Poetry Space News

Temporary closure

2012-01-02T03:36:00.000-08:00

This blog is temporarily closed whilst a redesign of Poetry Space websites is taking place.

For updates on Poetry Space Competition 2012 and blog entries from myself and guests please go to:

www.poetryspacecompetition.blogspot.com

Exploring the Personal Within the Political in the Poetry Of Deborah Harvey

2011-10-18T14:34:00.000-07:00

Poet and Poetry Space Editor, Susan Jane Sims reviews Communion, A first collection by West Country Poet, Deborah Harvey.

In a recent episode of Dr Who on BBC TV, Sir Winston Churchill exclaims to the Doctor that “all of history is happening at once.” This is how I felt on reading Deborah Harvey’s first collection, Communion. Deborah’s knowledge of history and myth particularly in relation to her West Country heritage is impressive. The collection is wordy yet no word is superfluous within the context of these poems. Each one is a mini-masterpiece, each finding its own natural form and rhythm.

That said I won’t attempt to compete by discussing too many of the poems and will concentrate on two that I am particularly drawn to as they explore the political through a personal context. The opening poem, Tobruck, for example takes as its subject a World War Two veteran from a fierce desert campaign and uses this to expose the gaping wounds concealed within silence. It begins with the two minute silence of Armistice Day, something most of us feel compelled to take part in publicly or privately as a mark of respect and ritual, and explores how it masks the true story of lives irreparably changed by the trauma of war. The silence prevents one human being from really knowing another, even a daughter and a father, yet it feels like the only option to a truth so unpalatable, so impossible to imagine for those not there that it simply can’t be talked about, until a ceremony and ironically a silence brings together people with a shared history, and in its aftermath stories are exchanged as reminiscence.

Silence also implies a glossing over, shiny medals given to buy silence; the true horrors concealed so that others will continue to make the personal sacrifice that battle demands in the name of patriotism. In the scene described, the narrator of the poem, comes as close as she has ever, or maybe will ever come to witnessing what her father has experienced in the desert, as she catches snatches of his conversation with old comrades described as “those soldiers in slippers/with cemetery teeth” and she herself tries to visualise events and panics. There is both the fear of him surviving to tell her more and the fear of him not living long enough to do so. More than that there is also the fear that if he talks, will their relationship alter? Will he still be the father she knows and loves? Will her image of him remain the same? Or will a “terrible beauty be born” as Yeats described in a poem about the human toll of the Irish conflict.

The ties that bind us and weigh us down is further explored in the poem Motherlode, a fascinating many layered poem. Just the title intrigues with its multiple meanings. A lode is a plentiful supply of something, a deposit or vein of ore deep in the earth and it’s also a waterway. Using the word “lode” with “mother” to create “motherlode” implies both the idea of giving and nurturing alongside the idea of something essential being taken. A mother gives and she is also mined in the sense that much is taken from her. Spelt as “load”, the word implies a burden carried. The mother within this poem or more precisely her body is described in the opening lines:

her body a body of water,

running slack after the storm and oceanic

This is a woman altered by giving birth and/or the demands of motherhood, yet vast, abundant, her surface “mapped and moulded”. Her body has been explored and shaped by lovers, children and teams of medical professionals, her body entered, fed from and known intimately as only a woman’s body can be. In doing this the woman has reduced her own life:

in this small life she has surrendered

made smaller

Life, small anyway in the context of the universe, has been made smaller by becoming a mother. Yet this is not a negative poem. It ends with the acknowledgement that as well as being load bearing days, a woman’s child-bearing years are crucially “sacred days/with their tidal rhythms”. The allusion is both to the precious days after giving birth when bonding between mother and child takes place, and also the fertile years of a woman’s life when she is inevitably tied to and part of the rhythms of the natural world.

This is a well researched and perceptive first collection from an inspiring poet. I am looking forward to future collections and to Deborah’s novel which I know is to be released soon.

Susan Jane Sims

Editor, Poetry Space Ltd

www.poetryspace.co.uk

www.poetryspacenews.blogspot.com

Communion. Indigo Dreams Publishing, October 2011

ISBN 978-1-907401-51-0
Deborah's poems The Mary Block and Public Transport were highly commended in Poetry Space Competition 2010 and previously published in Collage: the best of Poetry Space 2010.

2011-10-14T04:12:00.000-07:00

As we are well into Autumn I thought

I'd share a poem I wrote two Autumn's ago.

Autumn’s Fall

This morning on my walk

the leaves from Autumn’s fall

are held in an inch of mud and roadside rain.

Oak, ash, birch, identities

merge together, Streaks

of red, gold, green hint at a craftsmanship

that some ascribe to God,

others to evolution.

I pick out an empty beer can. Think

how human life can end in ditches.

Wonder how long it takes

for flesh to float

on stagnant water.

© Susan Jane Sims ( November 2009)

Read more of my poems in Irene's Daughter, a pamphlet collection available from Poetry

Space at http:// www.poetryspace.co.uk

Coming Soon - Beneath The Dreaming Tree by David R. Morgan

2011-10-13T16:03:00.000-07:00

This fabulous collection will be published on October 25th by Poetry Space Ltd. It is available to order at the discounted price of £6.95 from the Poetry Space Shop at www.poetryspace.co.uk - go to bookshop.

Sample poem:

Shining

There is something waiting here,

still as the caught breath.

Specimens in the bar blow kisses

at never-never princes – frogs in bottles.

Rooms that once thrust forth dreams

bursting wet with magic,

simply stay ruminating.

Metal chisels down flesh to magnify destinies of rust;

electricity magnifies rock that once was a shooting star.

Beside an en-suite sarcophagi

a ghost in a myth-mask hits top C

and whipping slantwise disappears.

Artificial light turning alien with curious claws

tears reality asunder…

and what remains? Figures in a frieze;

worrying nursery rhymes ready to happen.

There is something waiting here still as the caught breath.

it is not a silence built of empty air;

it is the mystery, of an untrod stair.

Book Launch - Like It Is by Philip Lyons - September 12th

2011-09-18T07:49:00.000-07:00

Forty poetry lovers gathered at The Lansdown in Bristol to celebrate the launch of Like It Is by Bristol poet Philip Lyons.

There were many established fans there as Philip has taught creative writing classes and poetry day schools in Bristol for many years. There were also new people who had come along because they enjoy hearing poetry read aloud or wanted to sample this collection before buying.

The highlight of the evening was for me the opportunity to hear Phil read from this lovely collection. After working hard on the technical side of this production and making sure every comma and full stop was in place, it was a pleasure to sit back and focus on the poems themselves and to remember why I had wanted to publish it.

Philip and I worked together for a while, many years ago, and shared our love of poetry. I remember a particular day when Phil read a poem of his to me and tried to pass it off as Philip Larkin's!! The latter was and I believe still is a favourite of Phil's and you can see the influence of Larkin on Philip's work. The wry sense of humour that he shares with Larkin is evident in poems like Marlborough Country and The Big Match from this collection. However Philip's style has matured since those private readings and he no longer needs to pretend that his work was written by someone else... He has a poetic voice that is compassionate, optimistic and entirely his.

