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.

Bring some poems to read or just come and listen.

No theme, but as it is the festive season…….and did somebody say mince pies….?

Said to be ‘America’s most popular poet’ in 2007, the poetry of Rumi may not be familiar to many of us.  A 13^th Century Persian poet, theologian and Sufi mystic, Rumi’s poetry has been translated into many languages and his worldwide influence has been considerable. 

Despite the recent flooding on roads into East Coker a good number of members came to enter the mystical world of the skittle alley at the Helyar Arms.  The evening was lead by Gaie Vickers with readings by Tilly Tremain and insights into beliefs of the Sufi sect by Simon Heathcote. 

The ever popular annual poetry competition always produces a fascinating poetic mix of styles and forms. Doggerel and limericks sit side by side with haiku and sonnets.

The theme this year was ‘Postcards’ and all the competition entries were read at this meeting.

We had two judges this year, author Malcolm Welshman and artist / illustrator Lyn Milner, who talked about some of the entries that ‘caught their eye’.

First Prize  –  Annie Fisher for a trio of excellent poems – Multiple-Choice holiday postcard, Postcard from a long ago island and Slug on a postcard.

Second Prize  – Gaie Vickers for The Postcard

Third Prize  –  Jane Williams for Postcard

To celebrate the bicentenary of Robert Browning’s birth, Anne Bingley, Charles Hatton and Sonia & Crispian Cartwright presented an excellent mix of Browning’s poetry – a most enjoyable evening.