Martin Malone the personable editor of a highly acclaimed poetry and short story magazine ‘The Interpreter’s House’ brought twelve poets together to launch the current 
issue No 56 at Red Roaster. Michaela Ridgway has been instrumental in getting this particular show on the road – well done her.
A full house again, as those who attend regularly, have come to expect at Piggy events and what a line up tonight! One only had to scan the list of contributors to learn that practically all of these poets have been published in other poetry magazines, have produced pamphlets and/or won competitions.
John Kay kicked off with ‘Grandad’s Hat’, a gem of a poem and ‘From Down Here’ with the line ‘ripped down the terraces, whacked up the town houses’, the subject matter cleverly pursued and having a familiar ring. Drama certainly in content and delivery from Sarer Scotthorne with her ‘Sunday Morning Words’. I warmed immediately to Carol DeVaughn who has a collection on her experience as a life model, we heard ‘Life Class’ and another poem concerned with sculpture, both of which made me want to check out more of her work. Paul McGrane was next with ‘Bond to the Rescue’ then Michaela gave us ‘Deux ex machina’ a clever villanelle choosing for her second poem a magical exploration of the life of her sister’s new baby.
The ‘Interpreter’s House’ poets could read two poems and after the break I found it a bit difficult to keep up with which poems were in the magazine and which were not. But the range of topics were always intriguing including a dying whale that drifts down ‘through the layers of the ocean’, a dwarf in a freak show and, among many others, there was a philosophical poem about, yes – a chicken!
So with thanks to Robert Harper, Richard Skinner, Charlotte Gann, Stephen Payne, Simon Collings, John Kay, Carol De Vaughn, Michaela Ridgway, Sarer Scotthorne, Mick Wood, Isabel Dixon, and Paul McGrane.
Listening and taking notes is not always easy, but having just checked out ‘The Interpreter’s House’ on line you can always do the same and if you subscribe and manage to get hold of issue 56 you won’t be disappointed.
Poets picture gallery – some ‘Interpreter’s House’ poets some Open Mic poets …
Open Mic – A longer list than usual of open mic poets who between them covered the equivalent of the poetry universe, in style and content. Despite the rule of reading just one poem, some of them did run on bit, but then some poets do write very long poems. .
Lastly don’t forget the last Pighog Plus before the summer break is on June 26th with the winner of the Pighog/Poetry School pamphlet prize to be announced. Where? Well the lovely Red Roaster Coffee House of course!
Those shortlisted will be there to read some of their work. This event will be a chance to congratulate those short listed, to hear some of their work as well as gain insight into what it might takes to get on that treasured short list in this competitive world of poetry.
No open mic but guaranteed to be an enjoyable evening as usual
Note – there is another launch of ‘The Interpreter’s House’ to take place very soon in Nottingham with Martin and his passion for poetry
Ann Perrin 