I spent the evening chatting to our guests. Many were very complimentary .One guest commented:

"It's my kind of poetry and I feel I've been waiting for it for a long time - thank you for providing the gift of it at last."

Another wrote to Philip a day later: "Yesterday was special. Beautiful poems, beautifully read. And a lovely gathering in a perfect venue. I hope you're still basking in the moment..."

Philip himself called the night his "Oscar moment." If you came early in the evening you would have spotted Phil mopping up a spillage from the floor so I can safely say that stardom hasn't gone to his head.
That said, I was delighted to share this wonderful moment with Phil and his family. A sincere thank you to to everyone who came along and to the Lansdown staff for brilliant service.

You can buy the book at the retail price of £7.95 from Poetry Space Bookshop, or from Amazon books.
ISBN: 978-0-9565328-5-5

If you missed this event Philip Lyons will be at The Pierian Centre on October 1st from 2.30pm Lapidus SW event and at The Georgian Lodge , Bradford on Avon on November 22nd at 7.30pm Words and Ears

Sue

Poetry Space Competition 2011 - Green Space

2011-09-06T14:14:00.000-07:00

Poetry Space Competition 2011- Full Results

This year we invited poems on the theme of Green Space and we are thrilled with the results. We were privileged to have Rose Flint judging.

Read the top three poems below followed by a list of entries that were highly commended by our judge.

Styx

Like a bridegroom's shoes
swamped by confetti
or sugar paper lost
beneath a child's spilt glitter,
the water is hardly visible
between the glistering silver
bodies that rise and fall
on the narrowboat's bow wave.

The wake stretches behind,
a mourner's silk tie;
water mordant with black dye,
until the fish float back.
Morning sun flashes Morse off scales that shimmy and dance,
signalling our loss
with their grim brilliance.

© Derek Adams (Essex, UK)

1^st Place

Cornflower

there:

a rising nearness, a beacon

its blueness a raggy topknot mix

of indigo, azure and violet

that humbles you to silence

as you stumble across its sudden fullness

signalling from wheat-field trespass

Consider its other names:

Hurtsickle from its tough stems -

that angelicaed haze of greyey-green

blunting the reaper's scythe

Cyanus, its memento of the garland

his namesake garnered as a lad

to frame his love for Flora

Remember these

and recall this flower

the single bloom to grow in Nagasaki's aftermath

Hiroshima's wreath

Cornflower,

talisman of hurt, of youth, of hope

© Roger Elkin (Staffordshire, UK)

2nd Place

San Story

Somehow the photo of them

came out black and white.

Their village was moved

three days' walk

from this ancient ground,

but five young men stayed

to share with tourists

their skills, mode of living

and sense of humour -

snapshots of a dwindled life

exploiting the Kalahari's meagre resources.

We follow in their bare footsteps,

behind soft wraps of kudu skin

and slant sticks,

as they indicate plants for healing,

insects delicious to eat,

take turns to enact stories

with vivid gestures,

San words tumbling out

punctuated by rapid clicks of the tongue.

The star performer plays a hunter

who kills an ant-eater,

then cuts open its stomach,

returning the live ants within,

to the ant-hill.

And as the men leave,

straight-spined

balanced,

their lively colours

fade to black and white.

© Margaret Eddershaw (Greece)

3rd Place

The following poems were highly commended:
GM Fields - Angela Platt (Newport, Wales)
Fox - Fiona Melrose (Suffolk)
Bumble-bee - Martin Bates (East Lothian))
Inverbeg Chapel - Dorothy Baird (Edinburgh))
The Welcome Dark - Dorothy Baird
Thorpe Malsor: winter allotments - Damian Gardner (Kettering)
The Gentry Weed: Rhododendrums - Roger Elkin
In the Cloister Garden - Gill McEvoy (Chester)
On Porpoise Margaret Eddershaw (Greece)
Tree on the Drostdy Lawns - Harry Owen (South Africa)

Prizes are on their way to all the above, with our top three poets winning £60, £30 and £15 respectively along with free copies of our forthcoming anthology. All those highly commended will receive a pack of five limited edition cards featuring verses by Azadeh K Taj and beautiful flower photographs by Courtney Louise Howson. The cards are hand finished by my sister, talented card maker Marilyn Benson.

Judge's Report

I read the entries for the ‘Green Space’ poetry competition with great pleasure. We had asked for poems that were environmentally themed, giving attention to ‘nature, growth and organic living’ and I happily immersed myself in poems that sang, mourned, and celebrated many aspects of the natural world. There were fewer poems engaging in the big themes of climate change and extinction than I had expected, instead, most poets stayed within their own communities of garden or locality.

A few poems touched on the other species who share our lives within our green spaces– the birds, animals, fish and insects that create such joy in our midst, but most writers concentrated on landscapes, from forest to backyard. A deep care and concern for Earth came through very strongly in poem after poem. Writing about the things which touch us most, can often lead us into forgoing some of the craft of the poet in our desire to explain a point of view, tell a story, give information or simply express emotion, but the poems which I chose as prize-winners and highly commended, all used their skill as the vehicle for their expression – rather than simply putting the expression into poetic form. And all of them offered the reader another idea beyond description, inviting the reader to engage thoughtfully with the poem. These were well-crafted poems that created something newly-minted for the reader to draw in, a resonance that could continue well past a first reading.

In first place Styx is a beautifully layered poem, which uses careful and original language to share experience. The simple gentle innocence of the first images – confetti/sugar paper/glitter work strongly against the darkness of the second verse –mourners/mordant/Morse…that first verse, suggesting something casual, unaware of the consequences so movingly described later. Using the word Morse leaves us to supply what that Morse message might be – and immediately we think of Save Our Souls...This poem allows us to be active, to work at the image and the codes of the metaphors, to be thoroughly engaged. The last line too shakes us, because we can empathise with its uneasy contradiction.

Cornflower, in second place, does impart a lot of information and learning. Yet it does so with great delicacy, leading us skilfully to shocking revelation which opens out the poem to a kind of meditation. Here, somehow the spiritual and material context of the colour blue itself (blue planet/Virgin’s robe) is implied.

In San Story, third prize, the poem wins through by not over-telling the story. Here is a poem which is deeply poignant and heartfelt but which is controlled enough to use one simple metaphor to express whole world.

Rose Flint - August 2011

Later in the year we shall be producing an anthology of "green space poetry". The above poems will all be included along with the following worthy entries: June, Dorothy Baird, Cows in Meadow Flowers, Juliet Wilson, On the Avalon Marshes, Gillian Penrose, Peace on the Groves, Ben Lowings, Whalesong, Angela Platt, Choreographing Transformation and Gaggle, Katrina Plumb, The Leaf Machine, Simon Jackson, Sometime after 5,17am Bob Woodroofe, Also a Miracle, Harry Owen, Breathe, Karen Harvey, Turbine, Rosie Godfrey, Green Innocence, Mike Lee.

A sincere thanks to all who entered.

