Collective Noun: An Evening with 4 Poet Laureates

This is an evening performance to celebrate the contribution of 4 of our local Poet Laureates and to also say a big thank you to St John's Poet-in-Residence, Pete Cox. This will be a event full of beautiful and exciting verse that will display the imaginative of these East Anglian bards and the things and places that have inspired them in their laureateship.

The night includes the wonderful following:

Pete Cox, Poet-in-Resident at St John the Baptist Church
At Easter 2012 Pete Cox was appointed Poet-in-Residence for St John the Baptist Church. Hear some of the work he has produced in that time and about some of the events he has attended.
“Cox is a poetic wildcard, spinning off all kinds of funny, bizarre and fanciful versa…” Neal Wilgus, Small Press Review (USA)
 “Is there no end to this man’s versatility?” Keith Walker, Fanzine Fanatique (UK).

Elaine Ewart, Fenland Poet Laureate
National award-winning poet and Fenland Poet Laureate Emeritus, Elaine Ewart is currently studying for an MA in ‘Wild Writing: Literature and the Environment’, at the University of Essex. She writes poetry and short fiction, as well as creative non-fiction about the natural world. Elaine, a former lawyer, lives in Ely and volunteers at the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust at Welney.
Enjoy her work and follow her poetic adventures online at: www.flightfeather.wordpress.com


Simon Stabler, Peterborough Poet Laureate
The last time Simon performed in a church was as a boy soprano more than 20 years ago. While he still has his medal from the Royal School of Church Music, his ability to sing left him many years ago, thanks in part to underage smoking and barking along to punk records. He may have given up smoking some years ago but still enjoys a spiky rant, with his poem 'This Is Peterborough ...' and 'We Deserve More' earning him the title of Peterborough Poet Laureate at last September’s finals. Having known Pete for many years, Simon is honoured to be at tonight’s celebration and for once, will be turning down his irreverence settings.

Darren Rawnsley, Stamord Poet Laureate
Take a brief journey with Darren Rawnsley, from the 1960s to the present day. A weave of reflection, truth and empathy. From buttercups to riots, intimate cafes to traditions passed down through generations. A 'Box of Allsorts' for the listener to digest.

Please take a poetic pew at our very own St John the Baptist, Peterborough, just behind the Guildhall in Peterborough City centre.

When: 23rd of April 2013
Time: 7:30pm-10:00pm
Price: £3 and please pay on the door, no advance tickets.

For further enquiries please visit the Facebook Event page.

Poetry Writing Workshop for 8-14 year-olds this August

Stamford's 2012 Poet Laureate celebrates the Jubilee

Earlier this year Stamford Arts Centre announced Stamford's first Poet Laureate. The winner was Darren Rawnsley, a teacher at Wild’s Lodge School in Empingham. He will be performing a selection of his poems on the hour every hour at Stamford’s Town Hall as part of the town’s Jubilee celebrations.  

Upcoming Events

If you've been inspired to get into poetry, make sure you don't miss these upcoming events at Stamford Arts Centre:

Pint of Poetry - Open Mic Poetry Evening 8pm

Held every last Wednesday of the month at 8pm at Stamford Arts Centre Cellar Bar compered by Darren Rawnsley and Camilla McLean. Just turn up and enjoy the poetry or have a go at performing your own work!

Current dates for Pint of Poetry:

• 27th June 2012
• 25th July 2012
• 29th August 2012
• 26th September 2012
• 31st October 2012
• 28th November 2012

Monthly Poetry Clinic 5.30pm to 7pm

Held every last Friday of the month. Current dates for the poetry clinic are:

• 29th June 2012
• 27th July 2012
• 31st August 2012
• 28th September 2012
• 26th October 2012
• 30th November 2012

 Monday writing forum 6pm to 8pm Monthly (Every second Monday.)

To book visit Stamford Arts Centre on St Mary’s Street, Stamford PE9 6PZ, call the Box Office - Tel: 01780 763203 or book online at www.stamfordartscentre.com

Verse 2012 - a few photos we took

John Hegley, Joel Stickley, all the Stamford Laureate finalists with the mayor of Stamford (Cllr John Binder) and Joel Stickley plus a few photos of the amazing concrete poems the pupils from schools in and around Stamford created for the festival.

Featured Poem for April 2012

'The Runner' by Darren Rawnsley

The darkness is gone, now the sun burns my eyes
as I trudge through the desert with another disguise,
I hear him behind me on a steed of light grey
whose muscles compound whilst heading my way.

Faster and faster my blood flies around
through the open blue rivers down chambers
that sound, like double bass drums pounding my ears,
glimpses of sweat washed over with tears.

I rip up my body for freedom and speed
his hooves and his rider, those arrogant thieves
who steal my possessions my will and my life,
they give me back nothing but sharpen the knife.

Now I am naked way over the dune
the walls are enclosing there isn’t much room
to manoeuvre and run, I just slip in the mud
the walls of my trench collapse as they should
while the torrent descends making heavy my steps,
he is standing beside me, above me, behind me
I am not quite lost yet.

The river runs slower, his hold is unkind
nut there lies a softness somewhere deep behind
his rusty old armour, his nicotine scent,
I turn and squeeze through a narrow dark vent,
No light at the end, no help to be seen
I fall off the kerb and awake from the dream
once again it is real, a punch then the scream!

© Darren Rawnsley, March 2012. All rights reserved.

 Please do not use without the poet's permission.

Visit http://www.bookapoet.co.uk/featured_poem/ to read further info about Darren as well as read all our previous Featured Poems!

Stamford's Poetry Festival - Verse 2012

Well, what a week! Only a few days ago did the Stamford Poetry festival come to an end - and here at Book a Poet we're exhausted. But it's a good exhaustion - we've been left with the satisfied feeling that comes after being part of a brilliant event. And what an event it was - packed with school workshops, poetry takeaways, a cupcake decorating poetry session with Camilla McLean (The Tale of Candy Kate the Psycho Baker) , writing surgeries with the Lincolnshire Poet Laureate Joel Stickly, and an open mike session with Pint of Poetry. Not to forget of course, the amazing performance by the Dead Poets themselves - Mr Mark Grist and MC Mixy. 

Central to the festival was the crowning of Stamford's first ever Poet Laureate - Darren Rawnsley. 

Darren is the first person to hold the title of 'Stamford's Poet Laureate', and Book a Poet assisted with setting up the laureateship in the town.

'The Runner' is the poem Darren submitted to Stamford Arts Centre, and he then performed for the first time on Friday 30th March in front of a live audience and panel of judges, alongside 5 other Stamford poets who were shortlisted for the final. Darren was announced the winner on Sunday 1st April and the Mayor of Stamford, Cllr John Binder presented him with the title.

If you would like to get in touch with Darren, please email us at info@bookapoet.co.uk and we will pass the message along. 'The Runner' by Darren Rawnsley is our Featured Poem for April 2012 - you can read it by clicking here: http://www.bookapoet.co.uk/featured_poem/ 

We look forward to keeping you updated with Darren's first year as Stamford's Poet Laureate.