We had to improvise three short poems on the radio show. One of which was so trite that I cringe to put it here. the other two weren't great, but might be worth posting
Writing Home
Dear Mum,
Don't be glum -
Life here at the Crystal Unicorn Healing Sanctuary is FUN!
But then,
You'll never see me again
Unless, of course, I can persuade you to join us -
Forever and ever and ever
Amen.
Cockle Pickers
I know, it's a dirty job, but someone's got to do it
Keep your heads down: soon you'll all get through it.
Hey, no one said this new life would come cheap:
Ignore the cold. Wade on, towards the deep.
feel free to tear to shreds.
Wednesday, 24 September 2008
Tuesday, 23 September 2008
Spoken Word Antics (again)
My burgeoning media career(!) took another step forward today. My friend Adele and I were both asked to come on Sheffield Live's Spoken Word Antics for the regular host Robin's last show for a while. He wanted to go out with somehting a bit different and put a call out for poets to improvise some work live on the show. Adele and I were the only ones brave/stupid enough to volunteer! We came up with an interesting piece about Facebook, which was fun, and some poems on themes given to us by Robin. I felt myself somewhat outclassed by Adele, maybe because our tones are so different. Robin and I also improvised a truly egregious limerick about a Seagull! Adele, wisely, stayed out of it.
Excitingly, we came up with an idea to keep the show going after Robin flies northwards. If all goes to plan, Adele, Michelle and I may become the new hosts/producers! Stay tuned for news of my new incarnation as a DJ. You never know, Radio 4 talent scouts may be listening!
meanwhile, you can listen to the show we did at http://www.canstream.co.uk/sheffieldlive/index.php?cat=SpokenWordAntics or just by googling "spoken word antics" and following the links.
Enjoy!
Excitingly, we came up with an idea to keep the show going after Robin flies northwards. If all goes to plan, Adele, Michelle and I may become the new hosts/producers! Stay tuned for news of my new incarnation as a DJ. You never know, Radio 4 talent scouts may be listening!
meanwhile, you can listen to the show we did at http://www.canstream.co.uk/sheffieldlive/index.php?cat=SpokenWordAntics or just by googling "spoken word antics" and following the links.
Enjoy!
Tuesday, 9 September 2008
OMGPoetstars!!11!
In poetry news today:
Self styled "poet" and deluded fool Sarah Thomasin has thrown caution to the winds and entered a local poetry competition. Having never actually competed before, it's understandable that she should be nervous. The idea of a panel of judges poring over your hard-written lines is daunting.
Not quite so daunting though as the idea of a panel of judges scrutinizing your performance and then publically taking it to pieces in an X-factor style elimination show, followed by an audience vote!
Oh my sweet baby jesus what have I done?
If you want to find out/watch as the humiliation commences, please come and support me at Poetstars, the Lescar, Sheffield 14th of October at 8pm £4/£3 on the door. contact me if you want more info.
Self styled "poet" and deluded fool Sarah Thomasin has thrown caution to the winds and entered a local poetry competition. Having never actually competed before, it's understandable that she should be nervous. The idea of a panel of judges poring over your hard-written lines is daunting.
Not quite so daunting though as the idea of a panel of judges scrutinizing your performance and then publically taking it to pieces in an X-factor style elimination show, followed by an audience vote!
Oh my sweet baby jesus what have I done?
If you want to find out/watch as the humiliation commences, please come and support me at Poetstars, the Lescar, Sheffield 14th of October at 8pm £4/£3 on the door. contact me if you want more info.
Monday, 11 August 2008
Dumplings Rock!
So, I did the reading at the Dumpling Cafe. It is, incidentally, on Reuter Strasse in Neukoln, and it is awesome. Vegan and veggie sweet and savoury dumplings that you could (and will) eat all day. If you're in Berlin, go. If you're in Europe, make a detour and go. You'll thank me later.
I felt kind of bad that I was reading in English. I wish my German was good enough that i could write poems in it. I tried to explain some of my poems in German, so as not to alienate people, but I think my crappy attempts were more, rather than less, confusing. Nonetheless, it went well, and I got free food and Bucks Fizz for my troubles!
I was encouraged to put more of my poems up on the blog. What I am going to do is showcase any new ones I might write up here, rather than dragging out the old stuff. I am trying to get enough decent poems together to make a good sized zine, which I'll be flogging/trading in due course.
Any poems that do go up on here, I could really use feedback on, positive and negative, so get commenting!
Off to New York in a couple of days, where I will hopefully get a chance to do more readings. being an International Woman of Mystery rocks. Almost as much as dumplings do.
I felt kind of bad that I was reading in English. I wish my German was good enough that i could write poems in it. I tried to explain some of my poems in German, so as not to alienate people, but I think my crappy attempts were more, rather than less, confusing. Nonetheless, it went well, and I got free food and Bucks Fizz for my troubles!
