Category: poems
Korsakoff Returns via Poetry International
The pernicious influence of Dr F spreads! Sarah Howe is profiled this month on the Poetry International website, and one of her featured poems is ‘Le 14 Juillet‘, which first appeared in Sidekick’s fourth micro-anthology, Korsakoff’s Paper Chain, which in turn looks a little something like this:
In this miniature volume, every poem was remade from the remains of another after it had been subjected to some form of violence. ‘Le 14 Juillet’ was once Tony Williams’ poem ‘Sleeve Notes’, before a phial of word rot was spilled on the text, leaving only the verbs intact. Sarah Howe’s poem was then shot full of holes by a rival of Dr F, before being restitched as Edward Mackay’s ‘Le 14 Juillet ’68: apres le mai passe‘.
We are very happy to see the results of this exercise in wanton literary vandalism (and restoration) preserved for further study!
In this miniature volume, every poem was remade from the remains of another after it had been subjected to some form of violence. ‘Le 14 Juillet’ was once Tony Williams’ poem ‘Sleeve Notes’, before a phial of word rot was spilled on the text, leaving only the verbs intact. Sarah Howe’s poem was then shot full of holes by a rival of Dr F, before being restitched as Edward Mackay’s ‘Le 14 Juillet ’68: apres le mai passe‘.
We are very happy to see the results of this exercise in wanton literary vandalism (and restoration) preserved for further study!
This Happened: The Lives Beyond Us Launch
 |
| Cliff Hammett with chronophotographic image of a falling cat. |
For the uninitiated, Lives Beyond Us is a cross-genre anthology with gorgeous colour illustrations throughout. Covering topics as diverse as voyeurism, comic pratfalls and bear interventions, it’s a fresh look at a beloved topic, curated by Kirsten Irving (poems) and Seb Manley (essays).
The anthology is a super-thick bundle of Sidekick-style guile and intrigue, and costs £12 plus postage. Click here to see more and buy.
 |
| Cat watches humans watching bird. |
Here’s how the book in question fared under UV light as Jon was setting out the table:
 |
| Before the hoard descended. |
We had readings and a slideshow, and there was an animal film quiz with a tricksy rebus round by long-time Sidekick ally Siân Moore. Alongside the editors, contributing writers Mike West, Rebecca Wigmore, Sophie Mayer, Simon Barraclough, Angela Cleland, Abigail Parry, Cliff Hammett and James Coghill were all present and correct.
We piece this account together now from whirling fragments, as we spent much of the evening rushing between the projection room (well, the cupboard with the technical things in it), the book stall and various old friends – a little chaotically, since this was our first book launch in over a year and we’d forgotten just how much needs doing to keep things running semi-smoothly.
Lessons learned: always give five-minute warnings in a quiz show host voice; PCs can project to a second screen in one of four different ways; electric fans give poets a neat ‘windswept’ appearance when placed correctly.
Finally, evidence that a selection of readers, hosts, editors and audience members felt the animal magic and posed it out onstage. What a grrrrrand night.
 |
| Post-launch cast and crew superhero pose |
Sunday Review: New Scottish Poets Anthology
posted by the Judge
It’s Sunday!! This means two things for me. Firstly, I’m going to be putting up our Sunday review. Secondly, I’m going to try and take a certain girl to the cinema, probably to see The Hobbit (which I expect I won’t like, but I like the girl, so let’s just give this thing a chance, eh?).
Regarding the review, we are dealing with the New Scottish Poets Anthology, edited by Sandra Alland. Find the review by clicking on this link. Our critic for the occasion is Harry Giles, himself a son of Scotland, whom you can see in the photo above as he meditates on the review (he doesn’t look Scottish though).
Enjoy your Sunday, enjoy the review, and I’ll try and enjoy The Hobbit.
Psycho Poetica gets a Telegraph mention!
Psycho Poetica, editor Simon Barraclough’s multi-poet love letter to Hitchcock’s classic, was mentioned in the Telegraph today, in a round-up entitled ‘The best recent poetry’. That sexy, skinny volume snuggled between Poems on the Underground and Josephine Hart’s Life Saving? That’s us! Nice quote from Isobel Dixon’s ‘Trappings’,
Image copyright The Telegraph, 2012.
Sunday Review: Waterloo by JT Welsch
posted by the Judge
Sunday review, fellas!! And the reason Napoleon is so angry, is that this review is about Waterloo (but the one by JT Welsch, so I guess that’s ok). The review was written by Anthony Adler, who makes a happy return to our virtual pages.
Even though when I hear of Waterloo I always think about this particularly inspirational speech by a luminary of Telecom.
Have a great Sunday!
Sunday review, fellas!! And the reason Napoleon is so angry, is that this review is about Waterloo (but the one by JT Welsch, so I guess that’s ok). The review was written by Anthony Adler, who makes a happy return to our virtual pages.
Even though when I hear of Waterloo I always think about this particularly inspirational speech by a luminary of Telecom.
Have a great Sunday!
Where Rockets Burn Through!
New anthology, Where Rockets Burn Through: contemporary science fiction poems from the UK, is not only beautifully designed (Sunstreaker and Wheeljack seem to think so, anyway) but also makes for a laser-firing, catsuit-sporting blast-off of a poetry mission.
Jon and I pop up a few times inside (he re-jigs Catullus into space opera while I salivate over the precious meal from Soylent Green), alongside some seriously spark-spitting other writers.
Gifting poems to those who are usually more fond of box sets than tercets may seem like a risky gambit, but editor Russell Jones has picked a rich range of moreish work that, while intriguing and substantial, won’t alienate (apologies for that one) anyone coming to poetry afresh. Poetry has a knack of providing an off-kilter, probing new look at classic tropes and well-loved stories, and this is a real genre-zapper.
Where Rockets Burn Through: contemporary science fiction poems from the UK is normally £9.99 plus p&p, but until 21 December, Penned are offering 20% off,so you can snaffle it for £7.99 plus postage.
Sunday Review: Penned in the Margins round-up
A special Winter round-up this week – with yours truly back in the critic’s seat! I know! It’s been forever! Anyway, it’s time to look over at fellow London published Penned in the Margins and assess the good work they’ve been doing in bringing bright, young poets into print. Click here to read on.
Sunday Review: Poems, by Farzaneh Khojandi
posted by the Judge
This Sunday, I’m reviewing a pamphlet in translation by a Persian poet, Farzaneh Khojandi.
Ouch, this is a poisonous one. I was not very happy with what I read. To find out what I thought about her pamphlet Poems, simply click here.
This Sunday, I’m reviewing a pamphlet in translation by a Persian poet, Farzaneh Khojandi.
Ouch, this is a poisonous one. I was not very happy with what I read. To find out what I thought about her pamphlet Poems, simply click here.
Sunday Review: Rachael Boast’s Sidereal
posted by the Judge
Man, I’ve been looking forward to this Sunday. Some weeks of work can take it out of you.
Finally, though, the time has come to lay back and relax with a cup of coffee and a poetry review. This week Judi Sutherland takes on no less than the winner of the 2011 Forward Prize for Best First Collection, that being Rachael Boast for her work in Sidereal. Find the review here and see what Judi thought about it.
Enjoy your Sunday – I know I will!
Man, I’ve been looking forward to this Sunday. Some weeks of work can take it out of you.
Finally, though, the time has come to lay back and relax with a cup of coffee and a poetry review. This week Judi Sutherland takes on no less than the winner of the 2011 Forward Prize for Best First Collection, that being Rachael Boast for her work in Sidereal. Find the review here and see what Judi thought about it.
Enjoy your Sunday – I know I will!
