Fabulous poetry weekend in Wales.
Lake swimming and writing near Builth Wells, and the epic Black Bough Poetry Party in Neath.
I've started a new notebook, for a new project, centered around my practice as an architect, which is VERY EXCITING as well.
Its been a very busy month attending works shops and book launches for talented friends!
Taz Rahman and Zoe Brigley from Seren held a joint night at Tiger Bay Poetry in Cardiff Bay, reading from their most recent collections and holding an interview section which I always enjoy.
Jonathan Edwards was feature poet at the 100th Murenger poetry night in Newport, hosted by the unmatchable Alan Roderick.
As part of #These3Streams Festival the lovely Mab Jones held her 'bog witch' book launch, which is a prose collection about wetlands, witchcraft and memoir, which was fantastic. Followed by a very calming writing workshop by the wonderful Clare Potter at a nearby church.
And Jen Feroze launch of 'Tiny Bright Thorns' from Nine Pens with Mary Ford Neal guest reading,
Wonderful evening at the online launch of Black Bough's 'In flight' edition, which I guest edited. It was lovely to host over 30 poets who read their poems from the anthology and the open as mic as well. I shared the selection process, talked emerging themes, companion artwork, flight, and poetry in the time of global conflict.
Thanks to Matthew MC Smith for arranging and intro-ing.
A joyous evening last night at Clwb Y Bont in Pontypridd - a mixture of poetry and music, and a few local ciders - including an impromptu collaboration between Ben on guitar, and Pete on his harmonica.
Thanks to Sion Tomos Owen, Mike Jenkins, Pete Akinwunmi, Nick McGaughey, Mary Kaye, Ben Wildsmith & Rob Cullen who also performed, and Rob who hosted 'Voices on the Bridge'. I did a 15 minutes set including a couple of new poems about everyday objects, the poem 'Returning' which was illustrated for the 'Walking Home' anthology, and of course a couple of losing Dad poems.
Thanks to Susie for the photos.
Voices on the Bridge, run by Rob Cullen will be hosting a poetry night at Clwb y Bont in Pontypridd, on Thursday 20th July starting at 8pm.
I'll be reading alongside Mike Jenkins, Pete Akinwunmi, Sion Tomos Owen, Nick McGaughey, Mary Kaye, Leigh Manley, Ben Wildsmith & Rob Cullen.
Hope to see you there.
The super poet Karen Pierce Gonzalez from Folk Heart Press has invited me to be the featured poet a North Bay Poetics online session, talking about prose poetry, process, and I'll be reading a few poems too. There is an open mic section and two fellow Welsh poets will be joining, Lesley James @feetpetite, and Kath Hill. Really looking forward to it.
In a couple of weeks time, on Wednesday 14 June, starting at 7.30pm I will be headlining at the regular Murenger Poetry Night, in Newport. Hosted in a 19th Century pub, my 2x 20 minute sets will be followed by Open Mic sessions - sign ups available on the night. Its always a relaxed, friendly, poetry filled night. Thanks to Alan Roderick for the invite.
On Tuesday 31 January I've been invited to give a poetry workshop to each of the three Year 4 classes. They have already been learning about acrostic poetry, rhyme, personification and alliteration, this year and last - so I will need to be on the ball!
I will be introducing and exploring the haibun form with them - an interesting joining of prose and structured poetry.
Their topic this term is 'My Rhiwbeina' - so we will be writing about a favourite place, using all the senses.