THAT POETRY ZOOM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Update: That Poetry Thing is now a hybrid live-in-venue/Zoom event. Triple launch — Dolan, Smith, Strange on September 21. Go to the usual pages for bookings advice (strict seatings) and Zoom links (do duck in). Congratulations and thanks go to the dedicated and persistent Thing Team.

That Poetry Thing That is on Monday Nights at Smith’s is currently That Poetry Zoom thanks to COVID-19 and of course the great committee of poets making that happen. [Er did that sound like I was giving poets the 'credit' for COVID??!!] Poets shall not be stopped. I’m 100k from Canberra so don’t get to That Poetry Thing as often as I’d like, but I’ve now been to That Poetry Zoom three Monday’s in a row. That’s exciting. Love seeing everyone on screen and hearing poets read including from interstate and even overseas. 

You can blur out your background or insert a photo as your backdrop but I don’t know how to do that yet. So … at the table? No. Too much de-cluttering in progress one way and reno-stop-starts-mostly-stops the other way. You know how it goes. I prop in front of a door. Safest bet. Other poets have rows of books, original art and crochet bed throws behind them. There are embroidered cushions and sometimes plump pillows — it can be very cosy participating in a poetry zoom. 

And yes I am a bit of a voyeur. Years ago we would drive around new suburbs watching the builds in progress but also enjoying the room décor thanks to curtainless windows. So now you’ll be glad to know you can also opt not to have your video on. You will just be a name in a black square but we will still hear you. Most of us slurp tea and wine (always with our audio turned off of course — ditto putting wood on the fire) and nibble at whatevers, while one night we watched a poet prepare a healthy meal with her device propped on the kitchen bench. (I'm so catching up on this — I've even started using the term 'device.')

That Poetry Zoom 7.00 pm Monday nights. If you're not already on the email list you can find the Zoom invitation link posted on Facebook just prior to each event. Next one May 4. Of course we do look forward to the regular and fabulous venue Smith's Alternative re-opening its doors — all the very best to them.