Sue Sims
Co-editor, Poetry Space

Long Distance Love

2011-08-31T10:32:00.000-07:00

I'd like to share a poem I wrote recently on a trip to the US for the wedding of the young people below; Rob my nephew and Rachel my new niece.

Long Distance Love

(For Rachel & Rob)

Your long distance love

survived the miles separating you,

bloomed and grew,

and got you through

all the form filling and the bureaucracy,

and the hours and hours of wedding planning.

And brought you to, this one perfect

day of celebration.

©Susan Jane Sims

Rob and Rachel together with some of their friends run an enterprising new theatre company in New York : On the Square Productions with regular shows and readings. If you are in the area why not pay them a visit.

Poetry Space News Update 2011 - update

2011-08-29T14:44:00.000-07:00

Poetry Space Competition 2011 has been judged and I have contacted all the winners. I will be publishing the full results here including the report by our judge Rose Flint and the top three poems once I have heard from all the winners.

Meanwhile I can tell you that the winning poet lives in Essex, UK and amongst the top thirteen we have entries from Greece and South Africa!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We shall shortly be launching our first full collection of poems as a perfect bound edition. This marks a step up for Poetry Space as up until now our collections have been mini-pamphlet collections.

The first poet to have a full collection published by us is Bristol poet Philip Lyons. His book, Like It Is contains 52 superb poems. The launch will be on Monday September 12th in Bristol. If you would like a personal invitation please get in contact. susan@poetryspace.co.uk

The book has had fantastic reviews including one from this TS Elliot prizewinner, Philip Gross:

There is a deep faithfulness in this poetry - no straining after the exotic, but a commitment to the common ground of lived experience. It holds true, with deft forms and lucid language and a quiet wit. Philip Lyons' writing is of a piece with his teaching and his therapeutic work, an example of how anybody's life gains meaning in this clear impartial light.

Philip Gross, June 2011

We have already sold six copies ahead of the launch. If you want to buy it and take advantage of our very special offer - £6.95 plus free postage (retail 7.95) then visit us at:
http://www.poetryspace.co.uk/phdi/p1.nsf/supppages/3703?opendocument&part=5

Bye for Now, Sue

Photography and Poetry Challenge (4)

2011-07-14T12:46:00.000-07:00

Starting Point

Put yourself at the mercy of the words.

Start with stream.

See if it takes you to the wide Zambezi

and the “smoke that thunders”

Or if it takes you home.

© Susan Jane Sims

If you have been following this blog, you will know that Chris and I have set one another a challenge, to write poems, in my case in response to photos that Chris has taken and in Chris' case to take photographs to go with poems that I have selected for him.

This time his task was a little easier as he already had some great images of the Livingstone Falls from our holiday in Zambia a couple of years ago. The above shot really shows the power of that water. I loved the Zambezi. We had a great time canoeing on the river and I took a bit of a ducking in the rapids. Luckily I was with the instructor at the time!!

As always, comments are appreciated.

Sue

Photography and Poetry Challenge (3)

2011-07-13T02:06:00.000-07:00

For this next challenge the photo above came first. It was taken at Cabot Shopping Centre Bristol.

Windows Of My Mind

When you died

I thought you'd float

beyond the blue

and though the pull
is strong

you never quite
slip from view.

You're there,

pressed against

the windows of my mind

Please feel free to post comments, Sue

Poetry and Photography Challenge (2)

2011-07-12T04:17:00.000-07:00

If you have been following this blog you will know that my husband Chris and I are challenging one another. I am writing poems to go with specific photographs that he presents me with and he is taking photos in response to particular poems of mine. This time the poem came first.

Night Watchman

The feathered watchman rests

with one eye open

to guard the others,

head tucked into chest.

Please leave comments.

Sue

Poetry Space Competition 2011 -"Green Space" update

2011-07-11T08:37:00.000-07:00

The Poetry Space Competition 2011(adults) closed on June 30th. 60 poems were entered. The poems are now being judged by Rose Flint who will select our first, second and third place winners and also ten highly commended poems. We did not have as many entries this year and I think this was due to having a theme rather than an open competition.

However many thanks to all the participants. Rose is really looking forward to reading all the entries and selecting the winning poems.

Rose says:

"I want to find poems that surprise me, poems that are sudden, new ways of thinking or oblique glances at things. I’d love to find poems that move me to tears of joy or empathy – and poems that have something serious to say about the world. And I am really hoping that all the poets will be writing because they love poetry, in all its varied language and texture."

Sadly the young people's competition had to be abandoned for lack of support.

Results will be published on September 30th and the winners notified.

Good luck to everyone!

Bye for now, Sue

Photography and Poetry Challenge (1)

2011-07-09T10:15:00.000-07:00

My husband Chris is a superb photographer and you will all know I love to write poetry.However I find some of the best poetry comes when I am challenged in some way to do something different. Yesterday Chris, who has just started studying photography with the Open College of the Arts (OCA) suggested that we might collaborate in some way. "How about you writing some poems to go with some of my photographs?" he said." How about you take some photos in response to some of my poems?" was my reply. The challenge was born.

Here is my first poem in response to the photo above:

Age of Plastic

They've eliminated
our smiles
and left us with
fixed gazes,

eliminated our curves
and left us with
straight lines
stretching to infinity.

Our differences
are healed
and in the face
of the other
we see only ourselves.

Copyright Susan Jane Sims
Photo Chris Sims

Bye for now, Sue

In His Ninetieth Year

2011-06-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we celebrated both my sister's sixtieth birthday and my Dad's ninetieth. Just before I wrote this poem about Dad. I feel it really sums up his positive attitude to life.

In his ninetieth year

In his ninetieth year, Dad has sown seeds

and transplanted little seedlings to the garden,

made a plant stand,

gathered purple sprouting broccoli

for his daily dinners

and laid carpet tiles in his bathroom.

He wants to make a bird box now

or a table. His love of making things

is undiminished. He loves to use his hands,

loves to stroke wood, make joints

and corners.

This latest idea was inspired by a visitor

to his garden, described to me in detail

and identified at his urging

on what Dad calls my marvellous phone,

as a coal tit. A tiny bird, an old man,

a new beginning.

Susan Jane Sims

Learning to love what you've got

2011-04-01T09:46:00.000-07:00

This week has been a struggle in some ways. I have been organising a conference to take place at a lovely venue in Bath (The Royal Literary and Scientific Institution) on Sunday April 10th. The subject "Trauma & Reflective Practice". Designed to be useful for anyone in the health and caring professions and with three great speakers including Professor Kim Etherington, I thought this would be a doddle to sell tickets for. I was wrong. It has been a struggle and in that struggle I started to lose sight of what really matters. I started to get angry and resentful that I had put all this work into this project and it was not being appreciated and I started to think about the money that it is costing our little organisation (not Poetry Space but Lapidus SW, an organisation I am chair of). What I'm really feeling worried about of course, is being made to feel foolish, to be found wanting...

