poetry london -autumn 2012 launch
plus presentation to the competition winners.
A full house at Foyles in Charing Cross Road on Friday because they were hosting Poetry London’s autumn launch and readings, as well as the presentations to the Poetry London winners of their competition.
The latest poetry london magazine starts with an article by Tim Dooley ‘What are poets for’ with some references from the great and the good, but also a lovely touch from Annie Freud ‘I can only write poems I need to write’.
In this issue there are poems by Karen Solie, Michel Longley, Francis Levison and Eilean Ni Chuilleabaun.
But tonight at the launch excitement was running high for readings from the competition winners. The audience were not disappointed judging by their enthusiasm. Each poet having perfected the art of writing and reading their poems all with new and original things to say.
For me Li Berry has to be the star of the show. She came down to Brighton a while ago to read at a Pighog event, the first time I had heard her work and she was a joy to listen to. Tonight she has won first prize for her poem Bird, a great success, and read in her wonderful north country accent.
Second prize went to Amali Rodrign for The Fish, third prize to Eileen Cranich for Blanket Sound and commendations to Julia Collar for Stampede, Suzanna Fitzpatric for Lamb 001, Rosalind Hudis for Ruptune and lastly Wes Lee for Ginnel.
Experienced and apprentice poets like myself can’t do better than to read Neil Astley’s Judge’s Report (in the mag) with the insights one would expect from someone of his status in the poetry world.
I confess sometimes I don’t get round to reading more than half of Poetry London,but having attended this event and hearing so many delightful poetic voices in one evening, I was reminded just how much this magazine can help, in terms of reading, writing and appreciating poetry.
Lovely setting, thanks to Foyles, lovely host, loads of work behind the scenes no doubt and the benefit of a sociable glass of wine in the interval. Great stuff
Ann Perrin 