tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7805373502140195662.post8414574457204417258..comments2024-01-28T07:35:12.229+00:00Comments on Bloomsbury Bell: Poetry and the Prime Minister - Poetry Live for HaitiBloomsbury Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12770210075581113565noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7805373502140195662.post-81116747959245765002010-05-05T18:26:06.921+01:002010-05-05T18:26:06.921+01:00I was at this stunning poetry event. I didn't ...I was at this stunning poetry event. I didn't expect it to have such a huge turnout, nor the Prime Minister to attend. A memorable and hugely enjoyable day for me even though I went along alone as always 'Alone, alone, ever alone I loiter / Ancient cafes and their ingle-nooks / carrying a bag of books.' Minhinnick's wonderful poem is in the same meter of Auden's 'As I Walked Out One Evening.' I walked out of County Hall after a brief convo with Andrew Motion whom I've met several times, poetically replenished, wandering about into the crisp cold night taking photos you can see here<br /><br />http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4006/4317095725_8c270d6f27_b.jpg<br /><br />http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4010/4317830666_4f7e06dd46_b.jpgRehan Qayoomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02391797858691917631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7805373502140195662.post-47479922868576482842010-05-05T18:01:19.477+01:002010-05-05T18:01:19.477+01:00This comment has been removed by the author.Rehan Qayoomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02391797858691917631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7805373502140195662.post-3857878321859459352010-02-02T03:55:21.911+00:002010-02-02T03:55:21.911+00:00What an extraordinary experience. It sounds absolu...What an extraordinary experience. It sounds absolutely amazing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7805373502140195662.post-89530880471564371662010-02-01T17:41:04.443+00:002010-02-01T17:41:04.443+00:00Yes, it was absolutely brilliant. I was there too...Yes, it was absolutely brilliant. I was there too, just behind you (smaller elbows) and think it was not only extremely good value, but all for a good cause and a very memorable day. I liked it that Gillian Clarke told us that every single penny raised would go to Haiti - everyone was working for nothing. Credit to them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7805373502140195662.post-29119810872783579252010-02-01T11:48:28.128+00:002010-02-01T11:48:28.128+00:00What a fantastic idea, it sounds like you had a lo...What a fantastic idea, it sounds like you had a lovely day!Dothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07214328862998740090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7805373502140195662.post-78515651430225290482010-02-01T09:49:08.456+00:002010-02-01T09:49:08.456+00:00That sounds fantastic - lucky you. And looking fo...That sounds fantastic - lucky you. And looking forward to hearing about the letters!verityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16825551404394913715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7805373502140195662.post-336878591274556572010-01-31T23:06:37.992+00:002010-01-31T23:06:37.992+00:00I love how we plan to have quiet weekends and then...I love how we plan to have quiet weekends and then never end up having them!<br /><br />Why did I not know this was going on?! Sigh. I am too suburban. Sounds brilliant - as much as I abhor reading poetry, there is nothing like hearing it spoken; it is uniquely emotional. <br /><br />Good for Gordon Brown for showing up - I doubt it was a publicity stunt, either - poetry doesn't have a high enough profile in the press to make it worth his while going if it was just for column inches. Cynics seem to forget that politicians do have hearts - some are just more well hidden than others.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7805373502140195662.post-37795216582426395312010-01-31T15:33:47.474+00:002010-01-31T15:33:47.474+00:00First of all I'm incredibly jealous!! I would...First of all I'm incredibly jealous!! I would have loved to have gone along to this event. John Agard's Alternative Anthum is quite brilliant and I will check out your link to Dannie Abse. I will definitely listen to the recording of Robert Minhinick's The Yellow Palm. What a wonderfully constructed poem. It's message that maybe out of war comes hope is uplifting but all too fleeting.<br /><br />JeanneReading Tea Leaveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16928999793157507134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7805373502140195662.post-14312870572552135742010-01-31T11:41:30.244+00:002010-01-31T11:41:30.244+00:00Quote from your post: "...I looked up into th...Quote from your post: "...I looked up into the depthless winter sky to see a brilliant, radiant and full moon shining down." I think you are something of a poet yourself.<br /><br />I fear you are right about how some will regard the Browns participation. Given the low profile of poetry in this country, it is difficult to successfully claim that a senior politician speaking at a poety event - albeit one raising funds for a cause that is big news - is simply looking for a good PR opportunity. A fairer interpretation would be that such a politician (whatever his or her party or ideology) helped raise the profile of the event, but sadly the actions of those in public life are not always fairly interpreted.<br /><br />Thank you for reminding me why I should devote some attention to poetry.David Nolan (David73277)https://www.blogger.com/profile/16898875181095358216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7805373502140195662.post-21988508982150739002010-01-31T00:57:33.435+00:002010-01-31T00:57:33.435+00:00It was an incredible afternoon. Your reprieve soun...It was an incredible afternoon. Your reprieve sounds welcome, I hope you find some time to yourself to enjoy.Bloomsbury Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12770210075581113565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7805373502140195662.post-62955641846504027082010-01-31T00:54:44.380+00:002010-01-31T00:54:44.380+00:00That sounds like an incredible day, despite its no...That sounds like an incredible day, despite its not being the lazy weekend you were after. :) I unexpectedly got a reprieve from the busy moving-my-sister-into-her-new-house weekend I was expecting. It was lovely.Jennyhttp://jennysbooks.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com