poetry

Runner-up in WA Poetry Festival SLAM!

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Photo courtesy of Allan Boyd (2011)

Last night was the WA Poetry Fest’s Slam. It was a fantastic night with an entertaining mix of old hats and new faces. We had an impressive line-up of 20 poets, but most notable were Janet Jackson‘s gorgeous pagan tribute to the moon, and James Hanlon’s touching tribute to his dad, which he ended with a big ol’ dad hug (Mr Hanlon was in the crowd).

And of course, DVS‘s rap ‘Pixel Junkie’ was fun and thought-provoking, and took out first place. DVS is devious indeed, and one of these days I’m actually going to beat that guy in a slam. One day …

But it was pretty sweet to take out second place with my slam of ‘Yeah Orright Princess’, and rack up the highest score I’ve ever gotten in a slam.

Bloody good night.

Poem: When Cafe Poets get writer’s block

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In this untitled poem, a cafe poet struggles to justify the last hour and a half she spent staring at a wine rack.

It’s good to have this time to write

each week; not waiting ’til the time is right

but sitting down and spitting out some rhymes.

I’m of the opinion that it’s a sin to have no discipline,

so this time has a lot of merit. But I think that I could bear it

much better if I could just think of something the f**k to write.

…

I did draw a pretty nice picture of a wine glass.

Not the Mona Lisa.

Cafe Poet update: Putting poetry on the table

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Patrons at Il Lido cafe, Cottesloe, can find poetry tagged on the table vases.

Il Lido Italian Canteen has been kind enough to take me on as their poet-in-residence, and now the fruits of that residency can be seen around the restaurant.

Il Lido decorates its tables with vases of fresh flowers that are changed regularly; some days I’ll be writing under the shadow of purple irises and other days it might be long-stemmed artichoke hearts. They’re just the kind of friendly touches that make Il Lido such a lovely place to go every week.

Now the vases have a new addition: ‘poetry tags’. Every other vase has a tag tied to it, and each tag carries an excerpt from one of my poems. Diners can read a grab of poetry while they eat, and maybe it’ll inspire them to check out some more local poetry.

Il Lido is on the corner of Marine Parade and Forrest Street, Cottesloe. I’m there every week, and I welcome company! To find out when I’m ‘Cafe Poeting’, follow me on Twitter: @perth_massive

Poem: “What Is She”

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The second poem I’ve written as part of my National Young Writers’ Month writing goal (10 poems before 30 June).

WHAT IS SHE

What is she when she’s at home?

When she unwinds her scarf, when she pulls off her shoes,

what is she when she’s on her own?

Is she a stockbroker, or a dancer?

Is she a cheat, or a chancer?

Is she a tomboy who drives a Lancer?

What is she when she’s on her own?

While she wipes off her make-up, is she surviving a break-up?

Is she someone who’d take up

with a guy who’s no good?

Is she a stuck-up bitch while she looks through the fridge?

Is she unsure which major to take?

Is she good to her mum? Is she someone who bakes?

What is she while she fills up the pot?

Is she a five, or a ten? Is she officially hot?

While she shakes pasta into the boiling water,

is she the dux of her alma mater?

Is she waiting for somebody to call?

Is she painting her house?

Is she having it all?

Is she nice to people who don’t deserve it?

While she stirs in the sauce, is she really “worth it”?

Is she kind, or is her heart a stone?

I want to know what she is when she’s on her own.

What is she while she eats her dinner alone?

Poem: “The Self’s Prayer”

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As performed today at the Perth Poetry Club.


My Self, who art in my head,

hallowed be my name.

My wisdom come,

my will be done

in life as it is in my head.

I give me today my daily fun.

Self, forgive me my sins

as I forgive those who sin against me.

Lead me sometimes into temptation

and deliver me a cheese pizza.

For my person,

my power,

and the glory are mine,

now and forever.

Ah, me.

Had a lovely time (as always) as the Perth Poetry Club today. Chris Arnold and the Scrutineer of Splodge were very entertaining as MCs, and Jamie MacQueen made sure that nobody missed out on the wordy goodness by streaming everything live onto the web. He streams a lot of spoken word events on his livestream channel, Perth Live – brilliant idea, because you can’t always get to everything, but this way you don’t have to miss out.

Jamie – when he’s not Facebook/Myspace/Twitter/texting at a speed that would put sixteen-year-olds to shame – also takes photos, and (finally) showed me his photos from the 2010 WA Poetry Slam finals. Here’s one:

Kate Wilson, Kaitlyn Plyley, David Vincent Smith, and half of Belowsky's face.

DVS, me, Kate Wilson, and ol' Pintface Belowsky.

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Spent last night putting the finishing touches on a new hip hop poem I’ve written – I felt very inspired after interviewing DVS the other day. It’s always energising to talk to someone who lives, eats and breathes writing like that dude. (The interview will be going up on the NYWM blog next month.)

Although I will never be gangsta and I generally abhor thuggery, I also spent about an hour browsing on ThugFashion.com. I may have purchased a few items. I can only hope that I wasn’t funding some kind of gang violence. (I assume that the website’s thuggery is as real as their ‘fake gold’ grillz.)

I do love me a bit of rap, and I find that writing in a hip hop style helps me find a rhythm in my poetry that I never managed to find while ‘counting feet’ in English tutorials. It’s also super fun to sling on my shiny golden jacket.

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