Off to the lovely, intimate, Strokestown Poetry Festival this weekend. One of my poems is on the shortlist, which means I get a 20 minute reading and even (oh wonders!) a fee.
I was lucky enough to do this in 2008 and I’m really looking forward to returning to the friendliest of festivals. You can find the short listed poems here. (Although mine is the first poem you come across take a good look at the others too – particularly the fine Canzone by Jane Robinson – a great feat of poetry engineering!). I’m reading on Sunday morning and the final line up of prizes is announced on Sunday night. Just the small matter of the 5am start and Ryanair to get through first……
(PS In the event the Judges were kind enough to award me second prize – but the best reward was a generous time to read in front of an appreciative and friendly audience. Plus Guiness, obvs)
I am a poet writing in a range of styles from performance-led to page-based and limerick to avant-garde.