Remembering Poetry Aloud at the Swindon Festival of Poetry

Festival organiser Hilda Sheehan and the home made lectern

Louise Crossley, saviour of anthology Domestic Cherry 4

First time poet Joe and Rene the dog

Bob, the union man

Today is National Poetry Day and the theme is ‘remember’. It’s also the start of the third Swindon Festival of Poetry.

The first event was Poetry Aloud at Swindon Central Library, where an eclectic bunch of talented poets – from first time to professional – read in an open mic format.

And – to celebrate – what better way than with a poem about the first event? (Okay a good poem would be better)

Remembering Poetry Aloud

Children bring Wilfred back to life,
David tearfully remembers his wife.
The Heavy Brigade charges to car horns
Before windows are closed with an ongoing drone
While Chaucer READS LAURIE LEE POEMS.
‘Something’s Changed’ reads a punked Michael Scott
And later I wonder exactly what.
Dannie Abse has died in esteemed old age
But ‘The Man I was Promised’ with a mane never came.
We hear Joe’s first poem with Rene the dog,
And that a battered Morley will do you good.
I’m told: going down, please mind the gap
And Mary remembers the rememberings of Patch.
Colin, he hails from Facebook;
And we Share Don with Chicago;
A sonnet couples shoelaces of a grandchild.
A soft round Brown Betty
Lavished praise on tea
And – by golly – Bob gave the council poetry.

Written by Louisa Davison

Tags: Battered Moons, Chaucer Cameron, David Morely, Don Share, Harry Patch, Laurie Lee, Michael Scott, NAtional Poetry Day, Poetry Aloud, Swindon, Swindon Central Library, Swindon Festival of Poetry, Wilfred Owen