I suppose I should write of recent events. It has been a strange couple of weeks here in the UK. As I write, we are in the last 24 hours of official mourning for HM Queen Elizabeth II. I work with clients in the US, who have asked me how we are all keeping, how we feel and how we are coping with the loss. I can only speak for myself, when I say that…
Another addition to my poems page; A short poem which appeared on the Green Ink poetry website in June last year; Sea Life Centre Confessional They seem happy enough,in fake coral reefsbehind finger-smudged glass.I know we shouldn’t touch.I know,this is what the signs say,but whoever pays attentionto rules like that?
I’m planning on going to this event next week – both Greg and Pratibha are excellent poets, and I have collections of theirs to review when I get the chance. More details below ARTS JUNCTION, ARUNDEL, on Mon 12th September, 7.30pm features Greg Freeman reading from Marples Must Go and Pratibha Castle reading from A Triptych of Birds and a Few Loose Feathers, plus new poems. And there’s Drip Action Theatre Company, live music and…
I’ve just added a prose piece to my poems page – it first appeared on the Interstellar Literary Review website back in 2021. It’s one of a long sequence of prose poems / flash fiction work that should be published next year. It was my first acceptance from a United States based magazine – another little goal I set myself accomplished! Three Car Incident at Twyford Down And so we wait. Strangers together in stationary…
I’m starting up my occasional book & pamphlet review posts again after an absence of over a year. As before, these will all be of books that I have copies of on my poetry bookshelf. They aren’t always going to be straightforward reviews – I may use them as a springboard towards other subjects or commentary on the authors’ work elsewhere. First up this time is Louise Mather’s The Dredging of Rituals, published through Amazon,…
Barry Smith reads from his latest collection at the latest Write Out Loud poetry event in Woking. From Write Out Loud’s Facebook page; It’s our absolute pleasure to welcome as guest poet at Write Out Loud Woking at the Lightbox an influential figure who really makes things happen on the poetry scene, and is a very fine poet in his own right. Barry Smith is director of the South Downs Poetry Festival and co-ordinator of…
This looks like a great event as part of this year’s Arundel Festival Big House laying down some jazz groovesRaine Geoghegan, Chris Hardy, Naomi Foyle and Barry Smith laying down some lines I’m sure Big House are great (I haven’t seen them perform myself). I know that all four poets are excellent. Event link below. https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/Arundel-Festival-of-the-arts/t-yaqomgr
An event which might be of interest to some (it looks good but I won’t be able to make it). Come and join us at Escape to the Farm on Saturday September 10th in the idyllic countryside near Hambledon as The Front Room is part of a nurturing event featuring activity such as yoga , tai chi, meditation as well as great music and poetry. The event is designed to keep families entertained and there…
AGENDA POETRY EVENING with David Harsent, Patricia McCarthy, Timothy Ades, Barry Smith, John O’Donoghue, Elizabeth Barton, Josephine Balmer and South Downs poets, the White Hart hotel, 55 High Street, Lewes, BN7 1XE, Sat 13 August, 6pm. Join us at this historic hotel where Tom Paine and the Headstrong Club met, for an early evening of local and global poetry organised by the famous literary journal, Agenda, and the South Downs Poetry Festival Music by Nigel Horn on…
This looks like it will be an excellent event – this Thursday in Midhurst A celebration of the poetry of naturalist Richard Williamson at South Downs Park HQ Memorial Hall. Also features the renowned Stradivarius Piano Trio. More details below; https://madhurst.co.uk/event/flights-of-the-mind-poetry-evening-thursday-11th-august/?fbclid=IwAR3br5vhvWv0fiuVQha3TVF-FAujCQiTZDWgwDAht_xcFHovF_of6ROCE9s