Magazine Moment (20) : The Seventh Quarry

Laugharne: Dylan Thomas Boat House and Estuary

The Seventh Quarry
Editor: Peter Thabit Jones
Issue: Thirteen / Winter 2011, ISSN 1745-2236, 88 pages

The new issue, as ever, is packed with inviting reading material. There is a good mix of poetry and prose, along with some original artwork. The magazine hails from Swansea and features work from most corners of the globe. This issue alone contains submissions from Wales, England. Ireland, France, India, Serbia, Germany, Belrus and America.

Russian-born poet and photographer, Aleksey Dayen, is remembered and honoured. He died in New York last November. I had the privilege of meeting Aleksey when he was reading at the Dylan Thomas Centre in 2009. I particularly recall his highly individual reading of 'Jailbird Blues', accompanied by singer-songwriter, Terry Clarke. Multi-faceted artist, John Dotson from the USA, provides a fitting tribute to Aleksey in the form of a poem, 'The Full Moon Rose'.

The initial interview with John Dotson concerns his work in the realms of poetry, drama, biography, sculpture, painting and acting. He describes the impact of the environment on his outlook from a place where 'the Pacific tides sound through' his dreams. He speaks of his encounters in the landscapes of Dylan Thomas on both sides of the Atlantic, and of his forthcoming book, Love for Ever Meridian. 

The poems in this issue represent an eclectic blend of styles. They range (in shape as much as style) from Alan Perry's Thin Poem, 'Line', to 'A Once Strange Face' by Mike Jenkins, which moves the eye in several directions back and forth across the page as it stalks towards its climax. 'Legend's Source' by Jean Salkilld evokes an enchanted landscape, as we wander in the footsteps of Hiawatha's daughter. The final poem in the issue, 'Song' by Frances Sackett, transports the reader to an area of mountainous terrain in which there are 'things you recognise' followed by the unknown call of a mysterious bird . . .

I was very struck by the winning poems in the (USA-based) Left Coast Eisteddfod Poetry Competition (2010), judged by Peter Thabit Jones. The winning poem, 'Iberia' by Bruce Lader, dares the reader to follow in the hoofprints of Don Quixote, as he canters through the landscape of Spain in a Golden Age. Jolen Whitworth was the runner-up with a modern Sonnet, 'He Paints'.

Other features in this issue include the following:

• A fascinating study by Vince Clemente, 'Wakening The Ghosts: The Words We Use, That Use Us', in which Clemente considers Leitmotifs in his own work and also in 'The Boy and the Lion's Head', the new verse drama by Peter Thabit Jones. 
• Poet to Poet (please scroll down once you have clicked the link): a list of the collaborative anthologies produced by The Seventh Quarry (in Swansea) and Cross Cultural Communications (in New York). Each collection includes the work of two poets from different places. The fourth chapbook in the series, 'Poems East Coast/West Coast' is now available for £3.50/$10 (details on  The Seventh Quarry site), and features the work of Stanley H. Barkan and Carolyn Mary Kleefeld.  
• The second part of 'The Anchored Angel and the Dylan Thomas/José Garcia Villa Connection' by John Edwin Cowen.
• An interview with poet, Peter Fulton, on his book (and CD), How to Carve an Angel.
• Original artwork by Carolyn Mary Kleefeld.
• Profiles: poet, Robin Metz, answers questions asked by Peter Thabit Jones; and Swansea singer-song writer, Terry Clarke, talks to Kate Clarke about his latest album, and its Dylan Thomas influences.

And finally . . . an exciting announcement:

 ~ ~ ~



SWANSEA, WALES: JUNE 2011



The Seventh Quarry 
and
 Cross-Cultural Communications, New York 

A three-day festival of poetry, drama, workshops, and music 


will take place from 16th to 18th June, 


featuring writers and performers 
from 

the U.K., America, Canada, Argentina, Israel, Europe, Eastern Europe, and India.



Hosted by Peter Thabit Jones and Stanley H. Barkan 

at the Dylan Thomas Theatre, Swansea. 


Extra festival events at The Boathouse, Laugharne; 


Dylan Thomas House, Swansea; 
and the Nick Holly Art Studio, Swansea.



A commemorative chapbook will be produced 


and several awards will be announced. 


Further details and a brochure forthcoming.



~ ~ ~  

Book Corner (2): The Book of Forms ~ forthcoming

I was interested to read on the 'Poetics and Ruminations' blog that the forthcoming edition of The Book of Forms ('A Handbook of Poetics' compiled and edited by Professor Lewis Turco) will be available on Kindle. The updated work will also be published in book form.

