Poetic People (16): Siegried Sassoon

You can read the story here.

Media Mix (2): Poetry in the news...

I am grateful to Matt Merritt of Polyolbion for alerting me to a recent (if downbeat) article in The Times (30 May 2009) by Giles Coren. I suppose it just goes to show that there are always two sides to a coin.

On a more positive note, today's Guardian features Elizabeth Burns, winner of the £5000 inaugural Michael Marks Poetry Pamphlet award.

Wonderful Words (7): Ouroboros

I came across the word 'ouroboros' ( or in Greek, Ουροβόρος) on Nic Sebastian's Very Like a Whale blog - see Question 5 - and was immediately intrigued, particularly when I discovered that it was linked to a poetry form.

Thank you, Nicolette Bethel, editor of tongues of the ocean for the introduction to the ourobotic poem by Nicholas Laughlin, editor of The Caribbean Review of Books.

Those who know me will know that I am always on the look out for new forms in poetry. I have enjoyed writing about the following ones (with the help of their respective creators):

• The 'Fib' form - after Fibonacci - created by Gregory K. Pincus of Gottabook.

• The 'Folding Mirror' form (and here) created by Dr Marc Latham.
  

If you would like to read about these in Wendy Webb's eTIPS magazine, I suggest you leave a comment here or visit Wendy's blog. My third piece on (short) forms in this occasional series is due to appear later this year.

Incidentally, the latest edition of Wendy's TIPS for Writers (72) is out, and as usual, contains a feast of poems, competitions and news. Many congratulations to Tina Negus on winning the Margaret Munro Gibson Prize. This TIPS competition was judged by Alison Chisholm.

My thanks to Mand for the link to The Ouroboros Review. (See Mand's comment below).

Poetic People (15): Beowulf and Aardvarchaeology

Beowulf: Aardvarchaeology

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I hope you find the story interesting.

Carnival Time (1): Mug Monday (his and hers, left-handers unite!)

AcornMoon and Weaver of Grass are hosting Mug Monday today. It is a chance to write about our favourite mugs. Happy Mug Monday to you all!

Caroline's Mug

This mug belongs to me. It is bone china, which according to some, makes the tea taster better. I like to enjoy a mug of Earl Grey, made from a pinch of loose leaves. I allow these to infuse in boiling water, and then I like to drink it while it's hot. If I am out, I will often ask for a slice of lemon in my tea; but I do not usually have this luxury at home, unless of course, we have a slice left after a meal of fish and chips. (Those who know me will know that chips are 'my one weakness' ... along with cake, curry and chocolate!).

The scene on the mug relates to the Last Invasion of Britain in 1797. The women of Fishguard made a wonderful Bayeau-style tapestry to mark the 1997 Bicentenary of the Invasion, and the mug depicts a part of their work. I particularly like the spotty dog who is careering out of the picture. The cat is rather fun, too.

The Last Invasion was staged under General Lazare Hoche, who planned to invade Ireland. 15000 men were raised to ensure that British reinforcements did not reach the area. Two mainland invasions were proposed to add to the mayhem. The first was planned for the north of England and the second was planned for the west of the UK. Ships were sent out under Commodore Castagnier. Jemima Nicholas helped to rally the Fishguard women against the attackers. She became a local heroine.

These are the words of the Vicar of St Mary's, Fishguard, written on Jemima's burial record of 1832:

'This woman was called Jemima Fawr or Jemima the Great from her heroine acts ... and being of such personal powers as to be able to overcome most men in a fight. I recollect her well. She followed the trade of a shoemaker and made me, when a little boy, several pairs of shoes."

David's Mug

This mug belongs to David. Strangely we are both left-handed. It is a brilliant mug, and usually causes a wry smile in the eye of the beholder. Sadly the left-handed shop in Bath is no longer there. Perhaps I shall have to start making my own from Fimo.

It must be time to boil the kettle, but first, why not take a look at...

• Radio Suffolk Ugly Mugs
• Crafty Green Poet's lovely mug selection
• ANOTHER left-handed mug! (a fascinating one from Canada)
  

Poetic People (14): Peter Thabit Jones, Kristine Doll, August Bover

I went to a wonderful workshop at the Dylan Thomas Centre in Swansea this morning. It was chaired by Swansea poet, Peter Thabit Jones, editor of The Seventh Quarry. Kristine Doll from the USA, and August Bover from Catalonia led us through the fascinating process of writing Haiku 俳句, and Tanka 短歌 about animals. We were introduced to Concrete Poetry and to poetry in which the shape on the page and the sound of the words fused in a kind of melodic unity.

I am still working on my pieces, but the subjects of my poems were:

• frogs (Basho would have approved, I think)
• dolphins
• cats

It was fascinating to learn a little about Spanish poetry, and perhaps particularly to listen to the musicality of the language. It was also good to have the chance to think about syllables, rhyme (or no rhyme), the place and power of emotion, adjectives (or few adjectives), Open Field poetry and many other items in the poet's kit-bag.

We touched on the work of a number of poets including Vicente Huidobro (from Chile), Les Murray (from Australia), Gavin Ewart, Helen Vendler and Charles Olson (from USA).

Thank you to David Woolley of the Dylan Thomas Centre, to Peter, Kristine and August for a thought-provoking, stimulating and thoroughly enjoyable morning.

Beautiful Birds (11): How many swifts make a summer?

The RSPB is conducting a survey on swift numbers in the UK. To take part, please follow the link here.