymond, Office Girls, Lee Campbell, Jason Why, David Lee Morgan, Frank Mariani, Bryan Baker, Frankie Calvert and Keith Bray, Steve Tasane, Anthony Fairweather and Redeeming Features. And of course, Alain English.

Now, I don’t want to sound like someone off The Apprentice but thank you for the opportunity. This is a great theatre, I recommend we all go regularly.

Thanks for tuning in, PL’s, and sharing this great adventure with me. We’ll be back real soon with more poetry goings ons……

Celine’s Salon Launch

Hello Poetry Lovers

I went to Celine’s terrific launch on Tuesday 13th September at The Blue Posts in the heart of Soho.

Although some say Soho has been sanitised somewhat, I really think this square mile still has a certain allure. Nostalgia? Mystique? Simply intriguing? Whatever anyone thinks, there’s definitely a vibrant and creative scene very present indeed. This was shown to us on Tuesday.

I was proud to be part of this second volume of Celine’s Salon anthology, published beautifully by Wordville Press. The words of the fabulous poetry reading in Tenby, among others, were all down in this stunning book. And I was honoured to read out my work.

Celine, who really knew how to capture a crowded Soho pub, kickstarted this great event at 7 pm. I read first and I still reel from the magic of reading live, especially as it was brutally snatched away from us recently.

Plus there were excellent readings and readers, including Tom McColl, Billy Parker, Pinky, Ashley Chapman, Douglas Wilson and Celine herself.

Not to mention catching up with all my heroes! Barney Ashton-Bullock, Lucy Lyrical and Polly Bull. Wonderful photographer Clancy Gebler Davies took great images of a unique night. And of course, Celine and Gary made this all possible. My thanks to you both….

Thanks for tuning in, PL’s and sharing this special moment. We’ll be back with more poetry capers real soon….

Poems for Ukraine

Hello Poetry Lovers

We had a great night at the Willoughby Arms in Kingston on Friday, where Poetry Performance launched our anthology Poems for Ukraine.

A stunning collection of poems about the current situation in Ukraine, with proceeds going to British-Ukraine Aid. Full of strong pieces, there’s a particularly ruthless poet on page 60!

Kicking off with comic and amusing verse, introduced by Ian Lee-Dolphin in a very vibrant shirt indeed, Stephen Harman and Andrew Evzona performed witty pieces (with help from yours truly). That started the evening nicely and we saw wonderful readings from Connaire Kensit, Tony Josolyne, Robin Clarke, Keith Wait, Heather Montford, Margaret May, Fran Thurling, Birthday Boy Greg Freeman, the amazing Carla Scarano and many more…..

Andrew Evzona ended the first half with a very moving poem about the passing of our Queen.

The Booming Lovelies headlined this first half – aka Moi, Trisha Broomfield and Sharron Green. It was so lovely to perform together.

After a very well deserved interval where more books and raffle tickets were sold, the tone changed and Anne Warrington and Ken Mason opened the second half detailing how this nightmare in the Ukraine really began

It was a more sombre tone but had no less impact on the room. I read my own war poem plus Pratibha Castle’s In The Slips. There were some very moving readings including Dilly Orme and Adelaide favourite Barbara Lee. Plus newcomer Haroon Omar and Graham Harmes.

The readings of these talented poets really brought home the message of crisis and suffering in the Ukraine. It was indeed a very moving evening.

Brought to a great climax by Ian Lee-Dolphin’s powerful songs including Mad, Vlad and Dangerous to Know . Very clever piece.

With every thanks to Anne Warrington who devised this very special evening and to all the readers and supporters of this proud moment.

Thanks for tuning in, PL’s, and sharing this wonderful evening with me.

We’ll be back with more poetry capers real soon….

The Sealey Challenge part II

Hello Poetry Lovers

Well, what can I say about the Sealey Challenge 2022?! Only that I miss it already. A great and innovative journey bringing such awareness of poetry.

For the uninitiated, the Sealey Challenge is to read a poetry pamphlet every day of August. I’m sure you’ve worked out yourself that that is 31 pamphlets! Lordy!

These are the the ones Dobby and Fish sunk their teeth into (quite literally)

And these are the ones I feasted on myself;

And here are some more;

Sadly, I think this will be my last year of the Sealey Challenge, simply because I’m fresh out of pamphlets. Although we should never say never. Thank you Nichole Sealey for innovating this marvellous and unforgettable challenge. It’s been a real privilege.

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

Dobby’s Tribute

Hello Poetry Lovers

A short post today featuring Dobby’s tribute to The Queen.

Dobby and Fish have been terribly upset by our nation’s loss and how overnight the world changed for us. Therefore we present Dobby’s favourite poem, an old classic.

Pussycat pussycat, where have you been?


I’ve been up to London to visit the Queen.


Pussycat pussycat, what did you there?


I frightened a little mouse under her chair


MEOWW!

That’s it for today, PL’s. A short and sweet tribute to Her Majesty. Truly the end of an era. See you soon for normal service

My Night Out with Martin Figura

Yes, Poetry Lovers, you heard right. Martin Figura came to visit us on Sunday night at the Adelaide.

