Poetry Workshop at Anam Cara - Registration Open

I cannot believe my week in Seattle is almost over. And what a wonderful week it has been. Thanks to my dear friend and wonderful poet Susan Rich, who has treated me royally in her home, I have had the time of my life. Susan and I have not only read together but also taught classes at the Richard Hugo House which were a great success and I got a glimpse of what an inspiration she is as a teacher. The good news is that she is coming to Ireland to give a poetry workshop in Anam Cara, Co Cork this summer so this is a one time opportunity to learn from a masterly poet. All details posted below.

A Poetry Writing Workshop Concerning Visual Art

Speaking in Pictures: A Poetry Writing Workshop Concerning Visual Art
Leader: Susan Rich (http://poet.susanrich.net/)
One-week Residential Workshop Retreat
Arrival: Saturday, 4 August 2012
Departure: Saturday, 11 August 2012

The question is not what you look at, but what you see.
Henry Thoreau

Poetry and painting are sister arts according to the Greeks. It’s a natural collaboration to focus on ekphrastic poetry. Ekphrastic poetry simply refers to our poems inspired by visual images. Together, we will discuss traditional and experimental models of the form by Elizabeth Bishop, Robert Hayden, Lisel Mueller and Rainier Maria Rilke; we will study recent examples by contemporary poets, and sharpen our powers of observation and description.

Finally, through a series of provocative exercises, we will write our own poems on a variety of works of art. For the purposes of this workshop, art includes sculpture, painting, collage, printmaking, and objects des arts. All levels of writers are welcome — from beginners to very advanced practitioners.

Testimonials:
“Excellent delivery of info and preparation of materials.· Susan established such a safe learning environment, which really helped the ability to learn and enjoy the experience.· This was an exceptionally helpful program!”·-- Cindy S.
"I truly appreciate what you do to nurture other poets. This is truly one of the best retreats I have been on." -- Angie V.

“Thank you for providing this life-changing opportunity.·· Your generosity and enthusiastic interest has been such a blessing for me…You have given me a great gift–the courage to say what I am, and more importantly, to *live* what I am– a writer.·”· -- ·Kelley

Leader’s Bio:
Susan Rich is the author of three collections of poetry, The Alchemist’s Kitchen (2010), which was named a finalist for The Foreword Prize and the Washington State Book Award, Cures Include Travel (2006), and The Cartographer’s Tongue / Poems of the World (2000), which won the PEN USA Award for Poetry. She has received awards from The Times Literary Supplement of London, Peace Corps Writers and the Fulbright Foundation. Her featured appearances include the Cuirt Literary Festival in Galway, Ireland and the University of Sarajevo, Bosnia. Recent poems have been published in The Harvard Review, Poetry Ireland, The Southern Review and the New England Review. Born and educated in Boston, Massachusetts; Susan now makes her home in Seattle, Washington. More information is available about Susan at her website http://poet.susanrich.net/ and her blog http://thealchemistskitchen.blogspot.com




For more information and to book a place in this workshop retreat, please contact Sue at anamcararetreat@gmail.com or +353 (0)27 74441.

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Reading Tour of the US

Thanks to the ongoing support of Culture Ireland, my 6th US reading tour starts this week when I fly to Seattle to do some readings with Washington, award-winning, poet Susan Rich. First stop is Highline Community College in Des Moines, WA and then to Hyla Middle School in Bainbridge Island, arranged by sculptor Elllen Berdinner whom I met at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre last October.

On 4th March Susan and I read at the Elliot Bay Book Store in Seattle. Susan has been to Ireland on a number of occasions and read at Cuírt in 2004. She returns to Ireland this summer to facilitate a poetry workshop at Anam Cara Writers' Retreat in Co. Cork. My next stop is the University of Missouri, in St Louis, thanks to an invitation from poet and professor of Irish Studies there, Eamonn Wall. He and his wife Drucilla come to Galway every year and I am delighted to be meeting up with them again.

