Calendar Corner (2): National Poetry Week 2011

We have enjoyed a variety of literary events this last fortnight. We celebrated National Poetry Day (or 'Week' in South Wales) at Number 5 Cwmdonkin Drive, birthplace of Dylan Thomas. Thanks are due to Annie and Geoff for laying on a number of events, and to Peter Thabit Jones of The Seventh Quarry for organising a programme of readings for last Saturday night.

It was good to meet Ian Griffiths of the Suffolk Poetry Society and Geraldine Green from Cumbria. Singer-songwriter, Maria Lindström from Sweden, was on tour, and read some of her work bilingually. We were sorry not to coincide with Susan Richardson, who was performing on a different evening. Peter Thabit Jones directed - and acted in - a performance of his verse drama, 'The Boy and the Lion's Head'. David and I read alongside fellow Quarry Poets, Jean Salkilld (Tuesday Poets) and Lynn Hopkins (author of 'Creatures of a Dead Community', Seventh Quarry Press). Jill Goodwin-Croke read poems by Dylan and Caitlin's daughter, Aeronwy Thomas, including one about walking in her father's shadow in a literary kind of way.   

'Games' was the assigned theme for this year's National Poetry Day, so I chose my poems with this in mind, reading 'The Ocean's Tears' (a Tercet Ghazal about a children's tide fight) and 'Lament of a Lewis Chessman' - about chess (just in case you were in any doubt!). 

Exchanging news and views at Number 5

A lot seems to have happened since then!

We spent this afternoon in UCS at a lecture by Faber novelist, Louise Doughty, sponsored by the Suffolk Book League. Louise's latest novel, 'Whatever You Love' was shortlisted for the Costa Novel Prize and longlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction. Louise, however, is also well known for her how-to book, 'A Novel in a Year' - and I was pleased to buy a signed copy from her before she left Ipswich.

University Campus Suffolk, Waterfront, Ipswich - venue for Talk by Louise Doughty

Calendar Corner (11): Shrove Tuesday Pancakes

These are a couple I ate earlier ...

I hope some of you will have been enjoying your Shrove Tuesday pancakes. I came across this blog devoted to pancakes. I see the folk in Glendale, CA, got in early on 1 March, but most of us have been enjoying our pancakes today, before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent tomorrow. I also note that the NY CityCoach team have been running a Pancake Haiku contest. My favourite pancake poem, however, must be 'The Solitary Spatuloon' by Jack Prelutsky. You can read it here (you will need to scroll down once you have clicked the link).

On a more serious Lenten note, Bishop James Jones has been advocating a scheme called the 'Carbon Fast'. He was promoting it on BBC 'Songs of Praise', and you can find out more here.

Calendar Corner (10): Burns' Night

 

Those with Scottish links all over the globe will be celebrating Burns' Night this evening, so it seemed appropriate to join in. The haggis may only be 'virtual', but click here to enjoy it all the same!

• A Burns discovery! 

Calendar Corner (10): New Nature Writing Course

I'm told there is a 10% discount for Wildlife Trust members on a Nature Writing course at Ty Newydd, Llanystumdwy, North Wales this May. The tutors are the well-known naturalists, Nigel Brown and Mark Cocker.

This 4½ day course will involve trips out everyday to study the local wildlife and then time back at Ty Newydd for group work and individual writing. This course is suitable for beginners as well as more experienced writers.

The course would develop writing skills. The organisers say that 'We are very keen to work with Wildlife Trusts and are therefore very happy to offer a 10% discount to members.'

Chris Kinsey asked me to pass this information on to others who might be interested...

Calendar Corner (9): World Book Day

Today is World Book Day, and I thought it would be good to mention the books on my recent/current reading list. I have piles of books beside my different chairs in the house, so I have a number on the go at once.



Books on my desk:

• The Cinder Path by Andrew Motion (Faber). I bought this sparkling new collection with a birthday book token, and have been delighted with the range of subjects and styles. Two poems that come immediately to mind are 'Raven' (a sonnet) and 'The Grave of Rupert Brooke' (which is on the Greek island of Skyros. [POETRY]
  
• The Ring of Words: Tolkien and the Oxford English Dictionary by Gilliver, Marshall and Weiner (OUP). A fascinating read for those who want to distinguish their 'mathom' (or 'stash' in scrapbooking speak) from their 'mithril' (the name of a particular precious metal). [LANGUAGE]

Books on my bedside cabinet:

• A Century of Poetry Review edited by Fiona Sampson (Carcanet) - a treasure trove of pieces published in 'Poetry Review' over the last 100 years. [POETRY]
  
• Notes from Walnut Tree Farm by Roger Deakin (Penguin) - a rural diary. [NATURE MEMOIR]
  
• Getting into Poetry by Paul Hyland (Bloodaxe) - a useful guide to the poetry scene [POETRY]
  
• The Secret Mandarin by Sara Sheridan (Avon/Harper Collins) - I became really engrossed in this extraordinary 19th century story about an obsessive plant collector in China, accompanied by his actress sister-in-law. [FICTION]

Books on my coffee table:

• A Shepherd looks at the Twenty-Third Psalm by Philip Keller (Zondervan). I bought this aboard the Logos Hope when it was moored in Cardiff last year, on the recommendation of a relative who works in the field of agriculture. More than 1/5 million copies have sold since publication. [DEVOTIONAL]
  
• Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards. As a left-handed person who has just begun some classes in oil painting, this seemed the book for me! [PRACTICAL ART THEORY]

I wonder what you are dipping into at the moment. Happy reading!