Meanwhile, the current edition of 'The Book of Forms' is available here. I have owned a copy for many years and have found it a fascinating and invaluable guide.

Magazine Moment (19) : Cultural Horizon Magazine, Romania

Congratulations to editor-in-chief, Daniel Dragomirescu, in Bucharest for bringing out the latest edition of 'Orizont Literar Comtemporan' / 'Contemporary Literary Horizon' so speedily after the recent 'Antologia'.

Atlas may struggle to bear the weight of the world on his shoulders (on the red and yellow card in front of the magazine), but the world of 'Orizont Literar Comtemporan' is a welcoming, buoyant and cosmopolitan cosmos of its own that propels its reader into new realms of art, literature and the vibrant exchange of ideas. The undergirding of Atlas, however, reminds us that there is a sense in which the reader finds him or herself peering forward towards ever widening horizons, 'standing on the shoulders' of those literary giants who have begun to pave the way.

The issue opens with USA writer, Peggy Landsman's witty piece, 'Daniel's Cosmic Suitcase', about the magazine's editor, who reaches for the stars. I have alluded to this in a previous post. Some features are more earth-bound, such as 'All Things Mothering' by Terra Trevor (USA), subtitled, 'Braiding Native American Heritage Month with Thanksgiving: A Native American Mother's Perspective'. This account begins with an evocative opening:

'Wind, smelling of woodsmoke, rattles the yellow leaves off the peach tree ...'

But all has not always been well in the garden, for Katerina Kostaki's poem (in Greek with English translation) is about 'The Apple of Discord'.  

The magazine features a substantial excerpt from Daniel Dragomirescu's novel, 'Cronica Teodoreştilor / Chronicle of a Lost World'. Thanks to the translation by Loredana Andreea Matei, a second year student on the MTTLC course at the University of Bucharest, I am able to enjoy the narrative, 'Chained by Law', about Stelian Teodoescu, 'a former inspector of the Cooperation Institute' who 

'headed backwards to the other side of the yard, 

where a barn was under construction, 

filled with memories...'

Carole St-Aubin takes us back (or moves us forward) to Christmas - in the kitchen 'where love is the ingredient in every feast'. Khem Guragain from Nepal adds an oriental flavour with his book review of an autobiographical novel, 'The English Teacher' by N.K. Narayan. The protagonist, apparently, experiences an understandable sense of bitterness when he finds that he is required to 'stuff the students' at Albert Mission College' with Shakespeare, Milton and Carlyle. (Aside: I would very much hope that Shakespeare and Milton would feature on the school syllabus in England today, but I would be pleasantly surprised to find a mention of Carlyle!). 

The thought-provoking poetry of Roxana Drăguşin has a wistful philosophical air about it in places. Roxana has provided her own translation in English, and I was particularly struck by this phrase from 'Călătorii' / 'Travellers':

'We pick up smiles, flowers, butterflies ...'

Wales is not forgotten! My interview with Gillian Drake explores the realm of writing for children and adults in terms of the joys and responsibilities of creating 'another world' or bringing to light 'another dimension of this one'. My sincere thanks to Gillian for being in the 'Dialoguri Galeze' spotlight on this occasion.

* * *

If you would like to take out a subscription to the magazine, you will find details below:

• MAGAZINE PRICE: 12 EUROS | 15 DOLLARS PER COPY (SHIPPING INCLUDED). PayPal: details to the right of the magazine page if you click here.
• Antologia Revistei Orizont Literar Contemporan (ed. Daniel Drogmirescu, Bucharest, Romania): PRICE PER COPY: 40 EUROS | 50 DOLLARS PER COPY Via PayPal: details to the right of the magazine page if you click here.   

Recent contributors:

• Kristina Kostaki's blog. Kristina, a contributor to the magazine, lives in Greece. She has written a post about the 'Orizont Literar Contemporan' anthology here. 
• M. Denise C's blog, here 
• French painter, Hélène Glehen 

Window on Wales (4): Castles in the Frame

Dryslwyn Castle: shades of summer . . .

I have just been enjoying the photo gallery of castles in Wales on the BBC Wales site here. If you have photos that you would like to submit, you will find the details on the site.

I wonder how many castles you think there are here in Wales! I knew there were a lot, but I had no idea that there were this many, with about 100 'still standing'.

It made me wonder how many of these have either featured in poems or provided inspiration for poets over the years. Speaking personally, I don't have to think very hard to name a few castles (e.g. Carreg Cennen, Tretower, Dryslwyn and Manorbier) that have influenced my own writing to one degree or another over the years.

Incidentally, you might like to see the wildlife I have seen recently as part of The Tree Year project (see side bar) in the vicinity of the castle at Dryslwyn.