Then I started to feel better. So what changed my mind? I think it was the realisation that it is not entirely down to me and also that I have to accept that not everyone is going to want to come and learn about this topic. It's a heavy one after all for a Sunday. I also started to realise that I was dwelling only on the negatives. Yes not as many people have booked as I hoped however ten people have booked and are are coming and they are eager and committed and want to come and learn and enjoy the day and I owe it to those people to swallow my own personal disappointment and go ahead. Personal successes and failures don't really come into it. Whatever happens I'll survive.

I know that as soon as I relax over this more bookings will come in.

If you would like to come along, the themes are: reflecting on the impact of working with trauma, surgical trauma and the trauma of growing up with substance abuse. Our speakers will be supported by professional members of Lapidus, including myself who will lead a reflective writing workshop after lunch. The day will also include an opportunity for meeting others in the field.I am looking forward to it. It should be a brilliant day.

Mention this blog and you'll receive a discount.

Sue

Lapidus is the UK organisation for creative writing and reading. For more information please go to: www.lapidus.org.uk

Green theme for Poetry Space Competition 2011

2011-03-12T06:49:00.000-08:00

As a company with a belief in organic, sustainable creative growth, bearing in mind quality, collaboration and care in all our products and services we felt that a green theme for this year's competition would be very apt. We are calling it “Green Space,” and we welcome poems with an environmental theme, allusions to nature, growth and organic living.

We are really thrilled to have Rose Flint judging our adult section as Rose has really green credentials. She is a long term green and a facilitator for the world-wide environmental movement ‘Be The Change.’ She is also a prize winning poet, amd her awards include the Cardiff International Poetry Competition and the Petra Kenny International Poetry Prize, two Poetry Places and a Year of the Artist award. Her collections are Blue Horse of Morning (Seren), Firesigns (Poetry Salzburg) Nekyia (Stride) and Mother of Pearl (PSAvalon). Her poetry is also published in numerous anthologies and magazines including Poetry Review, Resurgence and The Rialto.

Read Rose Flint's prize winning poem The Field.

As a new venture for poetry space we would like to invite young writers between the ages of 12 and 16 to enter . This section will be judged by Children' author and poet, Moira Andrew. Moira works with Poet-in-schools, currently on a writing project in the RCH, Truro and working with children in hospital. Moira also works with adult writing groups and is author of a number of books for teachers including Language in Colour, Paint a Poem & Legend into Language, (Belair/Folens) She is also a well-published children’s poet.
Her poetry collection for adults include Light the Blue Touch Paper, (1986 & 1989), Fresh Out of Dragonflies, (1995) & This year, Next Year, (2004)

Read a selection of Moira Andrew's poetry.

Entry fee: £5 per poem adult, £2 per poem 12-16's. Deadline June 30th 2011

For details on how to enter please go to Poetry Space Competition 2011 Poetry Space Competition 2011

Poetry Meets Haute Couture at London Fashion Week

2011-02-21T05:00:00.000-08:00

Textile and Haute Couture visionary Omar Mansoor dazzled his audience with a poetic-inspired collection at London Fashion Week.

Launching his series of delicate gowns at the Charing Cross Hotel on Sunday, 20 February 2011 the eagerly-awaited collection was based on Milton's Paradise Lost and the spiritual complexity in the Garden of Eden.

Combining eastern details, woven lace florals and sheer fabrics, the gowns ranged from the pure, natural, organic colours of aniseed green and olive to more sensual and seductive pink tones and plunging necklines.

A wonderful synergy of angel meets devil, decadence meets elegance and curiosity meets fantasy.

The collection is the fourth in Mansoor's breathtaking couture career, and celebrates his unique aesthetic vision and exquisite attention to detail.

For more about Omar Mansoor please visit: http://www.omarmansoor.com/

Irene's Daughter Inspires Others To Write What's Inside

2011-01-24T16:06:00.000-08:00

The highest purpose of art is to inspire. What else can you do? What else can you do for anyone but inspire them? Bob Dylan

Thank you to everyone who came along to The Pierian Centre in central Bristol on a cold Saturday afternoon for my Irene's Daughter workshop.I had a warm response to my poetry and comments which included:

"it was a real privilege to hear you read"
"your poems cut right to the heart"
"the strength of your poetry is in the detail"

It felt self-indulgent to read so much of my own work at one sitting; not something that I am yet used to.It was very special because the poems, written as a tribute to my mother mean so much to me. She and I had a complex relationship and since her death I have worked through my grief by writing poem after poem..

This is one the group particularly liked:

Mother Love

The dress inflates
and I drift out
of the line of fire

A crimson balloon
patterned with grey mares,
seams stitched with mother love

In real time
I'm a streak of colour
in a driver's eye,
a body bruised by steel and glass
a pinafore pressed
and never worn again

My childhood and teenage years were spent living behind a shop on a busy main road. One evening I crossed over the road to our local shop and got "knocked down by a car". I was dreaming as usual, thinking about the ice-cream sundaes that I had been asked to fetch as a treat for tea. The driver didn't see me. I have frequently dreamt about this incident and finally at Ty Newydd (The Writer's Centre in Wales)after an inspiration workshop with Penelope Shuttle I completed the poem.

Many of the poems in this collection explore the manner of my mother's death and my feelings of guilt over her dying in hospital. I am moving on now. It has been two and a half years since she died. Now, more than I did, I value my inheritance. Where we lived was nothing special to look at from the outside. It wasw hat lay within that was important. For good or ill I will always carry around a part of my mother in my heart, in my mind and indeed in my physical appearance. I know that I will always be Irene's Daughter.

Using my own poems for inspiration, together with some starting points from Susan Goldman Wooldridge's Poem Crazy, the Lapidus South West group and guests undertook some auto- biographical poetry themselves.

If you were there and want to share any of your writing please send it in. I would love to see it. The main thing is that it is for you though. Experiment.Enjoy.Let it heal you.

The next Lapidus SW meeting will also be at The Pierian Centre on Saturday March 26th from 2.30 till 5pm. The speaker will be Lapidus member Julia Bush. Julia is a graduate of the Creative Writing for Therapeutic Purposes diploma in Bristol. She will talk about her work with the residents of a nursing home, writing down their life stories. Get there early if you would like to network and socialise first. A Georgian building in the heart of a vibrant city, The Pierian Centre is a lovely space to enjoy. They offer a lovely selection of teas and biscuits too. For information about any Lapidus SW events including our forthcoming Reflective Writing Day for General Practitioners and our Trauma Conference Day please contact swlapidus@yahoo.com

Best Wishes, Sue

All our love, thoughts to the victims of the Queensland Floods

2011-01-13T10:00:00.001-08:00

Poetry Space sends our sincerest condolences to all the victims of the Queensland Floods in Australia.

We send our heartfelt wishes to all those affected that safety, peace and health will be restored in your lives quickly.

A regular contributor to our showcase, Heleena Yates has offered a poem as a reflection of her reaction to the horrific disasters.

The floods in QLD -
Forces of natures force -
Are also manmade.
Man in Australia has greedily claimed
Acres of floodplains, natural swamps, large areas of housing,
Disaster, awaiting to occur - and it has!

The same is true, as my brother explains
All along the coastal plains
Like Port Macquarie,
Prime virgin forest, mango swamps, over-farming and housing
Disasters, awating.

