Monthly Archives: September 2011

October Spoken Word and Literary Festival Midlands Round-Up

Posted on September 30, 2011 by garylongden

Welcome to my “Festival Special Round-Up”, there is so much going on this month that I have decided to give these events a space all on their own with no fewer than five taking place across the region at Warwick, … Continue reading →

Posted in Midlands Poetry What's On | 5 Comments

Poetry Train, Britannia Hotel, Wolverhampton

Posted on September 28, 2011 by garylongden

This is an event which Behind the Arras has been meaning to get to for some time. Finally happenstance fell sweetly , and I caught up with the September instalment of this monthly event. The Britannia Hotel itself is a … Continue reading →

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Poetry Bites, Kitchen Garden Cafe, Kings Heath

Posted on September 28, 2011 by garylongden

A packed house, the fullest I have ever seen the Cafe for poetry , turned out to see headline act Bernadette Cremin make her Birmingham debut , a just reward for her trip up from Brighton on the South Coast. … Continue reading →

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Where You Will Find Me – October

Posted on September 24, 2011 by garylongden

Tues 4th Night Blue Fruit Coventry Thurs 6th Ikon Gallery 2pm Birmingham library 2.30pm Cafe Blend 3pm Zelig Gallery 3.30pm Cafe Yum Yum 6pm Parole Parlate 9pm Fri 7th Warwick Slam, Warwick Sat 8th Poets for Change, Bloxwich, Walsall Thurs … Continue reading →

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Bilston Voices, Metro Cafe, Church St, Bilston

Posted on September 24, 2011 by garylongden

Bilston Voices has one of the most loyal non-performing audiences in the Midlands, there is no fleshing out of attendance by open-mic performers here. They come to hear a set bill. Yet that does not mean that organiser Emma Purshouse … Continue reading →

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Check -out Girl

Posted on September 23, 2011 by garylongden

Her pink polish Failed to fill Her nail As she pressed Coins carelessly Into My outstretched palm With warm Fingers And I wondered What else Was missing

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Rhymes, Station Public House, Kings Heath

Posted on September 22, 2011 by garylongden

And so it was not so much farewell – as adieu. The final Rhymes, which had brought out probably the best attendance in memory turned out to be the final Rhymes in this format. It was a fitting swansong. The … Continue reading →

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Cafe Blend

Posted on September 21, 2011 by garylongden

Where gossip sits on the froth speckled lips Of conspiratorial customers Dripping like over applied gloss Where ladies that latte might risk a frappe For a dare Where lovers meet, unaware And shoppers exchange compliments on What they have bought … Continue reading →

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St Martins

Posted on September 21, 2011 by garylongden

Assailed on all sides, by time Man and money Glimpsed St Martins Stands Walls hunched tight Against the onslaught Yet eternally prevails Here folk spoke, of King Henry When the world lay flat. Hammer beam roof hangs and guardian Angels … Continue reading →

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Ikon Gallery

Posted on September 21, 2011 by garylongden

Don’t listen to me, see what joys abound As you look around, don’t sit down Join with me ,in the gallery, and soar, Like you have never done before, To places you have never been or seen Dare, to dream. … Continue reading →

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