This time of year is associated by many with imaginary and mythical beings.  Gaie Vickers and Anne Bingley lead this evening.  Readers included Trevor Peacock and Tilly Tremayne. 

This year the competition was different.  The subject was :-

A poem on an object

Part, or all of the poem must be written in some way on the object itself.

The ‘object’ can be anything you wish, provided it can be brought to the exhibition of entries at our meeting on Tuesday 29^th October at the Helyar Arms, East Coker.

The poem can be of any length or style but should be related to the object in some way and must be written by the entrant.

We do need the poems (but not the objects) by 1st October so that the judge has chance to read the poems free from the distractions of the exhibition evening.  However the judge’s decision will be made at this exhibition, when the judge has seen how the poem and object relate. 

There is no charge for entry to this competition but we will accept only one entry per person.

The prize will (as usual) be something apt and fitting for the subject.

Poems can be emailed to info at eastcokerpoetry.org.uk

Poetic forms and structures are varied and sometimes complex.  Can you tell a sonnet from a triolet?  What is metrical analysis?

Bernard Holiday has, for some time, been putting together a collection of material for possible publication in a book on the subject and we were delighted to have this preview of his knowledge of the ‘nuts and bolts’ of poetic structure.

This was to have been held in the Fox Inn at Corscombe, however the Landlord there had now decided that the Fox Inn will not reopen on Tuesdays as originally planned  – and so the meeting was held at our usual venue at  The Helyar Arms, East Coker.

As always a great variety of poetry was read………… and a good time had by all there.

Well known local poet Greta Stoddart gave an inspiring evening of discussion about the art of writing poetry based on her notebooks she has kept over the years.  Author of award winning poetry books ‘At Home in the Dark’ and ‘Salvation Jane’, Greta is a teacher at The Poetry School and the Arvon Foundation. 

Bring poems to read – or just come and listen. 

As always, the May meeting features the announcement of this year’s poetry competition subject – and it is something completely different…….. 

£2 entrance

Poetry with a difference!  Nigel has performed at many poetry festivals including the Sherborne Literary festival last year.  This was an entertaining evening of witty and accomplished poetry.          

Our ‘Poetry and Places’ audio visual extravaganza featured a diverse collection of poetry linked to visual images of the place evoked by the poem.  A large range of places from the familiar to the decidedly unfamiliar made it an interesting evening.  There can’t be many poetry evenings that include poetry from Burkina Faso ………..

Elaine Beckett recently won the Bridport Prize’s Dorset Award. She has attended a master class at Ty Nwydd with the poet laureate, Carol Ann Duffy and the Welsh laureate, Gillian Clarke; given readings in Bridport and Cattistock and at the New Art Gallery in Walsall and has a background in music and film. She has contributed poems to the Ty Nwydd anthology Taking Tea with Taliesen.

Our January Dinner this year featured James Crowden as our guest speaker.  Always entertaining and knowledgeable, James gave a fascinating talk about Somerset poet John Jarmain – and many other literary topics too……………

The Helyar Arms put together a special menu for this well attended event and the ‘puddings’ could best be described as works of art !

A very enjoyable evening.