Poetry Prizes

Here's a link to the finalists at the Manchester Poetry Prize.  The winner will be announced on October 19th, but Antiphon and I were wondering what you thought of the finalists' work, and whether you had any thoughts on who should win, in your opinion.

Perhaps you have thoughts more broadly on poetry competitions in general?  The prize at Manchester asks for a selection of poems for the judges to consider, rather than everything hanging on a single poem, and the judging panel consists of three poets, this year: Ian Duhig, Frances Leviston and Adam O'Riordan.

The finalists' work is available via the link above.  Let us know what you think.

Swamp Area

In November (12pm Wednesday 7th) we'll be discussing Alistair Noon's Swamp Area, a pamphlet published by Longbarrow Press.  You can order copies from the website for £4 inc P&P

There are recordings of Alistair Noon reading his work available on line, as well as a review of his work by Susie Wild.

This is the first time we've looked at a pamphlet in the group, so it would be good to hear what we think about the format, as well as the poetry.  It's been said in recent years that the pamphlet is making a comeback, possibly because there is less investment required from publishers, and so less risk?  Perhaps people are more easily persuaded to part with £4 rather than £10.

On the other hand, bookshops have found it difficult to merchandise pamphlets effectively, alongside full collections, maybe because often pamphlets don't have a spine, and so need to be facing out to get noticed, which takes up a lot more shelf space.

What's interesting about pamphlets, I think, is the flexibility of the form, that they can be designed to complement the content, perhaps more easily than full-length books.  They are already removed from the mainstream expectations of the book; they are competing for attention on different terms.

The act of designing and making the pamphlet is then an extension of the creative act, and the outcome will perhaps have more in common with the artist book genre, than mainstream publishing.  However, this level of attention can become labour intensive, and so perhaps few publishers are willing to experiment, and realise the full potential of the form.  The need to generate revenue can't be ignored, if a press is to survive, and go on to publish more work.  

The pamphlet can focus its attention, be an exploration of a specific theme.  At the last meeting, we discussed The Water Table, in relation to a concept album.  We talked about the skill of spending a full collection circling a subject, the difficulties of keeping an idea new across a substantial body of work.  Perhaps the pamphlet can lend itself to the concept album analogy, if not an LP, then perhaps an EP?

We'll discuss Noon until 1pm, and then move on to the workshop.  Bring copies of your poem as usual, 8 still seems a reasonable number, I think.  Ten if you're feeling lush.

Angelina

The Water Table

The next Bank Street Arts Poetry Cafe will be on Wednesday October 3rd, 12pm for a 12.20pm start.  We'll begin by talking about Philip Gross's The Water Table.  

There's a review of the collection in the Guardian, here.  And here is a link to his poems on the Poetry Foundation website.  

Gross has said: "In a sense water in itself is nothing, but it is this perfectly clear, perfectly reflective substance in which you can see the world reflected in all its angles.

From 1pm we'll workshop, so bring copies of a poem you want share with the group.  About 8 copies will do.

See you then.

Also Steve Sawyer's review of Continental Shelf is on the reviews page here, so go over and have a look.

Thanks,
Angelina

Evening Brings Everything Back

The August Poetry Cafe at Bank Street Arts is on 1st August, 12pm.  Bring copies of your poem to workshop with the group as usual.  About half a dozen should do it.

For the reading group we're looking at Jaan Kaplinski's Evening Brings Everything Back

See you then!

Art vs Laundry

Our next Poetry Café session at Bank Street Arts is on the 4^th July (all the usual arrangements, bring poems, 12pm start, etc), and to celebrate, or more precisely, by coincidence, we’re reading an American, Elizabeth Bishop. 

We discussed narrowing the reading a little, perhaps just to North and South, from The Complete Poems, but then what about “The Moose”, “Sestina”, etc … So let’s say we’ll read North and South, but then we can throw in any favourites on the day.

Here’s a link to her Poetry Archive and Poets.org pages.

While I was looking around for articles about Bishop, I found this one by Stephen Burt, called "Art vs Laundry", on the Poetry Foundation website, and thought it was interesting.

'More and more, this year—especially since our second child was born—I’ve come to feel that poetry just can’t be as important as most people who write about it now make it seem: that, as Elizabeth Bishop put it in another connection, “Art just isn’t worth that much.”' 


What do you think?

Continental Shelf

The next Poetry Cafe Workshop at Bank Street Arts is Wednesday 13th June, 12pm until about 3pm.  Hope you can make it.

After the workshopping, we'll be reading Fred D'Aguiar's Continental Shelf  for the book group. Here's a link to his page on The Poetry Archive.

You might also be interested in an exhibition and symposium at Bank Street Arts called ArText, which is on this week, and is looking at the relationships between art and text.  Click the links for more information.

Thanks!

As Though We Were Flying

We made it through the blizzard for this month's Poetry Cafe.  We had a close reading of a couple of Matthew Hollis's Ground Water poems, which was good fun.

The book for the next Poetry Cafe at Bank Street Arts is Andrew Greig's As Though We Were Flying.  Here's a link to the online magazine Antiphon, and a review by Rosemary Badcoe.


The next meeting is Wednesday 2nd May, 12pm as usual.  Bring copies of your poem.

See you then.

@cafebankstreet