(c) Heleena Yates
Written by Heleena Yates, edited by Azadeh K Taj

Both Heleena and Azadeh are Australians living in London. Both believe man-made interference with the natural waterways is the instigating factor for the disaster.

January showcase online and new archive launched

2011-01-05T09:24:00.000-08:00

We are pleased to announce the launch of out first stunning showcase of poetry for January 2011.

We have also now launched an archive of prior monthly collections.

Thank you everyone for your support and watch out for all our exciting competitions, workshops and events this year.

May 2011 be a creative and joyous year for all.

Best wishes,

The Poetry Space Editorial Team

Christmas Poetry From Poetry Space (3 of 3)

2010-12-26T14:42:00.000-08:00

Dear Miriam,

Just a line

to let you know how things

are with us & of course to

thank you (& your good man)

for all you did for us - &

at your busiest time too

what with the census &

everything. I was quite

exhausted and the baby was

beginning to make himself

felt. If it hadn’t been

for all your help that night

my baby might have died.

Good of you

to put up with all our

visitors – who’d have

thought, six scruffy

shepherds up & leaving

their sheep like that?

& didn’t they ever smell?

Still they were good-

hearted & they meant well.

I hope they brought some

extra trade to the inn.

They looked in need of

a hot drink & a meal.

& what about

those kings, Miriam? Kneeling

there in their rich robes

& all? & me in nothing but

my old blue dress! Joseph

said not to worry, it was

Jesus they’d come to see.

Real gentlemen they were.

But what funny things to

give a baby – gold & myrrh

& frankincense. That’s men

all over! It wouldn’t cross

their minds to bring a shawl!

Sorry we left

so suddenly. No time for

good-byes with king Herod on

the warpath! We had to take

the long way home & I’m so

tired of looking at sand!

Joseph has picked up a few

jobs mending this & that so

we’re managing quite well.

Jesus grows bonnier every

day & thrives on this way

of life, but I can’t wait

to see Nazareth again.

Love to all

at the inn,

Mary

Frost

Cats sulk

in the crystal grass;

their mouths whiskered even more.

Exhaling air ties ribbons around atmosphere.

Looking back, I see houses in half-light;

Halloween masks dwindling into miniatures.

Shins of mobile masts stagger into distance.

Abandoned cars have crept upon

each other, freezing into cold inertia.

The drone of intense frost deafens the woods.

Snow strewn street lights wash pavements white.

My skin turns silver, shimmering.

In my bones something sleeping …

starts to wake.

"Mistletoe muse"
In crystal twilight we sipped hot wine
Took delight in unwrapping
Top-to-toe
I remember your lips
Scarlet on snow
Wrinkle in time
- and afterglow.

Christmas Poetry From Poetry Space (2 of 3)

2010-12-25T11:13:00.000-08:00

I'LL GO FOR GOLD THIS YEAR, [I THOUGHT]
FOR THE BAUBLES ON MY CHRISTMAS TREE,
BUT THEN A TINY BOY IN A BALLOON MADE OF WOOD
LOOKED UP AND CRIED, ''DONT FORGET ME!''
TWO LITTLE MIRROR-BALLS, IN THE LIGHT ALL SHINY,
ONE AT EACH SIDE THEN IF YOU MUST, BUT WHAT
ABOUT THE ANGEL, A FANCY LITTLE DOLL,HER
WINGS WITH A LIGHT FILM OF DUST,
PUT HER ON THE TOP WHERE SHE LOVES TO BE,
NOW YOU REALLY MUST HAVE LIGHTS ON A CHRISTMAS
TREE, NOW THE ORNAMENTS YOU'VE LEFT
ARE SUCH BEAUTIFUL HUES, RED, BLUE, OR
PURPLE? OH I REALLY CAN'T CHOOSE,
HANG THEM ON THE TREE, ONE COLOUR BE
BLOWED! I'M OLD FASHIONED AT HEART,
AND MY TREE......WELL IT GLOWED!

Winter’s Child

You were winter’s child

First breath, Christmas Day 1924

Hard edged, stoical,

seasonal qualities

that helped you survive

traits hard to let go of

even when warm winds blew

For that you had me, your sunny

summer baby, my mission in life

to make you smile.

©Susan Jane Sims

THE FIRST OF ALL

I honor the stars, moon and sun-

For this smile,

The fire, ocean, and wind-

For this strength,

The seasons, times and years-

For this wit,

The trees and barks as herbs-

For this purification,

The chirps, neighs and moos-

For this delight,

The rainbow, sky and manna-

For this colorful wealth,

The apples, almond and grapes-

For this oval eye… the sight of wine

The piano, flute, and drums-

For this orchestrated classical rhythms

The rain, clouds and ice-

For this condensed warmth

The end to my piece-

Is Christ… the very first of all.

Christmas Poetry From Poetry Space (1 0f 3)

2010-12-24T11:55:00.000-08:00

Christmas Poetry from Poetry Space

Read a selection each day over the Christmas period

enough christmas

snow beats its feet upon december’s head

what santa drinks – i wish we knew the stuff

frost nips our toes – and turns them rudolph red

the shops are dowsed in green – enough’s enough

we’re skidding on the ice – our knees are bruised

our hands are frozen digits in our gloves

the season has us up for fools and used

the shops are dowsed in green – enough’s enough

and o for quiet – we sneak away our time

we’ve hid the biscuits on the shelf above

another bite of chocolate – or wine?

o - the shops are dowsed in green – enough’s enough

whatever are your plans – december late

when shops are dowsed in green – e s c a p e (escape)

Foretold

The baby’s head is crowning

Crowned with blood, with thorns

Membrane breaks

The temple curtain torn

Cries in the darkness

My God, my God –

Wrapped in swaddling bands

In winding cloths

Shepherds, sages worship

Spectators heckle, mock
Patient donkey waiting

Cross upon its back

Poetry meets art for tea

2010-12-09T11:31:00.000-08:00

Poetry Space in collaboration with Corner 9 Art presented a tea ceremony and poetry reading to open the gallery's Annual General Meeting.

As the kids got creative decorating biscuits, the adults sipped freshly brewed jasmine green tea, romantic rose buds and berry herbal Bonheur infusion to set the poetic mood.

In commemoration with "Shabeh Yalda," an age-old Persian tradition celebrating the longest night of the year, Azadeh made a lucky dip of extracts from Neon Love for families to take away as inspiration to create their own unique poems.

Azadeh then performed a selection of poems from Neon Love and from her upcoming new collection Saffron Kisses.

To keep this wonderful fusion alive, Corner 9 Art and Poetry Space will be in collaboration in spring next year for a fabulous art-meets-poetry creative camp for children. Follow our blog for more details!

Workshop works wonders!

2010-12-09T08:57:00.000-08:00

For the first time, Sue and Azadeh collaborated creative energies to run a joint writer's workshop at London's famous Poetry Society Cafe in Covent Garden.

Our writers were greeted with Sue's relaxation exercise to pave the way to creative thinking. Azadeh's selection of fine teas also got the creative juices flowing.

