"The Way Things Are" by Roger McGough (read by Tom O'Bedlam)

The Way Things Are ~ Roger McGough

This was the first poem read at last Sunday's gathering of the An Tobar Poetry Group and Willy G. Hodgins was the reader. Roger McGough is one of England's best known poets and has a list of credits that is more than impressive including an OBE awarded in 1997 and a CBE in 2004. The poem above is from a book of the same name and many of you will have come across some of his poems over the years. A Fellow of The Royal Society of Literature and President of The Poetry Society he was one of the leading members of 'The Liverpool Poets. Born 9th November 1937. By Spoken Verse (Tom O' Bedlam) and with thanks.

 

An Tobar ~ Poetry Gathering June 2021!

 An Tobar ~ Poetry Gathering!

Olivia and James McConnell were the generous hosts for last Sunday's gathering of the An Tobar Poetry Group. Chaired by Jim Owens in the very pleasant outdoor surrounds of what are prize winning gardens the weather held out and it was a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Some of the poems read are listed below and although the theme touched on the Covid crisis there was a wide variety of material read. Roger McGough's The Way Things Are was the first poem read followed by Brendan Kennelly's Begin Again and Paula Casey read her own poem written about her father, Happy Birthday Daddy. Carol Owen read a poem very suited to the location and also one written by herself called, A Garden Poem. Christopher F. McCormack read a poem from his recent publication - Periodyssey - titled Covid Comforts and very generously supplied everyone there with a free copy of the book. Many thanks Christopher! Eugene Kane read his own composition Stay Safe followed by Louise Scott who also read one of her own pieces Daffodill. Olivia McConnell read Noontide at Roscalla by Trevor Johnson. (Must check that out!) James read a poem by Reginald Arkell called The Gardens are Open but my own writing is so terrible am not that sure on the title and read another one as well by the same author. John Curran read two and from memory, Canticle by Edith Sitwell and Garden Private and I can get variations on those titles to come up but not completely sure they are exact. Also The Curlew's Cry or such was read and a number of possibilities there as well. Piano by D.H. Lawerence was followed by The Dublin Shopkeeper read by Ruari and Rachell Holstead's Stop and Stand was also read. Poems by Myra Brooks Welch, The Touch of the Master's Hand and Francis Ledwidge's June finished the proceedings on what was a very pleasant afternoon and not forgetting I read The Ballad of Montrose but that's the news!  

Why should you read James Joyce's "Ulysses"? - Sam Slote.

Bloomsday 2021!

Posted by Sam Slote ~ TED Ed and with thanks, this one I have to admit is a novel I've never read and must get around to. The intro though suggests it's a little more than difficult and without that knowledge maybe shouldn't be attempted. I'd imagine most people have walked away after a few chapters lost as to what was going on. Would have made for a great television series with a few notes thrown in but we don't do drama here unless it's of the soap variety. The local drama groups are long gone and our radio stations are addicted to other interests especially foreign football teams. I couldn't imagine driving into a small Yorkshire village and getting the results of a Leitrim Roscommon football game or a local Hurling match but I suppose that's what you call indoctrination or maybe good advertising nous. People become what they digest. How'd I get on to this tack? Something for Bloomsday!  

Pegasus - The Travelling People - Liam Clancy

Loaded by machree01 and with thanks. A poem by Patrick Kavanagh and read by Liam Clancy. So you think you can write poetry or read it. There have been many fine Irish poets and performers but only a few great ones. The above. The poem is followed by Ewan MacColl's great ballad 'The Travelling People' though I've seen Peggy Seeger credited here also. Just about everyone has recorded this song but most people around these parts will remember 'The Johnstons' version, which was very popular in the sixties and good it was too. They were from Slane in County Meath. Happy Sunday morning!

Athboy ~ Poetry Trail !

 Circle of Pens ~ Poetry Trail!

Athboy Fair Green is one of the hidden gems of the county, though perhaps a little off the beaten track but if you happen to be passing through, well worth a visit. The Circle of Pens Writing group that is based in Athboy had a number of poems posted around the Green for the Bank Holiday weekend and two of them can be seen in the photograph above. Presented to the people of Athboy by Lord Darnley in 1910 it would make a wonderful venue for a poetry or musical festival though given the times we're living in that may be a while coming. I was there on Saturday afternoon last and there was very little activity about which was strange given that it was a beautiful day. Also the roads are very badly signposted so your guesswork better be good but I suppose we now live in the Sat Nav age and I should keep up with the times.