Secretary’s
Report 2004/2005
What is it about poetry that makes so many of us who read it want to try
our own hands at writing it? A huge percentage of our members regularly put
themselves through the agony and ecstasy of creating poems. As a result, our
Society is not just for readings, but increasingly has become a place of
support, inspiration and where some of us turn to when we want to place our poems
under the microscope so that they can be whittled and refined to a standard
considered reasonable enough to share with the world. Or if not, consigned to
that bottomless bottom drawer tangle of lines never quite making the grade.
I ponder this connection between reading poetry and writing it, because
in the last year or so, I have not been particularly motivated to write any
poetry myself - and yet, I still feel the desire to hear it, read it, and allow
it to feed me. Others might label this as a ‘barren period’ but it doesn’t feel
that way to me. Instead of lines being used to inspire my own, no doubt largely
derivative musings, they become nourishment to feed me, to take to bed with me
and to indulgently move me, selfishly receiving all - and feeling no drive to
give back. More monologue than dialogue.
But I know I am one of the exceptions here. For as I look back on this
year’s events, there is much evidence of many of our members own writing taking
off . Of them being acknowledged with big splashes and awards in the poetry
community at large and benefiting from
the rich poetic offerings we’ve enjoyed locally this year.
Typically January is the month we select to showcase our member poets,
and in 2005 our very own Clare Best and Michael Maltby gave inspired readings,
easily and creatively taking up the slack left when they had to suddenly cover
for a third reader dropping out at the last minute.
February brought us high up to the attic room of the Camden Centre,
welcoming the sensual and evocative lines of another local poet, Ros Barber,
whose reputation is fast growing beyond Kent and Sussex and who showed how
successful a residency, through Canterbury City Council’s Arts Development
Initiative, can be in providing
material for new poems.
March saw us shuffling to yet another room within the Centre, our third
in as many months, which can be disorienting for those of us who thrive on
routine, but I have to say, the change in climate to the basement didn’t seem
to dampen the enthusiasm of our annual competition judge Paul Farley, whose
insights on the creative process left a lasting impression - as did the winning
poems. Congratulations to all the winners, and most notably Neil Fleming who
bagged the first prize for his poem Louisa
Oriel, 1960 - 2000. Hearing this modern day elegy read aloud on the night probably
tops the list of emotional moments experienced in the Camden Centre this year.
It is no surprise that this moving multi-layered
poem was judged to be the top winner.
April brought us the impressive poet Frances Wilson, who read a series
of poems which signified important stages in her life as a writer, a sort of
poetic autobiography. And then in May came a few more possibly autobiographical
poems, amongst others, with our annual
folio adjudication, judged this year by Sean O’Brien, who encouraged us to take
a lesson from Yeats, who speaks of 'the fascination of what's difficult'. Through
that difficulty, he said, the best of
the poems selected this year 'make us see clearly, make us look afresh at the
common ground of our experience'. Congratulations to the 16 poets selected to
be in our 2005 folio, and especially to the grand prize winner and our present holder
of the ‘cup’ - our most unique John Arnold for his poem The Harvest Moon.
June brought John Stammers over our threshold again with a strong
reading from his latest collection Stolen
Love Behaviour. Then after the long summer break, last month we welcomed
back Tamar Yoseloff who moved us with readings from her latest and highly
acclaimed collection, Barnard’s Star.
Personally, I’ll never go into a Woolworths again without feeling her presence.
A year ago, at our last AGM we had a fascinating visit from Martin Bax,
editor of Ambit, one of the UK’s leading literary magazines. He shared his
fascinating history with us, and amused
us with some lively anecdotes which helped us to see what we’re up against as
writers - and artists - as Ambit is unique in encouraging and publishing visual
as well as written creativity.
Then in November, we had scheduled a reading from Michael Donaghy, but
in the wake of the shocking news of his death, were faced with an empty slot.
No one could ever fill his shoes, but we were grateful when the quirky poet
Susan Utting admirably took on the
November slot at short notice with readings from some of her latest work.
Of course not all our events were within the walls of the Camden Centre.
December brought us back into the home of the generous and hospitable Mary
Barry for a lively and friendly bit of seasonal cheer, first class food and
great punch, with no unexpected bumps or casualties.
Then there was the annual writing retreat, this time near Paignton.
Although I didn’t personally attend, a little birdie tells me that the weather
was wet, wet, wet (nothing better to get the creative juices flowing) and that
it was all set within an atmospheric house complete with a real minstrels’
gallery, pool table and a great hall with stags’ head. There was, I hear, a
formidable energy within that made for some good evenings around a most
impressive log fire.
Well that about wraps up this year’s events - but I can’t close without
extending a warm thank you to everyone who played a part in making it happen. Those
who let us into their living rooms for a rotating poetry workshop each month.
Those who stuff envelopes and open them, make phone calls, send emails, pin up posters, manipulate
websites, stack chairs and pour wine. Those who come along to listen to the
poets - and those who write and help to make our poetic year so rich.
JOYCE MANDEL WALTER, Secretary
(as presented to the AGM on 18th October, 2005)