Thursday 28 February 2013
Monday 25 February 2013
Why a viewpoint
Whilst looking around the various web sites and blogs of poets in readiness for setting up a terry quinn poetry uk blog it soon hit me how much I missed Geoff Steven’s Gossip Column in Purple Patch.
The poetry was the main reason for subscribing to the magazine but I don’t know anyone who didn’t turn to the Column first to read what Geoff had to say about the various goings on in the poetry world. He loved to puncture the pomposity and moral values of that world from his home in West Bromwich.
But if it was a good poem or a poet showed promise he would print their work regardless of ethnicity, political persuasion or class.
So, from the looking around, it became clear to me that a blog or website should have an opinion. It doesn’t have to follow Geoff’s path, what could, but what’s the point of wasting space on a biog and a picture.
I’ll call it a viewpoint rather than a rant. Though who knows.
Sunday 17 February 2013
Reading by Tony Curtis
Last week I went along to Hebden Bridge for a reading by Tony Curtis at the Crown Inn organised by Arc. If you're going to be left with an hour to spare in cold, windy, snowy conditions - then Hebden is not a bad place to be left in. One of the best Mochas ever in one of loads of cafes.
Tony doesn't so much read as envelope an audience in his own world which takes in so many places around the actual world that it seems quite normal that one should go out and find oneself driving along a small country road in Kansas, or whatever, trying to find an Old Peoples' Home and ending up in a mansion.
His imagination, in his poetry, is such that a Pony Society asked him to write a book about their breed of pony. He replied he didn't know anything about horses - which wasn't a good start. They said they didn't care as they were sure he could do the book. And he gave a few examples from the eventual book which proved their point.
Charisma can be a derogatory word but in Tony's case it fits. He's not putting it on. I heard him as I was getting off the train and he was exactly the same as when as in front of an audience. You'd love to have a few beers with him in the pub after.
To prove a point - the reading was taking place in the main bar of the Crown and people were coming in just for a pint. They looked a bit bewildered at first but all of them stayed to listen.
And thanks to Arc for holding the event.
Tony doesn't so much read as envelope an audience in his own world which takes in so many places around the actual world that it seems quite normal that one should go out and find oneself driving along a small country road in Kansas, or whatever, trying to find an Old Peoples' Home and ending up in a mansion.
His imagination, in his poetry, is such that a Pony Society asked him to write a book about their breed of pony. He replied he didn't know anything about horses - which wasn't a good start. They said they didn't care as they were sure he could do the book. And he gave a few examples from the eventual book which proved their point.
Charisma can be a derogatory word but in Tony's case it fits. He's not putting it on. I heard him as I was getting off the train and he was exactly the same as when as in front of an audience. You'd love to have a few beers with him in the pub after.
To prove a point - the reading was taking place in the main bar of the Crown and people were coming in just for a pint. They looked a bit bewildered at first but all of them stayed to listen.
And thanks to Arc for holding the event.
Saturday 16 February 2013
two hours later
Well, this happened next. And that's thanks to a splendid video from War Beats. The name is a bit of a misnomer as it drops knowledge.
the start
Hello and welcome to my blog. This is a test so bear with me. Let's see what happens next.
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