Highlights of the event were:

New Year, New Poetry

Will 2011 be the year of poetry? In Chinese New Year tradition, writers created poems describing what year they would like 2011 to be for them. What arose was simply delightful.
Particularly inspirational poems resulting from the workshop were "The Year of the Dancer" by poet Clare Waters and "The Year of the Unicorn" by Pauline Sewards.
The Year of the Dancer

Starting the year
already half-emerged,
a return to bodily form
reviving past joys –
music, dancing, friendships,
...and seducing my
long term silver mate.

This year will be sweeter still,
moving closer to the softer centre of my heart,
uncompromised by others,
by what they expect – or want
from me.

But one more wish -
a resolution -
to have time to waste,
to while away...
(c) Clare Waters 2010

The Year of the Unicorn

I hear it coming,
galloping tremble of hooves,
riding swift and easy
in the year of moving on,
breaks out of hiding,
dream hunting,
in the year of love,
sad single minded
white gold rider
speeds a chimera of wings
work-a-day unicorns unified
in a tessellation,
force field, holding steadfast, holding steadfast, force field
unifies a tessellation
work-a-day unicorns
speed a chimera of wings
white gold riders
single minded
in the year of love
dream hunting,
break out of hiding
in the year of moving on
rides swift and easy
galloping tremble of hooves
I hear it coming.
(c) Pauline Sewards 2010
Many thanks to Cathy Wilson, from Lapidus UK and The Writing Edge, for this brilliant idea.
Creative Diet
In line with the upcoming poetic dining showcase on ITV, Azadeh shared some treats to help nourish the poetic mind, body and soul. Writers enjoyed mineral-rich Persian dates, South-American Yakon root extract and crunchy, protein-packed chick peas.
Free form, polish and prime
Following Sue's free-form writing tips, Azadeh shared her top editing secrets to help polish and shape a work in progress. Writers went away with 5 golden rules to great writing along with their unique pieces of individual work to help continue the creative journey.

- "Thanks so much for the Winter Workshop. I really enjoyed it and find myself thinking over and over the new things I learned. Please tell Azadeh that I have started making a delicious winter salad with some of the ingredients she recommended poetesses to eat! Almonds, dates, ginger... Very uplifting in this cold weather." - Clare Waters

- "The workshop provided a safe and nurturing space for writers. Guided imagery from Sue to stimulate creativity led to ‘free fall’ writing which was shaped into more structured pieces. Supportive feedback was encouraged. Azadeh’s discussion on the ‘Artistic Diet’ alongside a lunch based on these principles was another highlight of a friendly and productive day." - Pauline Sewards

Why poetry makes the world go round

2010-12-02T08:06:00.001-08:00

There is a common misconception that poetry is esoteric, abstract and only tangible to a certain intellectual elite. But since the beginning of time, poetry, verse and song have been an essential part of everyday human life.

Here are some ways poetry has been used throughout the ages - in some ways that may even inspire you!

Who needs GPS? Navigate with verse!

In his book Songlines, Bruce Chadwin describes how the Australian Aborigines actually navigates across hundreds of miles of desert and bush without maps. Their secret was in fact traditional songs, passed down through the generations that contained all the directions they needed.

Pop poetry

A very talented poet who attended our latest workshop stated one person had criticised her for writing "songs" not poems. Sadly, this criticism is not only unjust, but also reflects a one-dimensional view of poetry. In many languages, the word for "poetry" and "song" are in fact one and the same, such as the work sheher in Farsi.

Pop songs, nursery rhymes, jingles, the rhythmic repetitions and patterns all fall under the umbrella of poetry. Now as an Honours graduate of English Literature I may have my professors shaking their heads in utter disgust, but really, the more open and accepting the term, the more widely accessible poetry!

Politics, power and poetry

Throughout the ages, poetry has been considered a powerful tool of political expression. The renowned Persian classic, Ferdowsi, was commissioned by the Samanid dynasty to writer "Shahnameh", or the "Book of Kings," which is not only rich in political and cultural allusions, but is consciously written in traditional Farsi, as a form of rebellion against Arab invasion.

Now, performance poetry is used world-wide as a source of political debate, such as Palestinian Poet Remi Kanazi, whom I had the pleasure of working with at the latest Poetry International festival at Southbank.

Learning and development through song and rhyme

Sesame Street and Playschool were really onto something all those decades ago when they brought learning through rhyme to international television. Now, we have countless shows, cds, books and dvds that teach kids all sorts of facts and trivia through repetition and verse.

Adult learning companies are finally realising grown ups can pick up a thing or two through poetic patterns, such as Earworms which I am now using to learn a few Italian phrases to impress my delightful friends in Piedmonte over Christmas.

So on that note, ciao e a domani!

Life in Poetry Space

2010-12-01T13:11:00.000-08:00

Wednesday December 1st -

Life in Poetry Space is exciting at the moment. Our Winter Magic Workshop was a huge success. I introduced the participants to a relaxing meditation to help them reach that almost trance like state where inspired writing can spring from and the writing that emerged was truly beautiful. There was plenty of time for sharing work and discussing and one of the things that emerged was the need for technique (form, metre, etc). How necessary is it? Can it dampen the creative spirit of a developing writer? Our thoughts on this are that the creative energy comes first. Why spoil it with introducing too many rules. Once a poet is so in love with words that they are spilling onto the page, and they have found their own voice that is the time to experiment with techniques and become a more versatile poet.

Writing from the workshop will be shared if the participants would like to send it in. No pressure.

Azadeh fascinated us all with her diet for the creative mind. We sampled beatiful plump dates from Iran, roasted chick peas, lavender tea and lots of other goodies.

I also have news from a few of our contributors about their poetic exploits.

Sue

Soul Feathers - an anthology to aid Macmillan Cancer Support

2010-11-15T14:15:00.000-08:00

STOP PRESSSoul Feathers, a new anthology being published by Indigo Dreams Press in February wll include poetry by Maya Angelou, Seamus Heaney, Leonard Cohen...and...yes you've guessed Susan Jane Sims! This will aid the work of Macmilan Cancer Support.

I have only just had a chance to let this lovely news sink in. I have been so busy preparng the work of others for publication that there has been little time to reflect. However I got the news early on the morning of Saturday 6th November. I'd woken early having not yet adjusted from a early morning flight back from Romania and the clocks going back in both countries and opened up my e-mail intending just a quick check before getting on with finalising poems for Collage, our own forthcoming anthology and thr it was, news that I am in Soul Feathers.

This means so much to me. My mum had cancer twice in the last thirty yearsof her life and this as a struggle for her getting through althe surgery and radiotherapy which she endured very bravely. However it severely afected the quality of her life, especially after the bowel cancer and the removal of a large section of bowel, resulting in a colostomy for her final twenty two years, roughly a quarter of her life. Now I have an uncle who is also coping with cancer courageously and being looked after by nurses from Macmillan so he'll be really pleased . He also shares my love of poetry.

