Poets Meet in Summer's Heat

Stanza Mar Menor held their end of summer meeting just before one of the group's members headed overland to Murmansk. We wish David well and we will stay in contact by email and audio recordings of our meetings. Likewise, Douglas, who is still in Scotland was sent recordings of today's readings and comments.

Margaret, having returned from Sheffield, read four poems that were both interesting and as usual thought provoking. There were many a-look-over-the-shoulder-thoughts when she penned the one on dancing. As a child she stood on her father's shoes and moved as her parents danced. There was evidence of love and memories. One of her others stemmed from a recent conversation with a friend when they were both young and trying to be careful. That did not work and another pregnancy followed. There were so many good and image evoking lines in here.

John Mc. joined our group for the first time and brought with him three from his childhood past and vividly portraying hard and penniless days, a wondering about his genetic father and the harsh words that he had to endure and then 'Fight Night' witnessed from his bedroom window of the sectarian brawls of his home town. Tough days indeed. For me, the most intriguing one, was. 'Forget Me Not' that related to his experiences of a person with Alzheimer's. Wonderful lines revealed some of the hurt that must be there. Lines such as 'sudden shafts of light illuminated the gloom' describes it well I thought.

Robin too, is looking back, and brought one on her father's funeral. Descriptive with great detail, including what she wore, and humour was well defined. We discussed the use of the present tense in this one and also the past tense.

John E. read a revamped one that originated from his visit to his native county and his return to a location alongside the Gloucester and Herefordshire Canal. He was never satisfied with his first attempt and still considers it unfinished. The one read today had omitted some of the previous opening stanzas and it is possible that we could have a piece in two,parts.

His second one involved an idea to see how or whether it worked at all. 'Dialogue With An Idiot'
broke many rules and it will be looked at again.

It was intended that the group read and discuss 'In Plain Sight', a collection of poems, using the theme of Ledbury's alleyways and yards. There is some beautiful writing in the pamphlet and we will include it when we next meet.

Following on from that. Rialto have launched a pamphlet competition and maybe we should consider this challenge without bothering to enter such a competition. John E. will give it more thought and subscribe to their latest publication.

Again the discussions that followed all the readings was supportive and of value. That is what we have always done and the quality of our writing has benefited.