National Poetry Day

Following last year’s very successful event to mark National Poetry Day, organisers are planning a repeat performance at the Brodick Bar on Thursday 3rd October. It promises to be another bumper night of verse and song and members of the public are invited, nay encouraged, to bring along something to read at the open-mic part of the evening. Tim Pomeroy, David Underdown and Cicely Gill, all practising poets, have organised a programme of seven principal and seven invited readers. The evening’s dimensions are broadened by the inclusion of local singing ensemble, Vivace and possibly baritone John Cruikshank of the other Arran singing ensemble, Ain’t Misbehavin’.

It is hoped that two days prior to the event, to raise public awareness of poetry, there will be an outburst of ‘Poetry on Lamp-Posts’. The organisers plan to populate lamp-posts, bus-stops and any other likely stanchion in Brodick, Lamlash and Whiting Bay with a short poem that can be read ‘on the hoof.’ Some poems might also be put up in the High School.

Although this is the flagship day for poetry around the country, the Arran poets are trying to organise other events throughout the year. A new website has been started, www.arranpoetry.co.uk, a forum for local poets to publish their work online and where Arran poets can form links with other poets and poetry groups around the country. It can also be used notify all poets, both on and off island, of events the local poets might be organising. Meanwhile – National Poetry Day is nearly upon us. Spread the word! And please come to the Brodick Bar on Thursday 3rd October. It will be a lot of fun.