Do help this cause if you can. The book will be available in February from Central Books. Meanwhile see http://www.indigodreamspress.co.uk/ and click on the link Soul Feathers

Come and meet Susan and co-editor, Times journalist and poet, Azadeh K Taj and warm your heart and mind at their Winter Magic Writer's Workshop at The Poetry Cafe in London's Covent Garden. There are just a few places left...£40 to include a vegetarian lunch and selecion of sweet treats and tea. Beginners and experienced poets are equally welcome.

Poems With Age On Their Side - raising money to help isolated older people in the UK

2010-11-10T07:12:00.000-08:00

I have some news for you about our forthcoming title; Poems With Age On Their Side, by hicky. If you have been following this blog you might be aware that we are publishing a little book of poetry and cartoons to help raise money for charity.

As hicky, the poet in question is 88 and not all that well, our first thoughts turned to Britain's largest age related charity, however they weren't too keen on the idea as it would have meant having to overcome some legal issues before we could use their name in connection with our little book. I really didn't expect it to be that hard to give money away. Anyway too complicated for me and it does seem crazy when legal issues get in the way of raising money for good causes and potentially get in the way of one of our older citizens being able to help in this way. The book is hicky's way of spreading a little warmth and happiness and I'm sure everyone will love it. It will be available in plenty of time for Christmas.

I now have a lovely charity on board Contact- the- elderly and more details will appear here as soon as all the details are finalised. This charity works closely with its 5000 volunteers to provide Sunday afternoon tea get-togethers for elderly, housebound people and helps around 3000 elderly people each year. This is an absolute lifeline for so many. See what they do for yourselves on their website: http://www.contact-the-elderly.org.uk/ It is really inspiring.

Poetry Space Competiton 2010 - the winning poems

2010-11-02T09:25:00.000-07:00

Judge’s report

With over 120 entries to choose from, it was a challenging task to narrow the selection down to three winning poems and ten highly commended ones. Philip Larkin once wrote – I’m paraphrasing slightly – that writing poems should first and foremost be a pleasure and so should reading them! I’m happy to say that I’ve enjoyed reading these entries and it seems to me that most of them were poems that needed to be written, that is, poems that came from the heart rather than written as exercises or – perish the thought – as attempts to win a prize. I chose “Illness” for the first prize because it strikes me as both finely crafted and natural at the same time, as well as being beautifully understated, a clear demonstration of the principle that less is often more. The final line (“I have become used to not being seen”) has the same deceptively matter-of-fact quality as the final line in Robert Lowell’s great poem “Eye and Tooth”: “I am tired. Everyone’s tired of my turmoil.”

I think other poems could have benefited from this kind of clarity, as well as occasional pruning. Speaking of pruning, the pastoral muse was certainly more in evidence than any urban one, and I awarded second prize to “Autumnal Anniversary” as the strongest poem in this field (no pun intended), which wore its Wordsworthian mantle lightly and again showed an awareness of form, allowing the poem to find its own rhythm. Third prize went to “Death Before Life”, a moving poem about the loss of a baby that has echoes of Hardy in its use of rhyme but is recognisably a contemporary voice. Another example of something simply expressed, with what’s left unsaid having as much impact as the words used (what Tony Harrison has referred to as “the silence round all poetry”).

The ten highly commended poems each had a quality that singled it out from its rivals among the many entries I read through as diligently as possible, trying not to allow my own prejudices to lead me to exclude unfairly something that might not be to my taste but that deserved to be recognised for its own merits. But as I wrote at the beginning of this report, I enjoyed reading all the poems submitted for this competition – and I celebrate the fact that in hard times the poetic muse has not abandoned us just yet.

Philip Lyons October 2010

Illness

I do not recognise myself in the mirror-

I see loneliness which has followed me

from hospital and found me in my room.

When I came home you had painted

these walls, choosing the colour pink

from flowers woven into my Persian rug.

bringing in something from the outside. Windows

on the ward were not allowed to be fully opened.

I have become used to not being seen.

On winning 1^st prize:

Wow! Absolutely delighted. A much needed boost for my self-confidence. Recognition for determination and perseverance and my passion for words, language, and a belief in communicating simply and clearly. Recognition for the support I have had.

I am spending my winnings on buying a lap top.

Autumnal Anniversary (A celebration of leaves)

At autumn-time,

the roses remembered your visit and re-blossomed.

Their scents swirled around the garden door;

their colours clung on like the kisses

I cast out above the valley floor

towards the sunset, hoping you’d

catch them as you awakened

half a globe away.

The petals:

fell, fashioning themselves as scarlet pools, rivering on,

swelling the restless, rust edges of leaf lakes.

At your homecoming, we ran exposed,

splash-scattering the blushing puddles

across a flood plain of full-flushed autumn;

laughing, pledging confettied promises

that we have, since, kept.

On winning 2^nd Prize:

“I am delighted to receive this acknowledgement of my latent talent. Thank you.”

DEATH BEFORE LIFE

Blood at a birth.

Blood at a death:

It was both.

But all for the best, all for the best.

‘Don’t lift, don’t stretch,

Don’t run, don’t jump,

Don’t move:

Keep still and rest, keep still and rest.’

Five months you lived,

hanging on

by a thread.

But only a guest, a short term guest.

‘It’s a girl’, they said

‘and beautiful.

Nothing wrong.’

But dead on my breast, dead on my breast.

Background information on our winners:

Beverley Ferguson is a founder member of the Centre for Whole Health in Bristol, and a founder member of the charity Community Arts Therapies, based in Bath.

She trained in Dance, Drama, and English at Dartington College of Arts in Devon, qualifying as a teacher. During the 1980s she had a career in the Caring Professions. Beverley’s passion for movement led her to learn Tai Chi Chuan, which she taught in Bath for eight years. An evolving interest in the relationship between Body, Mind and Spirit/Heart, was developed by training and practising as a psychotherapist for ten years.

Beverley says “I have had a decade of illness. My love of writing, especially poetry, continues to support my recovery”.

Mike Lee is a former academic who; in retirement, has returned to his creative writing

rather than creating educational texts.

Mike says: I remember writing stories and poetry from an early age. I was encouraged in this interest by parents and at school. But my real interest in literature and writing poetry came about while training to be teacher. I taught English in West Africa and went on to write and co-write several English Language courses for primary and secondary schools. I completed my doctorate in Sociolinguistics in 1985.

Jackie Hinden’s published works include a number of short stories , many lyrics set to music, and the libretto of a children’s operetta. She also won the Radio Sussex award for a radio play, subsequently broadcast. She lives in Brighton, and for many years taught Creative Writing for the Brighton Adult Education department.

At the present time she is concentrating on her poetry, and has had several poems published by United Press and Forward Press. She has also won several competitions, including second prize in the prestigious Keats/Shelley competition and is very happy to add this Poetry Space prize to the list.