A great night of poetry as Martin blew us away as featured poet. How I’d been longing for him to come to Teddington and he did not disappoint.

It was a night of great poetry all round, with fabulous Anne Warrington, the vibrant Dilly Orme, enigmatic Stephen Harman, hilarious Andrew Evzona, the marvellous Greg Freeman, the talented musician and poet Felicity Buirski and many other wonderful readers.

Not to mention my adorable pal Hannah Stanislaus, Chris Naylor, Connaire Kensit, Carol Wain, Vicki Naylor plus newcomers Sian Mac and Mike Gordon.

We also had the honour of being visited by the wonderful Wendy Young. So nice to meet her in person at last. What an action packed night!

As Martin came on to read the first half of his work, there was an awed hush

Martin started with the very moving and new poem Bear, and already had the room in the palm of his hand. If it was possible to be moved anymore, Martin managed it with the title poem of his latest book My Name is Mercy.

After a priceless 10 minutes of fabulous poetry reading, Martin had a well-deserved break before he came back for the last 10 minutes of the evening.

By the end of the second half, we were ready for more from Martin Figura and he came up trumps with some wonderful, humorous pieces such as Amy’s Lovers, listing all the toys and characters his daughter loves. Followed by a great poem about Edward Heath (once the most unpopular prime minister), and a clever piece about Larkin being stuck at a party with the reader. Fantastic pieces, the room hanging onto every word.

I swooned as Martin read from my favourite book, and the first ever one of his I bought, Boring the Arse off Young People, reading The Trouble with Middle-Aged People…. Brilliant and witty poem.

Huge applause all round as Martin left the stage, loved by everyone. Well done, Martin and thank you so much for coming.

I had the honour of being photographed with Martin and Helen Ivory

Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. That was truly a night and a half. Stay tuned for further poetry adventures ….

The Balham Experience

Hello Poetry Lovers

Well, I’ve knocked around the poetry business for some years (since 2017 anyway), and thought I’d seen it all, but today I had a brand new poetry experience.

Lovely poet Hannah Stanislaus organised a poetry event for Cancer Research in Balham High Street. What I didn’t realise was that it was a reading outside the shop. Almost street theatre.

Terrified, I watched the wonderful Kliche Kingston put on a vibrant performance telling genuinely funny gags and some marvellous poetry. Then amazing Hannah read her own fantastic pieces. Kliche and Hannah inspired me and gave me courage to take up that mike! My immediate audience being that bus stop queue.

Lucy, Hannah’s lovely daughter, held the bucket with elegance

It was funny reading poetry to a passing crowd, but also exhilarating. The only pain was that I had to keep turning the page! I took my treasured Beano Book of poems, the first one I ever did because it held pieces about friends who were no longer with us. The ambience and atmosphere between us was wonderful.

It was to run for half hour during lunchtime but as there were only the three of us, we packed up after 20 minutes, which I didn’t think was too bad for a first run.

Hannah is running these readings every Friday and Saturday at 12 noon. Do go to the Cancer Research Charity shop, in Balham High Street and support these readings. Or if you wanted to, take up the mike yourself and read to the people. This is a real and vital cause. Hannah is on Facebook if you wanted to book a place.

I returned elated and drained and I look forward to getting back there again on the 17th.

Thank you for that unique experience, Hannah. Raising a glass to you.

Thanks for tuning in, PL, and sharing my new experience. We’ll be back with the Sealey Challenge Part II real soon….

The Letter from Hell

Hello Poetry Lovers

As you know, I’ve been doing the Sealey Challenge, but not only that, I’ve been writing a prompt for every day of August. Puff!

Set by the wonderful @rzu on Instagram, I have been going flat out. I thought I would share one or two with you. The first is A Letter from Hell – a vile experience we have all shared. Read on;

The next one is an Eintou- all syllable count is out the window, I’m afraid. I’ve simply done 2 words, 4 words, 6 and 8 then back again. Have a look;

Thanks for tuning in, PL’s.

I’m in the last stages of The Sealey Challenge of which I will give a full report….stay tuned.

The Sealey Challenge (part one)

Hello Poetry Lovers

I can’t tell you how much I’m enjoying the Sealey Challenge.

For the unenlightened, one has to read a poetry pamphlet every day for 31 days of August. Yes, I know what you’re thinking, not the easy feat it first sounded. Not to mention running out of books!

However, August is flying by alarmingly quickly and I seem to be on the case so far!

Oh yes, Dobby and Fish have got in on the action, and have read one or two. Dobby has particularly taken to Ogden Nash, that witty American poet.

So far, I have loved and read Greg Freeman, Rodney Wood (twice), Hannah Stanislaus, Barbara Brownskirt, Pratibha Castle, to name but many…

I also thought it would be nice to feature some children’s poetry this time. Such a delight to read.

As I said, Dobby, Fish and I had to go to the library to replenish my feeble collection of pamphlets

After an emotional kerfuffle, I selected these books

Us three look forward to tackling these, particularly Clive James, a much missed clever writer.

So stay tuned, PL’s and fingers crossed that I (and Dobby and Fish) get through the remainder of August with this wonderful and exacting task.

We’ll keep you posted!