SPC Sept. 8th. Meeting

The first meeting of the new term was attended by 17 people. It began with a talk by Mavis Robinson on how, on behalf of the SPC, she reads to a partially-sighted group in Bromley. One thing has led to another and she now also reads to a lunchtime gathering at St. Marks Church together with Christine Pope. Members of both groups have expressed their wish for the readings to become a regular event.

There was no specified theme for this meeting so members read poems of their own choosing, some of them influenced by recent happenings. As a pamphlet by Isabel Bermudez is shortly coming out, Anne Stewart read Isabel’s poem ‘Racer.’ PJ Kavanagh’s death has been recently announced so Diane Chorley chose to read his poem, The Temperance Billiard Room.’ Patsy Paine read ‘Manly Ferry’ by Clive James from his collection ‘Sentenced To Life’

The range of poems read was, as usual, wide with Milton, Blake, Wordsworth and Hardy well represented but also Kate Foley, Esther Morgan and a local poet who had a connection to Ripley, Ted Walter.

SPC at The Ripley Garden Party

The weather was fine when Anne and Diane arrived to set out our table in the garden of Ripley Arts Centre. Others came to help as they always do.

We had books for sale and packs of poetry p f cards but saw our role mainly as engaging with people and talking about what we do,

We were of course very willing to read them a poem. They had only to draw a title from a glass bowl. Another option was to write a haiku to hang on our ‘tree’

and some people did after enjoying the examples. Or, they could add to a line written on one side of a bookmark. We even had a calligrapher at hand to celebrate their creativity. When the rain came he continued his work under a plastic sheet.

One of the pleasures of the afternoon was the conversations we had with pleasant and interesting people. We hope that the afternoon brought

greater awareness of the Shortlands Poetry Circle.

 

September Poetry Events 2015

LONDON WC1: Lumen Poetry with Cinnamon Press

Date: Tuesday 15 September, 2015
Time: 6:30 PM Price: £5/£4 concessions
Venue address: Lumen, 88 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9RT

Publicity material for this event says:

Ruth O’Callaghan Presents: Cinnamon Press Poets from the floor very welcome. Poetry performance followed by open mic. Please bring a copy of the poem if you wish to be considered for the new anthology. This year the anthology is edited by Ruth O’Callaghan. Nearest tube stations: Russell Square, Kings Cross St Pancras, Euston. Wine and Soft Drinks Table in aid of homeless All proceeds go to support the homeless in the Cold Weather Shelters

Contact: adele@wardwoodpublishing.co.uk

Friday 18 September

Dodo Modern Poets September Songs

Lisa Kelly, Pr Murry, Emily Bevan, Emmanuel Sugoi

The Poetry Cafe, 22 Betterton Street, WC2H 9BX

8pm £8 & 7 concessions

Info: 01303 243868; patric.poet@zen.co.uk

https://dodomodernpoets. wordpress.com

Sunday 27th September

Torriano

Michael Bartholomew-Biggs – launch reading: ‘Pictures from a Postponed Exhibition – with poetry from Anna Robinson and paintings from David Walsh

Poets from the floor welcome

Torriano Meeting House, 99 Torriano Ave. London. NW5. Info: 020 8881 1418

7.30 pm, Admission £5/£4(according to pocket).

Competitons

Barnet Open Poetry Competition

Closing date 16th November,

To be judged this year by Mario Petrucci (general) and Katherine Gallagher (juniors)

1st £500, 2nd £250 and 3rd £100

35 lines on any subject

Entry fees are £5 for adults (£4 if resident in the Borough of Barnet) , Full details are on line on http://www.barnetarts.org.uk/bbac/poetry/index_2015.htm

£5,000 Troubadour International Poetry Prize 2015

Sponsored by Cegin Productions

judged by jean sprackland & john mcauliffe with both judges reading all poems

prizes: 1st £5,000, 2nd £1,000, 3rd £500

plus 20 prizes of £25 each

plus a spring 2016 coffee-house-poetry season-ticket

plus a prize-winners’ coffee-house poetry reading

with jean sprackland & john mcauliffe

on mon 30th nov 2015

…for all prize-winning poets Details http://www.coffeehousepoetry.org/prizes

Enfield Poets Poetry Competition

Judge: Anne-Marie Fyfe

Deadline for Entries: 1st December 2015

Prizes: 1st £500; 2nd £200; 3rd £100, + invitation to read alongside our judge at the Dugdale Theatre in February 2016

Further information and entry form will be online closer to the deadline here: http://www.enfieldpoets.com/competition