I fly to Connecticut on 9th to meet up with my friend and poetry collaborator Lisa C. Taylor. Lisa and I collaborated on a collection titled The Other Side of Longing published by Arlen House in 2011 and we continue that tour again with a reading at Eastern Connecticut State University and at Manchester Community College, on 15th March at the Misha-maya-gat Spoken Word and Music Series.

St Patrick's Day will be spent on Cape Cod where I have lots of great friends before I return to Ireland on 18th.

After the Peregrine Readings

What a great idea the Peregrine Readings are. Starting off with the launch in the Irish Writers' Centre on Tuesday 21st, I had a wonderful time reading with Ulick O'Connor and Ferdia McAnna in Parnell Square. There were pancakes and wine, a lively audience and Ulick and Ferdia in fine form. Wednesday and Thursday saw us in Roscommon town and Boyle.

Roscommon Library is housed in a very impressive building, which has just been refurbished. Our reading in Boyle was in King House which was even more elegant.

What is great about this project is the chance for readers to meet writers they may not get a chance to hear and equally it is always a treat for writers to experience new venues.

Thanks to Jack Harte and all the staff of the Writers' Centre for their kindness, to Jack Gilligan, Carolyn and Patricia for introducing the readings. If a Peregrine Reading is coming to a venue near you, grab the opportunity with both hands.

Peregrine Readings at the Irish Writers' Centre

Time to get back on the road with some prose peregrinations this week.

I am delighted to be reading with Ulick O' Connor and Ferdia Mc Anna as part of the Peregrine Readings which kick off at the Irish Writers' Centre, 19 Parnell Square on Tues 21st February at 7.00pm.

Wednesday 22nd will see us in The County Library in Roscommon at 7.00pm and we finish off in Boyle Library on Thursday 23rd with our third reading starting at7.00pm.

Thanks to the Irish Writers' Centre's creativity, fiction is now being read and appreciated, not just in the major cities of Ireland, but throughout the country.

Well done to the Writers' Centre

Christmas Reading at the Village Bookshop

The last reading at the Village Bookshop, 12 Main Street, Moycullen was so successful that Anne and Niall have decided to host a Christmas session on Thursday 8th December from 6.00pm to 8.00pm. Escape the hustle and bustle of the traditional shopping day and sneak away to hear readings of a festive nature and enjoy some refreshments. I am delighted to be reading once again with Celeste Auge, Lorna Shaughnessy, Mary Madec, Moya Roddy and Pete Mullineaux. Here is a sample from one of my poems:



Snow Angels
If I were sky literate I would have read
the cold in the grey cloud
predicting snow on Maimean
that would be with us before long.
It fell from the great bed of weather
like the aftermath of a pillow fight,
settled on collars hurrying home from work,
in the secrets of stone walls.
turned rusted gates to pictures

16 Days To End Violence Against Women

The Feminist Society of the National University of Ireland, Galway has organised 16 days of activism to end violence against women which includes a number of events around the city.

On Thursday 24th November, there is an Open Mic night of poetry and music at 9.00pm at the Ruby Room in the King's Head.

Entry is free and there will be a collection for the Galway Rape Crisis Centre.

I hope to go along and read some poems so if you want to perform or require more information about what is happening email: feminist@socs.nuigalway.ie

All Ireland Poetry Day at the Big House

There is no better place to celebrate All Ireland Poetry Day than at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Co. Monoghan where I am lucky enough to be for the next two weeks thanks to Galway County Council. Poems and poets are to be found in secret pockets everywhere: The deer in the garden at midnight, the uplight of light, the pavlova.
There will be a reading this evening after we have feasted at the long table. Here is my one for today taken from my collaboration with Lisa C. Taylor, The Other Side of Longing (Arlen House, 2011)

Get a Life, Mr Rembrandt!
(Artist self-portrait at the Wadsworth Atheneum)

Unwrinkle the brow, plump up the lips

Botox the furrow between the mournful eyes

Airbrush the weak chin from your father's side,
that swarthy nose from your mam's

Get the toilet-brush hair gelled

Flaunt diamond studs on the left lobe

A tattoo on the rippling biceps,
I luv u Hendrickje Stoffels

Put the grizzly bear coat up on eBay

Ditch the hat,
but don't let go of the hands.