Calendar Corner (5): World Ocean Day, 8 June 2009

Sea Scenes
for
World Ocean Day 2009

First of all, my apologies that this post is somewhat late; but when it comes to something like this, it must be a case of better late than never. You will find an informative blog post on the day here from Angela Recada. You might also like to read Crafty Green Poet's helpful post for the day here.

I hope you enjoy my assortment of sea scenes:

• Puffins at Bempton Cliffs RSPB reserve, Yorkshire, England, UK. (Yet another excuse for a puffin post!)
  
• Seal on the skerries, off the island of Skye, Hebrides, Scotland, UK
• Little Egret at the WWT Llanelli, opposite the Gower Peninsula (the first AONB), Wales, UK
• The beach at Rhossili, Gower, Wales, UK
• Worm's Head (a tidal peninsula), Rhossili, Gower, Wales, UK

On the subject of the Bempton Cliffs area (and south to the Humber), I have just found an article about events and activities in that region 'that won't leave you penniless'. I shall store these ideas away!

Creative Corner (4): Seth's Bundle for May Day

1 May 2009: Reveal Time
Stage 2 in Seth's Bundle Project!
Above: two for the price of one ... my bundle has come adrift.

Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May...
Sonnet 18, Shakespeare

Welcome to my corner of Seth Apter's (Disintegration Art Project) DisCo - and if you would like to know more, do take a look at Seth's blog, The Altered Page.

Some weeks ago I read about an unusual project on Weaver's blog. I followed the link, and asked Seth if I could join in the fun. I followed his instructions, and set up a bundle of odds and ends in my garden. I went into 'Womble' mode, and tried to re-use 'eco-friendly' materials such as lavender and moulted animal hair. I decided to dilute some turmeric powder for a splash of colour, rather than paint, because it seemed more garden-friendly. I made two handles out of palm fronds, and hung the bundle on a branch of my hydrangea, and waited for the elements to do their worst (or perhaps I should say their best).

We have a prevailing south-westerly wind in South Wales; and sure enough, it was not long before my bundle was blown in two. We usually have heavy rain - and we have had a few heavy showers - but after a very cold winter, we have actually had a beautiful late spring. I now have two bundles instead of one, but other than that, there has not been as much disintegration as I had expected. The turmeric dye has turned from a cheerful hot-sun yellow to a dilute murky brown. The leaves, of course, have grown a lot on the hydrangea: when the dew is not so heavy, I will have to go exploring to see whether there are any earthworms, snails or woodlice under the part that has fallen to the ground.

When I was growing up in Kent (the Garden of England), we used to go to school in an excited frame of mind on May Day. Our teachers led us out to the flowering cherry tree, where we would wash our faces in the dew and dance round the Maypole (I don't think it was quite as long ago as the picture implies!). Speaking of Seth's (Disintegration Art Project) DisCo, I can assure you that our jaunty Maypole steps were a far cry from a student dance! Did you know that St Andrew Undershaft in the City of London is named after the maypole that was kept under its eaves? It was brought out each spring until the student riots of 1517.

At school on May Day we would recite that evocative poem about the loveliest of trees, 'The Cherry Tree' by A. E. Housman. The poem deals with the subject of growing old and the passing of time. Little did I imagine that two-score years later (as opposed to the three-score and ten of the poem), I would be celebrating 1 May with a disintegrating bundle of art! Thank you, Weaver, for the tip-off.

• Seth Apter's blog, The Altered Page
• My original bundle
• Lavinia Greenlaw: The Housman Lecture at the 2009 Guardian Hay Festival in May.
• Do take a look at Matt Merritt's blog, Polyolbion, and his book, Troy Town (I hope to post more comments on this soon).
• Crafty Green Poet tells me it is Decorative Dumpster Day!
• Make sure that you are Seeing the Changes with Professor P. Brain in South Wales.
  

Calendar Corner (5): End of the Laureate's Term of Office

You can read about Andrew Motion here, as he reflects on his ten year term of office. I, for one, was gripped by his childhood, 'In the Blood'.

• A feature on some possible candidates.
• Poetry Society perspective (and Laureate quiz)
  

Calendar Corner (4): Poem in your Pocket Day

Are you ready for Poem in your Pocket Day on 30 April? I see no reason why this should not become an international event. Which poem will you choose to have in your pocket? I have several in mind: 'The Lady of Shalott' is a bit long, so it might be 'Zennor' by Anne Ridler.

• ctrl+alt+del (a new poetry magazine for your pocket)
  

Calendar Corner (3): World Book [and Copyright] Day

Anne Hathaway's Cottage,
Shottery, Stratford, UK

Today is not only the anniversary of Shakespeare's birth in 1564 (and death in 1616), but it is World Book Day.

• Copyright Day?
• Message from the Director-General of UNESCO

Why, I wonder, do we celebrate this day in March in the UK, and not with our fellow countries? Perhaps it just means that we can have two celebrations for the price of one. Happy WORLD book day, everyone!

Calendar Corner (2): World Story Telling Day

Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin: once upon a time ...
Yes, today is apparently the day: what story will you tell?

Calendar Corner (1): Daffodils for St David's Day

Above: Daffodils at Middleton, The National Botanic Garden of Wales
Below: The Alfred Wallace Garden, Middleton

1 March is St David's Day here in Wales. The National Botanic Garden celebrated with daffodils, national costumes - and a live Service of Sunday Worship on BBC Radio 4. The theme was 'Journey into Seeing: Observing Lent through the Senses'. The preacher was Dr Anne Richards and Cor Caerfyrddin provided the music.

The Wallace Garden has always intrigued me. It looks a bit bare at this time of year, but I chose this photograph because, unlike my summer views with lots of flower and foliage, you can see the intertwining structure of the double helix DNA path.

• Previous posting on poets, Padel and Cluysenaar, with science-orientated collections.
• A poem in DNA?