Ghosts of St James/Broadsheet 3
Riemke Ensing
Photo: James Ensing-Trussell / TOPIC.
Broadsheet 3 is now available online in PDF format for free at Headworx.
Here you'll find my poem 'Ghosts of St. James'; one of the new poems that fit into the 'post Moonshot' project I'm writing (provisional title Flies and Gods though this will not be the final title). Others poems in this in series include 'Il est Minuit' (published in Brief), the three poems that appeared in Blackmail Press in December and 'Corporate Identity' (published in Albatross 20).
Work has been much busier than usual and so the small time I set aside each day (even if I get up before dawn) has been spent working on a batch of new poems and putting together publicity matrial for the Palmerston North reading. I had my third cold of the year that was nasty but mercifully quick. I'm working on new poems and they do feel different and they require attention. My writing began to change when I realised that I couldn't put it off any longer and that I just had to keep writing on a regular basis and so that's what I do even if I lose out on sleep. At times it's frustrating because I really would like more time to write as writing takes time.
I have finished another short review for A Fine Line on Our Favourite Poems: New Zealanders select their favourite poems, edited by Iain Sharp, and I can see the value of such a book for bringing poetry to new, especially younger, readers. I'm still disappointed that The Listener hasn't gone back to publishing a poem every week. I know that magazines are commercial ventures and can publish really what they like but as a reader of The Listener I am disappointed. Every week I would turn to that poem wondering 'whose got in?' and 'is it good'? And I'd enjoy that feeling. I've had two poems published by The Listener and I liked the way that they've gone out all around the country. The weekly stab at a wide audience has gone and I believe that all poets and all readers have lost out. There's no poem in this week's issue.
It's been good to swap emails with Riemke Ensing over in Auckland. I enjoyed her poem 'Matariki' in Broadsheet- I like the idea of a person planting a tree each time one of her friends dies, a tree that represents their background. It's a very understated, elegant poem dedicated to Bernard Gadd who dies in 2007.
And the Poetry Society AGM is coming . . .
NZPS Monthly Poetry Readings, Wellington
Monday 15 June, 7.30pm
The Thistle Inn, 3 Mulgrave St
There will be no guest poet this month. The Annual General Meeting will take place, followed by a mini-workshop for those attending the AGM. This will be run by the National Coordinator, Laurice Gilbert, and there will be no charge (but you have to attend the AGM to qualify).
posted by harvey molloy @ 10:03 PM
4 Comments:
"Flies and Gods" - I like that, even if it's not the final title - a reference to "Like flies to wanton boys are we to the gods"?
I've said what I think of the current Listener elsewhere, and at the risk of offending them again, I won't repeat myself here! But the loss of that regular poem is one of the many ways they have gone downhill in the last few years.
I hope you have a great time in Palmerston North - I found both the organisers and the audience to be receptive, welcoming, and knowledgeable. I would willingly return!
Thank Tim. Yes, I was thinking of 'Lear' and also how the old theaters like the St James have both 'the flies' and 'the gods.' One section of the work is currently called 'Flies and Gods.' Do we really want a book with 'Flies' as the first word of the title. Now what would the prospective publisher say, eh? Great to see Voyagers in the Dominion Post this weekend.
I knew about 'the gods' as a theatre term, but didn't know about 'the flies'. There could also be a Beelzebub connotation - so I think it's a good title with multiple associations.
Maybe you could get Raid to sponsor the book? That would surely ease the potential publisher's concern!
Looking forward to you reading up here in Palmerston North, Harvey. I'll be introducing you, so please send some of that introductory stuff my way - jackie.timatxtra.co.nz
Best wishes,
Tim
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