DON'T BE LIVE POETRY DEPRIVED

 

[Just a couple of lines]

TREE WEEK POETRY ZOOM Monday May 4

Yes there is still poetry! Poetry and trees! That Poetry Zoom celebrates trees on Monday May 4. Includes readings of poems written for trees in Hague Park, Canberra as part of the Hague Park Experiment Heritage Signage project. [Mouthful.] Shane Strange will fill you in, followed by the poets Faye Brinsmead, SubhashJaireth, Asha Naznin, Melinda Smith, Martin Dolan, Gemma Nethercote-Way, Penelope Layland, Kerrie-Anne Nelson, Zoe Anderson. 

THE ACT'S Tree Protection Officer, Samantha Ning will speak briefly about Tree Week, followed by readings by Robert Verdon, Lizz Murphy, Judith Nangala Crispin, Kate McNamara and (tbc) Jenni Kemarre Martiniello organized by Sarah St Vincent Welch.

There’s an open mike before and after the tree poetries — sign up when the virtual doors open at 6.30 pm. Event starts 7.00 pm with Sarah St Vincent Welch as emcee. If you are not already on their email list you can find out about it on Facebook where the Zoom invitation link is also posted just prior to each event.

VOICEBOX FREMANTLE Monday May 4

Also on Monday it’s a special Voicebox Fremantle launch of Letters to Our Home hosted by Vivienne Glance at 7 pm. Readings by Michael Williams, Liana Joy Christensen, Allan Padgett, Tara Hurst, Deanne Leber, Natalie D-Napoleon, Jackson, and Allan Boyd. There is also an open mike. Virtual doors open at 6.45 pm. This project was conceived during the Australian bushfire crisis. The Zoom link is here: https://www.voiceboxpoets.com/calendar

Self-serve Open Mike

Voicebox is currently running the Self-serve Open Mic — Alex Chapman’s brainfart he says — where you are invited to post a poem on their FB page during the normal meeting time-slot. Can be text, audio, video. Great idea. Founded in 2004 by Desmonda Kearney, Voicebox normally meets on the last Monday of the month. Time?? Website: https://www.voiceboxpoets.com/calendar

THAT MOTHER TONGUE ZOOM Monday May 11

A rare opportunity. That Mother Tongue Poetry Zoom featuring Thandi Katase, a storyteller from the Makwayi clan of the Xhosa tribe from South Africa. Thandi will tell stories and share her original poetry in Xhosa and English. She might introduce everyone to Imbongi praise singing. Share a poem in a language other than English — or a mix of languages. Email: mothertonguemic[at]gmail[dot]com to sign up in advance, or sign up on the night. Limit 4 minutes. Thank you That Poetry Thing committee member Jacqui Malans.

A BRUSH WITH POETRY Sunday May 31

Watch for Binalong's first Brush with Poetry Zoom, May 31, 2.00 pm.

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Writers tip: 

Cut your performance teeth on Open Mike opportunities but be considerate of your emcee, your fellow poets and the audience and follow the rules — one poem is one poem, three minutes is three minutes and one minute is one minute, etc. Have your poem ready. If it's in a journal bookmark it (preferably with something that won't flutter to the floor just when you need it); if it's on a device make sure your poem is on screen ready to go. Currently on Zoom we all also have to remember to mute when listening to other poets and unmute when it's our turn :)