Full list of winning poems 2010

First prize

Illness – Beverley Ferguson

Second prize

Autumnal Anniversary – Mike Lee

Third prize

Death Before Life – Jackie Hinden

Highly commended

Mother’s last laugh- Audrey Arden Jones

The Ancient Lark- Joe Jordan

Watching the butcher cut meat in Karachi – Rona Laycock

Rage – Beverley Ferguson

Public Transport – Deborah Harvey

The Mary Block – Deborah Harvey

Bryce Canyon – Peter Goulding

Walkies- Susan Latimer

Medicine for the Heart – Sue Ashby

Bright Town – Tamarisk Bowles

Poetry Space Competition 2010

2010-10-27T10:13:00.000-07:00

STOP PRESS Poetry Space Competition 2010. 122 poems received. These were judged by Philip Lyons. All prize winners and runners up have been notified and the full results, winning poems and judge's report will be on the website http://www.poetryspace.co.uk/ from November 3rd. However the top three poems were:
1st: Illness by Beverley Ferguson
2nd: Autumnal Anniversary by Mike Lee
3rd: Death Before Life by Jackie Hinden

More news next week.

Touching lives, making connections

2010-10-13T13:33:00.000-07:00

"life I touch for good or ill will touch another life, and in turn another, until who knows where the trembling stops or in what far place my touch will be felt."  Frederick Buechner

I have just had the following quotation sent to me from a newsletter that I receive regularly and it struck a chord. Since founding Poetry Space and getting my poetry and that of others "out there" in the wider world, I have met and corresponded with so many lovely people. Poetry Space is certainly becoming a force for the good. Poets are passing the site on to their friends and it seems that we are creating a real buzz about poetry. Poetry Space is proving that Poetry is very much alive.

My co-editor, Azadeh has come up with some definitions for the term Poetry space and its derivatives:

"Poetryspace." n. A creative frame of mind with unique and natural rhythms.

"Poetryspacing". vb The act of consciously making time for creative expression.

"Poetryspacer". adj. a person who actively seeks to nuture and celebrate creativity in all its shape and colours without fear, judgement or prejudice.

If you can come up with any others please post in the comments box or write to me susan@poetryspace.co.uk

Alternatively tell us about how you are making room for "poetryspace" in your life. The ones that capture our attention will get a complimentary copy of either Irene's Daughter or Neon Love .

Susan

Book deals, Bar Codes and Creative Spaces

2010-10-02T15:13:00.000-07:00

Saturday October 2nd 2010

This week has been fantastically exciting for Poetry Space. The new October Showcase has gone online with some very striking poems and a really international feel to it this month with poetry from Valentina Belacqua from Russia and Michael Somua from Ghana. We have a real mix of established names like David Morgan and Dave Wood along with poets having their work published for the first time. See it at http://www.poetryspace.co.uk/

Our philosophy at Poetry Space is to encourage and nurture new talent and we are doing this in lots of ways. I had an approach from "Hicky" from Yorkshire asking if I would consider publishing a collection of his poems for "a good cause of my choice". I love his humorous approach to life; it shines through in the poems so I said "yes" and when the book comes out we will be donating £2 for each copy sold to Age UK. Hicky is eighty eight years of age and so what better cause could there possibly be. If anyone from Age UK happens to be reading this I will be in touch when I get the book underway...

As well as nurturing new talent Azadeh and I believe it is essential to look after ourselves.
Azadeh has been telling me about her "writer's diet", health eating to feed the creative part of the brain. If you would like to learn more about this and indeed sample some titbits then do book up for our Poetry Space workshop, Winter Magic which will be at The Poetry Cafe in Covent Garden, London on November 27th. Full details will be on the poetry space website very shortly along with easy online facilities to make your payment. http://www.poetryspace.co.uk/

Finally I have been doing the rather tedious task of getting bar code labels printed to go on our books. We already have ISBN's which all books have if they are to sell more widely than your next door neighbour. I wasn't so sure about barcodes however anything that helps to get the books out there has got to be a good thing. I have been doing some exciting stuff to, printing all our lovely books, Azadeh's Neon Love with its attractive cover always looks wonderful hot off the press and I also had the excitement today of seeing my own book Irene's Daughter joining it. Both books will be on sale on October 10th when Azadeh and I read some of the poems from these collections at Poetry Night at The Left Bank in Bristol. It starts at 6pm if you would like to come along. It's an open mic night so if you are a poet too then come along and read.

Finally Azadeh has a couple of "book deals". She has been getting herself out and about in Notting Hill visiting art studios, cafes and stores and one lovely art studio and store has not only offered her a creative space to go and paint but is also going to become a stockist for Neon Love.Another friendly cafe has offered to put it on the counter for us. So if you live in Notting Hill you will definitely be seeing Azadeh's book and art work very soon. More about this next time...

Poetry Space Competition 2010

2010-09-18T15:28:00.000-07:00

Saturday 18th September

The Poetry Space Competition 2010 ended on August 31st. All 122 poems entered are now with our judge Philip Lyons who will judge them all anonymously and select the winners. The top three will receive cheques for £100,£50 and £25 respectively. A sincere thank you to everyone who entered and good luck. I will post the names of the winners and runners up on this blog and on the Poetry Space website: www.poetryspace.co.uk on October 31st.

The Poetry Space Story

2010-09-18T09:05:00.000-07:00

My name is Susan Jane Sims and I am a poet living in the UK. I began Poetry Space in August 2010 with the website http://www.poetryspace.co.uk/ I started it to give the very many talented poets out there a platform for their work and it has been very successful. We have published the work of poets from the UK, Ireland, Romania, Moldova, Russia, USA, Ghana, South Africa and Canada. Each month we publish a selection of poems online. I say "we" because in January this year I was joined by another poet, Azadeh K Taj and together we are building Poetry Space both as an online poetry magazine featuring poets from around the world, and as an independent publishing company producing poetry anthologies and individual poetry collections. Each one is lovingly produced; designed, edited, printed and stapled by Poetry Space.

In April this year we published our first anthology, Elements of Healing and got invited to speak about our work at a Women in Publishing meeting in London. Elements of Healing was officially launched at Goldbrick House in Bristol in June and is selling well. All the poets featured are members of Lapidus South West and all profits are helping to keep Lapidus SW in funds and provide exciting training opportunities for members. If you have never heard of Lapidus, it is a wonderful organisation that promotes well-being through words; the spoken word and the written. For more information contact me at swlapidus@yahoo.com (I am the regional co-ordinator). Oh and I musn't forget we are holding a CPD day at the Pierian Centre in Bristol on Thursday October 14th. Contact me on the above address for details. It is £35 for members and £45 for non-members and is on the theme supervision and support. It will be valuable for anyone working in the field of personal development, health or well-being. Our training days attract a wide audience including GP's, counsellors, therapists, teachers and trainers.

On Thursday evening (16th September) Azadeh launched her first poetry collection at the Poetry Cafe in Covent Garden. She read a selection of poems from the book and it was really well received. This is what one reviewer has had to say about the book:

"Taj explores through rich language, what it means to be a woman today, when perfection is expected yet unobtainable. She explores love for others and ourselves".
(Excert from full review by Louisa Adjoa Parker, author of Salt-sweat and Tears)
You can buy Neon Love from us at http://www.poetryspace.co.uk/
I am reading submissions for our October Showcase now so e-mail them to me at susan@poetryspace.co.uk