mib-blog

Beautiful Thing

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 22:20:47 +0100

My initial response to an invitation to select ‘ My beautiful thing’ was to choose an object of some sort . I thought of the deco cup and saucer in the shape of a clam shell that I picked up at a boot fair . I rejected that in favour of my Lulu Guinness hand bags then cast them aside for my Alexander McQueen scarves , recent acquisitions to the Sinclair wardrobe. I was like a spoilt child at Christmas discarding one present for another.

Then I read other people’s offerings and was put to shame by a heart felt list of flowers, sunsets, and loved ones. Not a Ted Baker scarf in sight ! So I began to dig deeper trying to find the one thing whose pleasure was not pecuniary and in some way was valued on a more spiritual level although I must admit my awesome moments these days occur at the Sales .

To my relief I found that despite my reputation for material objects I do have a list of things that enhance my life which I take for granted these include: lilacs. lavender, blue bells and Hares with their strange eyes that make me laugh. Even laughter itself but there was are not one thing that stood out as prized above all others.

Then it came to me …..the sound of the cuckoo in Spring. It has become rather rarer in Kent now which makes it even more prized . My aunt has tales how when working in the orchards it would call all day and positively get on their nerves. They use to torment the birds by calling back and confusing them. However now every year I must go in search of it; on early morning walks my ears are attuned sharp as any other animal about at that time, and if I’m lucky I may catch it faintly in the distance . But it’s not a confirmed hearing so does not satisfy me . It might after all be a teasing wood pigeon. Cuckoos are generally creatures of habit, and usually return to the same place one of which is the graveyard of our parish church. So at various times of the day I may be seen wondering or sitting there like Beryl Reid in the film’ Entertaining Mr Sloan’. Most years my patience is rewarded and the call begins.

I don’t know what it is about the song but I seem to inhale the sound . It touches something profound even primitive within me and I am absolutely happy and at peace. For that one moment I seem to link back through many summers into the far , far past. Then of course it is over. The birds no longer seem to sing all day in one place but have a wider territory, largely because their usual habit is being destroyed.

I think it is this transitoryness both in terms of its visit for as the old rhyme goes ‘’ in August go he must’’ that makes it of such worth . For in a society without seasonality where strawberries are available all year round the cuckoo still obeys nature’s rules.

There is one more factor as to why this is ‘My favourite thing’. I have been taught the superstition that where ever one hears the cuckoo one will be the next year , graveyard aside , what it means to me is after the horrors of living in an industrial town , I can not put a price on living in the country and ever fearful it will be taken away from me the sound of the cuckoo is my talisman that I shall indeed be in the same place next year to hear the cuckoo.

my most beautiful thing blog Tuesday

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:38:42 +0100

What is your most beautiful thing?

Is it your one year old niece's golden smile? The pale pink peony buds in your garden? A silver ring given to you by your grandmother? Your shiny red Vespa scooter? Is your most beautiful thing a place or a moment? Is it a philosophy or a value?

On Tuesday the 24th of April, I'm taking part in a Blogsplash to celebrate beautiful things, inspired by Fiona Robyn's new novel, 'The Most Beautiful Thing'.

People all over the world will be blogging, tweeting & writing about their own most beautiful thing.

You could post a photo or write a prose piece about your most beautiful thing. You could write a small stone or show us a piece of artwork you've made in honour of your most beautiful thing. It's completely up to you. You could be extravagant and post a whole series of your most beautiful things.

Poetry Kit Recommended

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:32:22 +0100

Great news, we have been named as a ‘ Poetry Kit’ recommended site. Took me ages to upload the symbol …no idea GIFs existed!

I would like to thank all poets who have trusted me with their work. The standard is always so good. Please keep it coming!

Geoff Stevens

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 12:03:11 +0100

I was saddened to hear that Geoff Stevens has died. ‘Purple Patch’ and indeed Geoff became incredibly influential in the world of poetry. He championed small presses and unknown poets. His life’s work seemed to be to take on the poetry establishment and its cliques. ‘Purple Patch’ was dedicated to publishing poems that people actually want to read. At the end of each year the magazine published an honours list of best small magazines and small magazine’s poets.

Whenever one submitted work he took the time to critique it and even made suggestions to improve the poem. My link with Geoff and indeed his magazine began when he published a poem of mine when I was twenty two , which must have been around abut the time the magazine began . Latterly, I was so proud to reciprocate by publishing some of his work in ‘Message’.

PK Awards 2011

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:26:55 +0100

Wonderful news form Jim Bennett at The Poetry Kit. Two of the poems I nominated from the magazine have been included in The Poetry Kit awards 2011. They are Jane Francis 'Winding Sheet ' and Michele Byrne 'Left Handed'. They will be included in an e-anthology to be published later this year. Congratulations to them both.

I must say I'm chuffed to be listed along with The Journal. Prole and South. Hurrah!

Natural Selection

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:48:05 +0100

Thankfully submissions continue to come into the magazine. What strikes me is the quality of the work. I want to publish them all but of course space is an issue. It occurs to me that I need to be more discerning now. Good poems must be put into a folder and then a judicious examination and selection of the very best will be made . These will then make up the issue. I think this will increase the reputation of the magazine but alsomake it an absolute achievement to be selected.

Glittering prizes

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:07:47 +0100

A new year’s resolution to enter competitions has me thinking about the knack of winning glittering prizes. For a start one has to send off entries. This is a bit of a stumbling block for me ….’funds is limited’ .. how on earth do poets afford to enter once let alone multiple times ? One could spend a fortune. I suppose the art is to find the right competition for your work , affiliated perhaps to a magazine that seems to ‘like your style’ so to speak.

Then there’s the problem of most competitions only accepting unpublished work. This means that the writer has to be confident that the poems submitted are good quality. For those like me who use publication as a barometer my work’s worth its a bit tricky finding any suitable unpublished poems.

So I think this resolution much like losing weight or taking more exercise will fall by the way side . Never mind there is still the lottery which I suspect offers me better odds, To all brave poets who are gamely entering competions …..Good Luck!

Not only the Dark launch

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 08:36:16 +0100

was brave and volunteered to read my poem included in the charity anthology Not only the Dark, felt sick all day and on seeing the podium and mike nearly bolted. Got through it with the encouragement of June English.

It was lovely though to meet some poets who have been published in the magazine including Marilyn Donovan who is 'Canterbury Poet of the Year' and Alan Gleave a long time supporter of the magazine.

Caught in the net

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 10:08:17 +0100

I'm thrilled to find that I am one of the featured poets in The Poetry Kit 's 'Caught in the Net' series . But dear me the photo , I do indeed look as if I've been dredged up out of the sea .Other poets have groovy photos either posed or in action doing something marvelous like climbing a mountain. I shall have to obtain some new ones or I shall put readers off. My usual way is to take my own whilst leaning back like a gymnast . The photos are OK but I have my hand bag collection waving in the back ground. Which is my mountain I guess.

The problem with volunteering

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:08:49 +0100

I have volunteered to read a poem included in an anthology. This is a step up from my usual efforts. However I will be surrounded by poets used to reading so shall have to stand up, look at the audience and read at the same time .

Now for a dizzy poet this could be tricky . I have trouble walking and scrabbling for car keys in my bag. So I shall have to rehearse synchronising all three skills. Thank goodness it’s a short poem.