Omss Poems: Poetry Can Newsletter August 2010

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Poetry Can Newsletter

August 2010

Welcome to the August Poetry Can Newsletter.
August is traditionally a time when many regular events take a break for the summer, allowing you to relax and gather yourselves for poetry being back with a bang in September when Bristol Poetry Festival 2010 will be taking place between 13th and 19th September (with an aperitif on the 10th and sweet desserts on 22nd and 23rd). This years highlight poets are Kit Wright, Ruth Fainlight, W N Herbert, Paul Farley and Robin Bolam with a whole host of national and local poets also bringing their words, wisdom and exciting new shows to Arnolfini stage and venues around Bristol.
Full details of the festival and how to book for events can be found on the Poetry Can website and a brief glimpse of what is in store can be seen on the right of this newsletter.

For a FREE festival brochure email festivalbrochure@poetrycan.co.uk or phone 0117 9330900.

But don't rest on your laurels too much, there's still plenty going on, and check out Steve Tasane's Poetry Double Bill on the right too...

In This Issue

Poem of the Month

Notices

Events - Bristol and Bath September 2009

Featured Article

Poem of the Month

Monopoly

We sat like slum landlords around the board
buying each other out with fake banknotes,
until we lost more than we could afford,
or ever hope to pay back. Now our seats
are empty - one by one we left the game
to play for real, at first completely lost
in this other world, its building sites, its rain;
but slowly learned the rules and made our own,
stayed out of jail and kept our noses clean.
And now there's only me - sole freeholder
of every empty office space in town,
and from the quayside I can count the cost
each low tide brings - the skeletons and rust
of boats, cars, hats, boots, iron, a terrier.

Paul Farley
From 'The Boy From the Chemist is Here to See You'
Picador

Notices

LiteratureTraining jobs and opportunities
Literature Training is a wing of NAWE (National association of Writers in Education) and have a comprehensive listing of jobs and opportunities on their website: http://www.nawe.co.uk and follow the links to the jobs and opportunities database.

Contribute to the Poetry Tree - Global Circle of Peace Ceremony, Bath
Nikki Bennett is co-ordinating a 'poetry tree' as part of the Global Circle of Peace Ceremony, Kingston Parade Gardens, Bath on 21st September 2010 18.30 for 18.45 - 20.00
The 'tree' will be hung with poems - each poem (one per poet) to be written on a postcard cut into the shape of a leaf or a dove, with a hole and a ribbon through it with which it can be tied on the tree.
You can sumbit poems to Nikki (ready to be hung), if you cannot attend the ceremony yourself, or you can get a free entry ticket from Lizzie Davies: lizzie@theglobalcircleofpeace.com
For full details email: nikkibennett27@hotmail.com

'Liverpool Lennon Poet' FREE to Enter Competition. £1000 first prize.
Judge: Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy
Closing date for entries 10th September 2010
In October/November this year Liverpool is celebrating the life of John Lennon with a number of blockbuster events for what would have been John's 70th year.
The Beatles story are organizing a competition to find the Liverpool Lennon Poet in two categories paper poet (via email) and performance poet.
1.Paper poet - entries via email only.
Prizes: 1st £ 100 : 2nd £50 : 3rd £25
send email poem  to poetry@beatlesstory.com* (attachments not accepted)
2. Performance poet (over 17yrs)
Prizes: 1st £1000 : 2nd £250 : 3rd £100.
For selection: e-mail one sample poem about John clearly stating 'performance poet' to poetry@beatlesstory.com *(attachments not accepted)
Details www.beatlesstory.com.

I Am What I Slam online youth poetry slam
SLAMbassadors UK, the Poetry Society's pioneering performance poetry championship is open for entries.
Open to 12 -18 year olds who have something to say, spit, rap or beat box on the theme of "Identity".
SLAMbassadors UK is the only online slam competition.
http://slam.poetrysociety.org.uk for details of how to enter.

Spoken/Written Bulletin SW website
Spoken/Written Bulletin SW covers the entire southwest region and contains a wealth of information about all things live and literary. Sign up now!
www.cartwheels-collective.co.uk/Spoken_Written_Bulletin.html

Professional Development Surgeries
Poetry Can offers free professional development surgeries for poets in the region. These will be available on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. To book a surgery call Colin Brown, Director of Poetry Can,
on: (0117) 933 0900

Poetry Can address
The Poetry Can
12 Great George Street,
Bristol,BS1 5RH
Tel: (0117) 933 0900 website: www.poetrycan.co.uk
e: info@poetrycan.co.uk

Events (chronological)

We would like to ask all events organisers to please update us whenever you can at: info@poetrycan.co.uk
or visit www.poetrycan.co.uk to submit your event to the website, and your event will be added to this newsletter.
Events listing as accurate as possible at time of publishing using information received.

Poetry Unlimited - Cafe Kino, 3 Ninetree Hill, Bristol
Date: Tues 3rd Aug     Time: 11.30am     Price: Free
Bring a couple of poems to share, another poets or your own
This month's theme - Narrow Escapes
Ffi: 0117 986 2257

Adam O'Riordan - Topping and Co Booksellers, The Paragon, Bath
Date: Weds 4th Aug        Time: 7.45pm for 8pm     Price: £6
Adam O'Riordan, a striking new voice in contemporary poetry will be reading from his debut collection In The Flesh.
Special Bookshop Price: Tickets £5 with £5 off the book. (To benefit from the specially reduced price, please make your booking in person at the bookshop before the day of the event.)
Ffi: http://www.toppingbooks.co.uk/bath-events

Open Write Night - The Folkhouse, 40a Park St, Bristol
Date: Fri 6th Aug        Time: 7.00pm    Price: £4 adv, £6 on door
An opportunity for writers to share their work and entertain or be entertained. Writers will have 20 minutes to produce work using suggestions from the audience.
A share of the ticket price will go to Pride, Bristol
Ffi: openwritenight@hotmail.co.uk

Acoustic Night -Halo Cafe Bar, 141 Gloucester Rd, Bristol
Date: Mon 9th Aug Time: 8.00pm Price: Free (donations)
Bristol's longest running open mic poetry and music night.
Sign up from 7.45 for a slot.
Ffi: Andi 07900 432533
http://www.myspace.com/acousticnightbristol

Portcullis Poets- Eugenie House, 1-3 Royal York Cres, Clifton, Bristol
Date: Thurs 19th Aug    Time: 7.50 for 8.00pm    Price: free (or donation)
Open reading and discussion.
Optional Theme: Aspects of Love
FfI: 0117 9733119

Acoustic Night - Halo Cafe Bar, 141 Gloucester Rd, Bristol
Date: Mon 23rd Aug Time: 8.00pm Price: Free (donations)
Bristol's longest running open mic poetry and music night.
Sign up for open mic on the night
Sign up from 7.45 for a slot.
Ffi: Andi: 07900 432533

Please remember to check the Poetry Can website for further events news. The website is updated on a weekly basis.

Poetry Can is a poetry development agency based in Bristol UK.

Poetry Can believes that poetry has a unique power to explore and express the experiences of life: poetry affects everyone. Poetry Can sees its role as enabling and encouraging as many people as possible across communities to get involved in poetry activity, raising awareness and enjoyment of this powerful art form.