I was encouraged to put more of my poems up on the blog. What I am going to do is showcase any new ones I might write up here, rather than dragging out the old stuff. I am trying to get enough decent poems together to make a good sized zine, which I'll be flogging/trading in due course.
Any poems that do go up on here, I could really use feedback on, positive and negative, so get commenting!
Off to New York in a couple of days, where I will hopefully get a chance to do more readings. being an International Woman of Mystery rocks. Almost as much as dumplings do.
Thursday, 7 August 2008
Ich habe einen Gig!
Wooo! I'm (hopefully) doing a poetry reading in Berlin! One that I've actually been booked for as opposed to turning up and putting my name on a blackboard, as I will be on the openstage :D
It's at a dumpling cafe who are having a 'Ladies' Brunch' at the end of Ladyfest Berlin, or LaDIYfest as it's known this year - they're breaking down the binary gender barriers. This is all very cool Berlin is one onf the least genderbinary places I've ever been, but that probably has to do with the company I keep when I'm here. :)
I'll be reading in English, but i may try and get another poem written especially for the occaision, and not in an Elton John desperately filking something out of the vault in time for Di's funeral way, a PROPER new poem.
No pressure...
It's at a dumpling cafe who are having a 'Ladies' Brunch' at the end of Ladyfest Berlin, or LaDIYfest as it's known this year - they're breaking down the binary gender barriers. This is all very cool Berlin is one onf the least genderbinary places I've ever been, but that probably has to do with the company I keep when I'm here. :)
I'll be reading in English, but i may try and get another poem written especially for the occaision, and not in an Elton John desperately filking something out of the vault in time for Di's funeral way, a PROPER new poem.
No pressure...
Monday, 4 August 2008
Berlin here we come!
The wife and I are off to Berlin in a couple of days, doing some performances at Ladyfest - i'm hoping to read on the openstage, among other things, and then coming back, only to set off again on an in law visit. Better pack, really...
I always wonder about performing in a country where English is not the first language. My German's not bad, but not good enough to freely translate rhyming poems as I go along while retaining any degree of poetic merit.
So- which is ruder, gabbling away in imperialese and hoping they keep up, or murdering what vestige of talent I may have while at the same time butchering a noble and beautiful language? Plus, the ladyfest crowd is pretty international, and while I can enjoy the stylings of Grace et Volupte Van Van - the crazy tiny lesbian rappers - without necessarily understanding a word, I feel that maybe Grace et Volupte are going to get bored pretty quickly of a poetry recital in a language they have only a passing aquaintance with. Still, I'm a complete attention whore, so I'll be up there, jabbering about vegans and chihuahuas, for the benefit of anyone who understands me!
I always wonder about performing in a country where English is not the first language. My German's not bad, but not good enough to freely translate rhyming poems as I go along while retaining any degree of poetic merit.
So- which is ruder, gabbling away in imperialese and hoping they keep up, or murdering what vestige of talent I may have while at the same time butchering a noble and beautiful language? Plus, the ladyfest crowd is pretty international, and while I can enjoy the stylings of Grace et Volupte Van Van - the crazy tiny lesbian rappers - without necessarily understanding a word, I feel that maybe Grace et Volupte are going to get bored pretty quickly of a poetry recital in a language they have only a passing aquaintance with. Still, I'm a complete attention whore, so I'll be up there, jabbering about vegans and chihuahuas, for the benefit of anyone who understands me!
Thursday, 31 July 2008
An actual poem!
This is a bit of a work in progress - I'm experimenting with Haiku - any suggestions welcome. It's a true story, so apologies to Cath, Rob, James and Cath's mum for stealing from their lives!
One For The Baby Book
Cath and Robin were
The first among all our friends
To have a baby.
James Martin soon had
All of us trying hard to
Be respectable.
No swearing allowed
Whenever he was awake
We struggled, but coped.
And while the boy slept
Parties managed to maintain
Quiet decorum.
Sometimes, however,
Jamesie went to Granny's house
To play on the grass
No-one knows for sure
Just what Granny might have said
Each time he fell down
Meanwhile we waited
To hear the very first word
'Our boy' would utter.
Running in the lounge,
He fell heavily and sighed.
'Bugger.' he murmured.
One For The Baby Book
Cath and Robin were
The first among all our friends
To have a baby.
James Martin soon had
All of us trying hard to
Be respectable.
No swearing allowed
Whenever he was awake
We struggled, but coped.
And while the boy slept
Parties managed to maintain
Quiet decorum.
Sometimes, however,
Jamesie went to Granny's house
To play on the grass
No-one knows for sure
Just what Granny might have said
Each time he fell down
Meanwhile we waited
To hear the very first word
'Our boy' would utter.
Running in the lounge,
He fell heavily and sighed.
'Bugger.' he murmured.
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