So, this is like my penultimate blog on this blog…
No, that doesn’t work, does it?
Anyway, last Thursday I went to the Green Room to interview Imtiaz Dharker(see below), and I bumped into Jackie Kay who was looking for the Green Room too(obviously) and she asked me for directions! So I led her to the Green Room(sort of, it wasn’t really leading, more like walking side by side), and took a moment to calm myself and then introduced myself to Imtiaz who was lovely and incredibly charming.
Again, my apologies, for the poor quality. The lighting in that room is odd. At least the sound is good…
The event itself was an absolute joy of seismic proportions. And(and yes I can start a sentence with and, it’s a blog, not a school report! Plus, I’m a poet!) these poroportions ranged from utterly hilarious to tenderly emotive. After some clever and witty music performed in a clever and witty way from John Sampson who had us unashamedly in fits by the end of the event. He handed us over to Imtiaz Dharker, who was keen to have us all ‘over the moon’ (no not literally)! It is a curious phrase and I have often wondered what its origin was. Still, the wit with which she exploited its potential hilarity as a literal idea was exactly what being a poet is all about. Her powerful imagery in This Room, (which I was jumping up and down for because I had studied it for GSCE) and in all her poetry held us in her sway till her time was up.
Next up was Jackie Kay, who I had previously directed to the Green Room. It was only fate that she would have us in fits. Also, she picked up on what I said before, about all those ‘Ahhs’ and ‘Umms’ from the audience. So, now I know I’m not the only one who notices it for sure. I won’t lie though, I’ve been prone to it myself. Truthfully, though I believe it was only because she was touching those nerves in her poetry which we feel deep inside us all. It was quite quickly time for the interlude. Then more of John Sampson, who was very knowledgable, as well as funny, it turned out and I was unfortunately(or is that fortunately) laughing too much to rememeber to write down the interesting information he imparted to us.
Then we were blessed with the presence of the next two poets, Gillian Clarke and Carol Ann Duffy. Clarke’s powerful images were truly striking and had us mesmerised and continuing our chance trails of groaning. The skill she possessed to weave such images was taking us to spurting groans of approval. Then the moment I felt we’d been waiting for, Carol Ann Duffy, the poet laureate, took to the stage, ready to graces us with her infinite humour. Her poems, new and old ranged in their varying themes, from British Pubs, to bees, Duffy covered the lot. I can honestly say I am so happy I got to see this event, it was stunning to be there, and I hope my accountv of it has been somewhat stunning itself.
Indeed, this is the last poem in the series. Like the others, it is my creative response to the event. Enjoy:
Will I have your permission?
The glacial Harmony of this lost language
Graceful, like the ancient ripple of preciousness
Yes, we’ll omit existence
In the name of love; an ageless love
What! No manual alchemy of friendship?
The annual quick and easy
Suitable for all needs
Working pulse? Make wine
And mine a double.
It’s worth the trouble, all of it
The world’s wrongs, no matter your geographic
Demographic, whether dreams like ash and cinder,
We kindle the lost art exploiting that forgotten
Die hard habit of light.
The disorder overwhelmed that dainty tune of paranoia,
But we saw you dipping your hand in her soul
Panning for gold, then soon
Deciding to eat her whole
No, there’s nothing sinister about it
Because we’re all over the moon.
Filed under: Misc, Poetry International 2010 | Tagged: Carol Ann Duffy, gillian clarke, imtiaz dharker, jackie kay, john sampson, Poetry, Poetry International 2010, Southbank Centre, young curators | Leave a Comment »
