Simon's September Eloquence

Simon Maddrell as September's Guest Poet was a joy to behold, to hear and to learn from.

Stunning in its content and beautifully rhythmic in its heart beat paced delivery, Simon's set was sharply focused on the human condition, its resilience and its frailty. In referencing Gaelic words from the Isle of Man that have broad meanings such as 'longing' but more than just that; another word meaning 'Hope' but more than just that gave the poems an additional layer of profundity. 'The three legged man took a trip through the universe' became much more than the exploration of elsewhere. 'In a desire to hide, I dived headlong in to gorse', became so much more than a painful moment.

The study of language for understanding came again in 'Oooology' and 'Isle of Sin' with 'It is language that restores our place' Simon noted that homosexuality was not legalised on the Isle of man until 1992 - a shocking reality for me and others I'm sure, made the reading of 'Poem in August at 5pm' after Dylan Thomas and Garcia Lorca' all the more poignant 'forgotten mornings beckon' , 'A dance floor of funerals'

The second half of Simon's set started with a tribute to Derek Jarman's legacy both as a campaigner and as an artist and human being, with poems featuring Prospect Cottage facing Dungeness power station, 'smell its potential', 'He will remain in the blue', 'You refused to die without the sun rising'

Contrapuntal poems were another tool that Simon skilfully used to layer meanings and delivery, telling of those 'who live with HIV who can't tell the truth to others and themselves', 'and survive Margaret Thatcher'

Simon ended his set with a taster from his debut collection from Wild Thing Poetry Press, due to be published in February. 'Lamping for Wild Rabbits'.

It is safe to say that we will welcome Simon back again. His guest poet appearance was a triumph.

You can find Simon's publications here: https://www.simonmaddrell.com/

Our open mic superstars were on form after the summer break despite having a PA system that was quieter than the proverbial mouse. Jazzy started us off with '50 shades of Gay' followed by John Roper's 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles' Rich H told us 'Don't wait', 'voice heard'

and Joe gave us a snap shot of a year in school and how interactions with young people can leave you thinking 'keep your mouth shut to hold on to your job'. Keith and Nicki joined forces to give us a wry view of 'Divorce' when 'your amour reminds you of the back of a horse' and Andy gave us a visceral treat with 'the slap of leather on leather', gave us a beautifully touching line with 'read each other like first editions' and a touch of grim reality with 'Riviera of the Middle East', 'the last smouldering hotel'. David treated us to a series of Haiku all neatly fitting together and Di read us a letter from a friendly slug. Sylvie gave us a meditation on relationships, 'Christ! what's brought this on?', 'waiting for the kiss', as well as a 'click, click' of 'meditative knit and meditative pearl'. Dorian finished off our first half with 'Air Lock', a gripping onomatopoeic horror, 'gasping , rasping' of an asthma attack.

Mr John's challenge was 'Girl Power' and our audience ably filled the spot with the heft and might of the superior half of the species!

Our second half was as full and as vibrant with Abir's Berwick Church inspired 'When I believe I've lost you, I find you there.' and he brought the sunshine back momentarily with 'Yellow sun hats, yellow sun and yellow cheer'. Pam read poems of the moon as illuminating 'Frosted buds on bloom and tree, light woods and fields in perigee' as well as a madness inducing entity that could love only Night. Christine's 'Cupcake' told of 'nibbling the icing edge' and the experience of 'Dreaming of being Paul Simon's Girlfriend'. Charles A told us that 'miracles happen all the time but you and I are too busy to notice'. Mr John reminded us of the recent abuse of the St George flag with 'I'm the flag on your mast and under your sway' Paul R read with power on 'decahedrons of glass, a vicious shower of ungainly diamonds'. Jackie H gave a master class in imagery as she read of 'Learning how to hold on' We hold our hands in the carpark', 'The street without trees in Twilight'. Peter W described Portobello market with its 'patina of dust' and warned 'it's no point in getting to the future late'. Tassmin hit the tone perfectly with 'I count the things I haven't had time for' and struck a chord with 'Heart', 'two hands twisting in opposite directions - was that us?' Eva finished our evening with the Balkans, 'All the satellites align like stars', and a ponder on art with 'Tate', 'A frame within a frame, the rough brush strokes of Rothko'

I am constantly stunned at the sheer quality of poetry and the insight that our community brings to us each and every month. My thanks go to all of our open mic-ers and our wonderful Guest Poet, Simon - also to the bar staff at the Frontier Bar who always clear our furniture rearrangements with good humour. Join us in October for another fabulous evening.