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Tuesday saw the last Lee Marvin reading from this series in the Dark Horsey Bookshop, where Ken Bolton introduced Gay Lynch, Cath Kenneally and Louise Nicholas. And an entertaining evening it was.
I first met Gay at Rachael Mead’s poetry launch of The Sixth Creek roughly this time last year, where she told me about Transnational Literature and encouraged me to submit. Gay writes prose, and shared a short story with us set in a country town told through the eyes of Cecilia, the central protagonist. Listening to Gay, with her dulcet tones and eloquent language was not unlike falling into chocolate – a certain smooth fluid texture leaving you wanting more. And so I have ordered a copy of Cleanskin published by Wakefield Press, Gay’s first novel.
Cath read poems about her recently departed dog, who was either the focus or hovered around the perimeter, and they were touching pieces any pet-lover could relate to, delivered in a poignant, compassionate way. Cath also read a piece inspired by Joni Mitchell, the haunting Canadian singer-songwriter, who I remember most from Love Actually where Emma Thompson’s character is fascinated with her music…I digress.
Louise began with poems about her mother who died with dementia a few years ago. These were brave, emotive pieces, both poignant and humorous, that blurred the boundary between mother and daughter. Louise’s performances never fail to entertain. She provides context, shares with feeling, makes connections, and it’s this raw real intimacy that I find so appealing – she leaves you feeling like you’re old friends. Louise also read a poem inspired by Sharon Olds, which only served to demonstrate her unique encompassing talent. Louise’s most recent collection Large from Garron Publishing is an entertaining read.
I asked Ken, host of Lee Marvin, how he selects his readers. He replied by recommendation usually, but added there’s nothing to stop me from recommending myself. So I did! And he invited me to read at a slot in September!! I am thrilled because these events are ‘a must see’ in the Adelaide poetry scene and to share the stage (i.e. desk and lamp) with some of Adelaide’s finest writers is quite an honor. No pressure
Being published that is, and I am just thrilled as they are two of my favourite poems!
The first piece called ‘Instinct’ appears in the November issue of Transnational Literature, an international e-journal published twice a year out of the Flinders Institute for Research in the Humanities at Flinders University. Edited by Gillian Dooley with the poetry section by Heather Taylor Johnson, the journal is fully refereed with an internationally-based advisory board that seek a selection of cross-cultural pieces, be they poetry, prose or articles. The poetry in this particular issue has a Scottish theme with guest poetry editor Alison Flett covering for Heather while she is overseas researching her next book.
The second poem published this week, ‘Offspring‘, was in Uneven Floor, an independent poetry magazine operating out of Perth, Western Australia edited by Jackson. Aiming to publish one or two individual poems every fortnight with a focus on poets from Western Australia, I was particularly impressed by the calibre and diversity of the content when I discovered this outlet via Australian Poetry, as well as instantly warming to the frank, no-nonsense style in what the editor looks for and what he definitely doesn’t.
So yes, I am one ecstatic poet at present, let’s see what else I can do… 🙂
J V Birch 