Anthology Alert ~ Launch of 'Poetry from Strata Florida' at Poets and Princes Day

If you are within reach of Strata Florida / Ystrad Fflur in mid-Wales, do come and enjoy the 'Poets and Princes' day, laid on by CADW and the University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies on 14 September.

A number of us will be reading our poems at 2pm, during the launch event for the new anthology (cover below, editor Martin Locock of Carreg Ffylfan Press). As you can see from the poster, there will also be sessions on princes, poets, pottery, printing and food! Martin will be leading guided tours around this special site ... and you may even see a Red Kite or two.

Poems in Unusual Places ~ The Plastic Palace, Minsmere

I was reading a post on the Giraffe Head Tree blog about litter on our beaches worldwide when I remembered my photos of The Plastic Palace installation, which is situated between the shore and the bird reserve at Minsmere. We were able to enter the palace, where there was a box containing a book for thoughts, pictures and poems. 

I composed a quick Haiku, which David was kind enough to write in the book for me ... as he could bend down to sit on the seat.

The Plastic Palace has been created under the auspices of the RSPB by Minsmere's Environmental Artist-in-Residence Liz McGowan. It was quite a revelation just how many types of non-degradable plastic wash up on our shores, from a toy camel (quite appropriate for a sandy site) through to detergent bottles and, of course, all those rubber gloves. I think the Wombles would have enjoyed The Plastic Palace as their holiday residence ... and, who knows, they might just have done a little beach-combing and re-creating of their own! 

Publication Pointer ~ Glossy Ibis ... and Puffins

My previous post was about an anthology that will raise funds for WWT Welney, and, as it happens, my most recent poem to be published, 'Glossy Ibis near Welney', has just made The Box in the August edition of Reach Poetry, having been voted 4th in the readers' vote.

The Glossy Ibis is a bird that is still on my 'wish-list'. I had hoped to see one when we were on the lagoons near Pylos three years ago, but it was not to be.

Sunset: Yialova lagoons, near Pylos, Greece

Speaking of birds, my puffin poem, 'A Chink in the Sky', features in the August edition of FreeXpresSion from Australia. It seems a good excuse for a(nother) puffin picture ...

 ... or two!

Anthology Alert ~ 'Words for Wide Skies' for WWT Welney

'Haunting, quirky and evocative, these beautiful poems

chart the changing moods of the Fenland landscape.'

Elaine Ewart

This new poetry anthology has recently been published by FlightFeather Press in celebration of 'nature and the Fens'. Sale profits will raise funds for the conservation work at the Welney Wildlife and Wetland Trust Centre.

Elaine Ewart, the editor and 2012 Fenland Laureate, was helped by three assistant editors, Karen Harvey, Samantha Lee (the Public Engagement Officer at Welney) and Carol Turner (a member of the Friends of Welney Group). The cover was designed by Karen Harvey and the superb cover illustration is entitled 'Whooper Swans and Lapwings' by Dafila Scott. Leanne Moden, the 2013 Fenland Laureate, has also been involved with the project.  

The volume contains 22 poems, including my piece inspired by the Welney hares, 'For the Love of Long Ears'. I am particularly delighted to have a poem in this volume because I love this Norfolk reserve and am impressed by the conservation work that goes on at the site. 

The collection features poets from East Anglia and is described by eco-literature warrior, Irish Sirmons on the Wildeasters blog, as holding ‘exceptional talent and potential’. 

Words for Wide Skies can be purchased from the WWT Welney shop, priced at £5 plus postage and packing.  Contact WWT Welney on 01353 860711 or by e-mail at info.welney@wwt.org.uk

• Elaine Ewart's FlightFeather blog. Elaine performs her poetry around the country and organizes poetry events. She is studying the MA in Wild Writing at Essex University and is also a volunteer at WWT Welney.
• Initial feedback on the anthology
• the Words for Wide Skies launch event (which happened while I was north of the border)
• J.S. Watts and Words for Wide Skies 

Postscript ...

My poem, 'Glossy Ibis near Welney', appears in the current (July 2013) on p.26 of Reach Poetry #178. 

Anthology Alert: 'The Mortal Man'

This is a very special anthology. David Thomas Webb, son of Norfolk Poet, Wendy Webb, tragically lost his life at the age of 19. He was a bright young man who, despite being autistic, had secured a place at university, studying for his Computer Science Degree. This eclectic poetry collection has been compiled in tribute to David and in celebration of his life; and in aid of The National Autistic Society. The poems have been written in a variety of styles by poets from around the United Kingdom. The book has been compiled by Jae-Alexander Linsey. The book contains three of my poems ... 'The Boat House Cat', 'King of the River' and 'A Meerkat Moonscape'.

The Mortal Man costs £8.99. Do support a worthy cause and buy a copy here.

Anthology Alert: 'Poetry from Strata Florida', edited by Martin Locock

I would like to mention this new book of poems, edited by Martin Locock of Carreg Ffylfan Press, about a very special place in Wales, namely the area around the ruined Cistercian abbey of Strata Florida, also known as Ystrad Fflur. Strata Florida lies between Pontrhydfendigaid and the wonderful Red Bog of Tregaron in Ceredigion.

The abbey was founded in 1164. The Abbey Church, in the care of Cadw, is adjacent to the graveyard, which is still used for burials. According to tradition, it is the resting place of the 14th century Welsh language poet, Dafydd ap Gwilym, and a memorial to him can be viewed under a yew tree. This ancient yew shades the bodies of eleven princes of the Welsh Royal house of Deheubarth, who were also buried here during the 12th and 13th centuries. A stone marker in the Chapter House commemorates these princes. 

It is always a thrill to arrive at the site and wander up the Great West Door to the Abbey Church. The carving around the archway frames the mountainous scenes beyond. The new anthology includes work inspired by this Ystrad Fflur landscape from 1350-2013. It includes illustrations by Linden Fletcher and photographs from Scott Waby.

I feel privileged to have a poem, 'Ist May: Red Kite at Strata Florida', included alongside works by - among others from past and present - Gwyneth Lewis (National Poet of Wales, 2005-2006), Gillian Clarke (National Poet of Wales, current), R.S. Thomas, Harri Webb and Byron Beynon. 

The new book is available for purchase via the Carreg Ffylfan Press website. The cost per copy, inclusive of p&p, is £10.

The Arch

Memorial Tablet to the poet, Dafydd ap Gwilym

Beneath the yew tree

Red Kite ... overhead

David Gill taking photographs of a small grave in the churchyard

The yew tree

'The Holy Place' chapbook: Review Corner

The Holy Place by John Dotson and Caroline Gill (£3.50 inc. p&p in UK)

Online Reviews

• Matt Merritt has posted a review (here on his Polyolbion site) of my poetry chapbook, The Holy Place, co-authored with John Dotson. The chapbook is published by Peter Thabit Jones (The Seventh Quarry Press, Swansea) in conjunction with Stanley H. Barkan (Cross-Cultural Communications, New York).

• Juliet Wilson's review can be found here on her Crafty Green Poet site. You might also care to read this (feline orientated) page on Juliet's blog. 

• Sally Evans, editor of Poetry Scotland, has just posted a review here on the Poetry Scotland Reviews blog. 

My thanks to Matt, Juliet, Sally. Further comments on the The Holy Place can be found here.

Copies of The Holy Place can be purchased (£3.50, inc. UK p&p) via the email link here.