POLESWORTH POETS TRAIL – NEW POEMS.
I said in my latest blog that I was waiting for an email, it has now arrived and having notified the poets of their success, I can announce that the poems for the next phase of the trail are confirmed and will be installed on to the trail in the next few months.
The poems are a wonderful mix of themes from mining, to nature, to Pooley Hall and brick making and all reflect upon the unique space that is often unnoticed up at Pooley Country Park.
The poets, who all attended the workshops that were the subject of some of my previous blogs, have all embraced the experience of the place and the thoughts and lives of the people who occupied /occupy it. From the ex-miners, to their wives and daughters and the current day park rangers, local historians and naturalists, all to whom we are extremely grateful for their time and expertise.
The selected poems and their poets are:
Brick Making Remembered by Peter Grey.
Peter’s poem remembers the Polesworth Brickworks that was on the site ofEnsor Driveand Kiln Way, Peter is from Burton On Trent.
Pooley Hall by Gary Londgen
Gary’s poem reflects on the history of Pooley Hall and its association with the Cockayne Family with hints at a more recent resident Edwin Starr. Gary is from Sutton Coldfield and is a member of the Lichfield Poets.
Unrippled by Sarah James.
Sarah’s poem takes the theme of the canal and the swans and builds a link between the Abbey, the original poets and Pooley Pit. Sarah lives in Droitwich, her first collection Into the Yell was published by Circaidy Gregory Press in 2010
Advice to a Geordie Lad at Pooley by Barry Patterson.
Barry’s poem takes the theme of the migration of Miners from the North East of England in the 1950’s and 60’s to the Warwickshire coalfields. Barry originally hails from Newcastle and now lives in Coventry, His pamphlet of poems Natures Mystic was published by Heaventree Press in 2008
Living Echoes by Gina Coates.
Gina’s poem reflects on the roles of women, some once miners and then later as wives and mothers, describing their hardship and fears. Gina was born in Halifax and now lives in Warton.
Pooley Miner’s Tale by Barry Hunt.
Barry is a songwriter and musician whose father once worked in Pooley pit, his poem takes the form of a folk song incorporating the lives of the miners and their families along with the regeneration of the natural environment. Barry is fromTamworth.
Women’s memories of Mining Menfolk by Dea Costelloe.
Dea spent some time talking to the wives and daughters of the ex-miners for inspiration, from which she created her chatty monologue poem that is rich with memories of ordinary lives. Dea is originally from Essex and now lives in Burton on Trent.
Pooley Pit Ponies by Margaret Torr.
Margaret compares the lives of the Pooley pit ponies with that of the wild ponies of the Carmargue, who are seen as a “Gift of God”. It shows a really different outlook from the ponies’ point of view. Margaret hails from Birkenheadand now lives in Burton on Trent.
In their footsteps by Marjorie Neilson.
Marjorie’s poem explores the generations of miners that followed each other into the pit, also reflecting on the feelings of their mothers. Marjorie is originally from Scotland and now lives inLichfield, she is also a member of the Lichfield Poets.
Jutt by Bernadette O’Dwyer.
Bernadette’s poem is also about the pit ponies, one in particular who was down in Pooley pit and would only pull six loaded wagons. Bernadette is originally from Polesworth and now lives in Atherstone, where she is working on her first novel.
A Cry by Janet Smith.
Janet’s poem is a conversation between the poet and a female owl and reflects the majestic freedom of the owl. Janet is from Birmingham.
Them up there don’t know us down here exist by Gary Carr.
Gary’s poem takes the motorway as its theme and reflects that in the rushing lives of the travellers, they do not realise that the country park exits. Gary is from Burton on Trent where he runs the Spoken Worlds poetry event and he is working on his first collection of poems.
Aloft by Janis Kind.
Janis’ poem takes the view point of a buzzard circling Pooley mound and reflects on its view of the motorway. Janis is from Dordon.
Black Swan Possibility.
Jacqui’s sonnet harks back to Drayton’s poem that is on the first part of the trail, and that in Drayton’s day it was thought that Swan’s could only be white and that a black swan was a myth, and begs the question that swans could be a myriad of colours. Jacqui is from Birmingham, where she runs Poetry Bites and has two collections Blue and Appollonaire she is also co-director of Flarestack poetry.
Ladies of the woods by Terri Jolland.
Terri’s poem takes the silver birch trees as its theme and how they have recolonised the Pooley site. The trees take on a mystical presence as they perform this miracle of regeneration, often held in myths as protectors against witchcraft and at the same time used to make witches brooms. Terri hails from Leicester and now lives in Repton.
Dreams of Alvecote by Colin Henchley.
Colin’s poem talks of the delight and legend of Alvecote priory as place where dreams are born and enacted in this tranquil enchanting ruin. Colin is originally from Yorkshire and now lives inDerby.
Kite – a collaborative poem by Malcolm Dewhirst and the year 3 children at Birchwood Primary School 2011.
Malcolm was commisioned to work with the children, exploring what it would be like to be a kite, then helping the children to make their own poetry kites. The children gave Malcolm most the words to use in this poem, which explores the idea of the wise wind being the teacher and the kite being the pupil learning to fly. Malcolm is originally from Birmingham and now lives in Tamworth and is project director of the Polesworth Poets trail.
The Poems will receive their first reading at THE FIZZ 7 on the 17th May 2011 at 7:30pm at Polesworth Abbey. All are welcome to this free event which will see the NEW POLESWORTH POETS read in front of the original fireplace where the originalPolesworth Circle of Poets – Michael Drayton, John Donne and Ben Jonson amongst others wrote and recited their poems.
An HISTORIC event not to be missed!
