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Two dreams

On promontory we can all walk to coastline to see the birds fly into the cove, the fish boats load, and so forth. As we walk, the darkness suddenly hits us - caused by the birds almost at [illegible]. We stoop, glad we're not right on the promontory. I see Sigourney Weaver, face softer, and the boy from Terminator 2 with her. After it all dies down I head to the promontory. There's little there.

Black soul band - Curtis Mayfield style, setting up on school grounds at 9am - do I bring my EFL class? Rain, no audience, on stairs I pass Mr Chidwick and Mr Chadwick. Queue for photographer.

 

Two Poems

in the swansongs of magazines -

'Mothering' in the14th issue of Mike Loveday's 14




and 'Like a Native' in the 50th issue of Michael Laskey and Joanna Cutts' Smiths Knoll



14 was great because of its simple idea - any poems of 14 lines considered - Smiths Knoll for its no-nonsense attitude to poetry (no contributors notes) and the crisp twenty next to your poem in the complimentary copy. Both will be missed!

Incidentally, the Poetry Library has archived some early versions of poems first published in 14 magazine.


The Ballad of Soo and Sweep

Over There

Two Reviews

Philip Rush's Catching My Own Drift


Rob A Mackenzie's Fleck and the Bank

Frieze Arts Fair

Amidst all the glitter, I did find a few things to appreciate:

Daria Martin's film 'Soft Materials.' This was beautiful, on 16mm film which whirred through the projector making a lovely sound. The picture image was clearly defined but somehow dated, it was peaceful...




I also liked Hetain Patel's work - he tattooed comic strips and speech bubbles onto people's backs. This looked rather good, but better than that was a film he made with the screen divided into two. On the left his father explained how to strip a car, in the middle of a car-making plant; on the right, the artist (his son) copied every movement and repeated every word in perfect sync, even though he was in a completely empty room (a gym).

Apart from that, I liked older stuff or stuff I was familiar with: Cindy Sherman's photos, Julian Opie, Gillian Wearing's passport photos, Nan Goldin's photos, and that was about it.

Far better, in terms of atmosphere and content, was the new Arts Masters, at the other end of the park. Overall, though, a reminder that the art scene is perhaps even worse than the music scene. 

Two Readings

20th September Templar Poetry Live with Jennifer McGowan, at the Chequers in Chipping Norton

3rd October Essex Poetry Festival with Andrew Bailey