Message to Mars (haiku)

NASA will be including a DVD of haiku wriiten by the public in their next probe sent to Mars.

Closing date 1 July.

Meet the members: Martin Locock

I joined the group in 2011 when I started work at University of Wales Trinity Saint David.  I have been writing poems for years but find the chance to discuss the craft in detail has made a huge difference to my writing style.

My favourite poetic form is the haiku and my favourite poet is Philip Larkin.

I moved to Wales in 1991 and live near Ammanford.  I run Carreg Ffylfan Press which has published the Poetry from Strata Florida anthology as well as my own collections, Carefully Chosen Words, Travels with a Notebook, and Removals.

I have done some research on reflective practice and run workshops for PSMW Academi Wales, and have enjoyed being poet in residence at the Wales Public Service Summer School.
 

Meet the members: Kathy Miles

I've been involved with the group from the beginning. I was born in Liverpool, and now work as Outreach Services

Librarian at the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David. I write poetry, short stories and monologues, and have published three books: The Rocking Stone (Poetry Wales Press), The Third Day: Landscape and the Word (Gomer) and The Shadow House (Cinnamon Press). My work has also appeared in numerous poetry magazines and anthologies. The workshop has given me the opportunity to develop my writing and provides valuable feedback from experienced members of the group, many of whom are also published writers.

Five line poem: Oozing with summer

Maj's poem was too long to fit on a business card so here it is:


Oozing with summer

She steps into a cotton slip
Breasts held softly in strong white
Sweet lilac drifts in lazy through the window as
Somewhere in the distance the busy buzz of a lawnmower fades away
I sit on the bed watching, baited

WISPA

WISPA is the Welsh/Irish Spoken Poetry Alliance.Red Heron is now a member. This means that we will be able to share the experience of inviting Irish poets to our Tuesday night meetings for either a workshop or a reading, and in return writers from our group,and other local groups will be able to read in Ireland. All we have to do is provide accommodation for the visiting writer, and transport the writer on to the next venue. It sounds exciting. WISPA was launched on Saturday 1st June at Wexford Arts Centre with the Welsh/Irish I Slam so I Am event.

Poetry reading 27 July, Lampeter

We are reading as part of the Lampeter Food Festival



Organiser: Josie

Venue: the quadrangle

Suggestion that we have a series of 10-minute slots among the music, with poems about food or festivals


Readers: Jane, Maj, Gilly, Sue, Kathy

Audience feedback:

I don't normally do poetry, I don't like it very much, but I was surprised, I really enjoyed it, and well done to everyone who read.


I didn't know there was going to be poetry at the Food Festival, but I really appreciated you guys reading, it was great to have poetry there, and I loved everything that was read. It was a real treat.


 

Poem for Tony

The Quiet American

For Tony Kendrew

Just as the swifts swoop in

and the woods are awash

with bluebells, Anthony

is leaving Trinity Saint David.

I remember the first time

he entered the Wolfson room

tall as a Lombardy poplar

eyes the colour of fiords

and weather in his voice.

Around this table of poets

this circle of friends

he has listened

with the ear of a birder

and heard

all the notes behind the words.

Amanda Pickering

21/5/13