August Quarterly took place on 8th August at City Arts. DIY poets showcase Thursday August 8th 2024 A drizzly August evening was warmed up by plenty of sunny spells with of scattered laughter. The first half of the evening was compèred by Rose who put everyone at ease.

The first poet to perform was one of our founding members, Frank McMahon, who performed nine short poems starting with a poem about his dad being a handyman. Frank commented that the genetic component for being a handyman was not passed onto him and that he was more of a wordyman.

Frank’s other poems covered mums in the West Midlands,a celebration of Parkrun in Gedling above the colliery; fight or flight, a poem about self-esteem likened to John Lennon who claimed that he was only good when singing in the shower. Insomnia with a joke about it was ‘nothing to lose sleep about’, friendships being evergreen/deciduous. Homage to the programme Detectorists looking underground for comedy gold. The set ended with a poem regarding a former prime minister (BJ) who didn’t know the words to the wheels on the bus, struggling with the complexity of the song and couldn’t do the hand movements! Very humorous and witty.

Stuart Whomsley performed a political set, ‘Jack died today’ regarding the Northern Wheatear (migrating birds) with the emphasis on migration. His second poem was inspired by Robert Jenrick famous for pointing at roundabouts and the person responsible for getting rid of cartoon pictures in child refugee centre. As Stuart says ‘this was literally taking the Mickey’. Further poems inspired by the sinister figure of Nigel Farage being challenged on TV and always having to have with him protection in the form of the bald burly men. His final poem focused on a motivational speech for the USA and praise of democracy in motion.

Will shared a new poem cleverly crafted poem by his observations of a can of red stripe; describing the stripes of the red stripe on the can and on the road. Will posed the question, “Do we think this is Art?” I was so entranced by the next poem that I forgot to make notes but it was to do with spiders ballooning and travelling for a while a line of silk. Will had done some research on this and queried the statement claiming that spiders could go as far as of the jet stream (allegedly) and landing like champions.

Kevin Jackson joined us via Zoom. The first poem was for a friend, dedicated to Barry, this was about dealing with impending loss. This was a beautiful poignant poem; one of the lines that stuck with me was, ‘don’t cry she would’ve said’. The second poem called Time Stops was inspired by a fire spinner at a festival. I loved the alliteration of sizzling silver snake spirits. The next poem was on the subject of tattoos and how people at festivals often have less clothes on, in the sunshine, enabling them to show off their tattoos. This was a tongue in cheek piece with one of the verses concerning someone having tattoos of tam-o’-shanters above the knees, bagpipes and Nessie with a tail down there in Lapland. Kevin’s final poem was called Touching You from his 2016 collection - love where we touch our single soul.

Lytisha gave us a trigger warning before performing her poem entitled ‘the four times I thought I was going to die’. These included an ear problem with the wrong medication but fortunately she had a friend to help her’. A man with a gun whom she directed down a different street. A time when she had a huge pain and she thought she was going to die so decided if she was going to die, she should go into the sea. Thankfully Tish didn’t die, but a friend who went in the sea with her did get a case of mild hypothermia. A final near miss with death was a situation at work regarding being threatened by a person who threatened to break every bone in her body; a friend’s scream saved her. She is very lucky to have these near misses and have had such good friends! Her final poem was regarding the carnival in Buxton and a blue fish with a very red face this was beautifully performed and I think we could all envisage that blue fish.

Next up we had the open mics with three new poets performing. It is good to see new faces at our events!

Mike performed a beautiful poem regarding swifts ‘lifting in their eyes to the throne of heaven’. His second poem was an amusing lament for paper towels. I think we could all identify regarding ‘the howling spluttering dryers and our spouses who wipe their hands upon their trousers’.

Robert was next and told us how he is a prolific writer who writes lines on all kinds of packaging, Amazon envelopes, labels, cartons et cetera - lines for instructions for another day. He was praying for a day when someone will tell him that he is enough. Robert you are enough! I loved this phrase ‘loving you is as hard as playing the piano, but as easy as singing’.

Holly told us that green is the colour of calm in a poem about being at one with nature. Her second poem was called Oh Tree Focusing on vandalism in the carving of names into the bark.

The temptation to leave your mark. This was a beautifully calm poem delivered very confidently.

Well-done to 3 new poets and to our regular DIYers.

Interview with Joy Rice
(NB it’s pure coincidence – and good luck – that Joy’s interview and her report on the Quarterly come together!)

Whereabouts in Nottingham are you from and have you lived there all your life?

I was born at Nottingham City Hospital and lived in Basford until age 16 then moved to Hempshill Vale Estate (the one named after the Apollo astronauts) then Mapperley finally Bulwell where I’ve lived since the late 70s! I consider myself a Bulwell girl!

When did you start writing poetry?

Not sure – I’ve always enjoyed reading and writing. I would fill exercise books with my version of Fairy Stories. I discovered Agatha Christie books whilst still at Junior School and read in the blurb the word ‘authoress’ and that’s what I wanted to be! Hmmm…never happened…somehow the poetry took over.

Who are your poetic influences? Who do you admire?

My Dad used to recite poetry to me –
Abou Ben Adhem by LEIGH HUNT
The Wreck of the Hesperus by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW

This probably explains why I like poems that tell a story.

I have many poetry books, so have varied tastes depending o my moods. Particularly I like Ogden Nash, Hilaire Beloc,

What made you start writing poetry?

I just loved writing – writing poetry in my dum–di–dum rhyming style gives me a challenge to find a rhyme.

A poem I am proud of is:

Mammies
I’ve got to get my mammies grammed.
I’m really not too keen,
to have my mammies,
squashed inside a great big photo’ machine!

I’ve got to get my mammies grammed.
I’m really not quite sure.
So, I’m practicing at home,
by trapping them inside the refrigerator door!

I’ve got to get my mammies grammed.
That big machine really is the pits.
To get a decent photograph,
it just has to squish and squash my tits!

I’ve got to get my mammies grammed.
The screening unit isn’t too far.
Time to shower and pamper myself,
and get dressed -up in my bestest bra!

The technicians are highly qualified.
I’ve heard they’ve all been to “Uni“.
But if I’m to get my bosoms out,
I’d prefer it to be for George Clooney!

Joy Rice

Ha! Probably not what you were expecting. But a woman heard me read this poem and retrieved her mammogram invite from the bin when she got home, went for the appointment and the hospital found a lump. Thank fully it was dealt with – treatment successful – but as she said she only went because she’d heard this poem, it had made her laugh but prompted her to go.

Thanks, Joy, for this. I love the poem! And what a story – the power of poetry!

So far, we have had interviews with Elaine, Don and Joy. Joy has nominated Stuart Wormsley to go next.