Singing in My Chains
A recital and celebration of the Poems and Prose of the poet Dylan Thomas Performed by Ian Griffiths ( Wallpole Old Chapel review) Ian cast a spell in the way he brought to life the character of Dylan Thomas; we learned through the story of his life, gradually revealed, about his passions and motivations. He created a magical evening for all of us in the audience, and we were transported from the heart of Suffolk to the heart of Wales on the enchanting flow of Thomas’s poetry and prose. Ian’s presentation was simply a beautifully crafted, constructed and delivered talk and readings: Thomas came alive, and his ‘music’ flowed through the words – a spellbinding web of sound and rhythm woven around the evening. The audience packed and hushed; the chapel perfectly candle-lit; Thomas’s voice through Ian resonant from the pulpit – a wonderful experience. Because Ian clearly cherishes the memory of the poems and the poet, and the shared memory of place, he did not need to impose interpretation or how to listen, but through a carefully built structure – Thomas’s life, poetry and stories and Ian’s personal reflection – he drew one in and brought forward the qualities of Thomas’s sensibility. The first half was devoted to readings concerned with people and place (‘Under Milk Wood’, with poems and witty, affectionate stories from Thomas’s childhood experience, and ‘In My Craft of Sullen Art’ we encountered the poet contemplating the stuff of poetry itself. In the second half the deeper-toned themes of death and the passing of time, which seemed to obsess him (‘Death Shall Have No Dominion’; ‘Do Not Go Gentle into that Goodnight’; ‘Poem in October’), were recited as the chapel itself began to darken through the twilight; then ‘Fern Hill’, and to close Reverend Eli Jenkins again from ‘Under Milk Wood’ – the ‘enigmatic power of words’, as Ian expressed it, penetrating mind and heart, and fabric of the place… In this beautifully paced narrative we discovered the real emotions driving Thomas, the disreputable image dismissed, put in perspective: the Thomas, who responded deeply to the natural world, the bohemian, who felt part of a long poetic tradition, the committed poet, whose whole subject was humanity. We came to understand how childhood experiences became the stimulus for so much later work, and how the Welsh landscape, and its birds and animals and people, despite his long absence, were the world he inhabited. Ian’s talk, so exquisitely fashioned, took us into that world on the music of the spoken word. |

This colletion of poems by Lynne Nesbit comes as a bit of a surprise to me. That might sound as if I had not yet appreciated her work. Nothing is further from the truth. Perhaps than to see it printed in book-form rather than the aural form has given it new vitality and validity. Maybe so. But I believe she has excelled herself in this 'The Ecstacy of Nature - The Nature of Ecstacy.'
This collection is not so much a spiritual journey but more a spiritual marvel, a contempletive adoration of life; each poem tiptoeing in its own musical clarity.
This poet masters and musters her cluster of diamonds bright, steely sharp, cleanly and clear, quietly, and with bright glowing love.
Lynne Nesbit has only too obviously a deep passion for words, and gaily toys and games with them. They tickle without loss of validity; and this volume is lit by a broad and wonderful vocabulary.
The language itself is not verbose, nor meagre; not meant to obscure or mystify, but is pared to the bone for essence and honesty, and conveys its true meaning with the most instant impression. You get what you see with this kaleidoscope of imagery and you feel every single tremor and pulse.
A word of praise too goes out to Carole Lawrence for generously sprinkling her illustrations across this volume like enthralling stardust. You'll find my favourite picture facing the first poem.
Jacques Groen - Poet - SPS member (extract of review from Twelve Rivers Magazine)
I will be exhibiting at the 142 Gallery in the lovely seaside town of Felixstowe. I shall be working in the gallery using it as a studio as well as a place to hang and sell my paintings created over the past 25 years. I would love to share the experience with you and invite you to join me and splash a bit of paint around, or cut out shapes and make a collage of some of my old sketches and artworks in need of new life. Drop in any time between 10.00 am and 4.00 pm from Thursday 29 June to Tuesday July 4. |

On January 7th, Saturday week, one of my favourite publishers, will be launching the long overdue first collection of poetry by one of my favourite poets in one of my favourite places in an event that I hope will be supported by some of my favourite people.
I have myself written about a trend, in the publishing world, towards a convergence of the arts and this is exemplified by Eye Wild Books whose every production is an art-house fusion of word and visual art. Their backlist now includes poetry by Ian Griffiths, Dave Martin, Peter Watkins, Valerie Denton, Gillie Harris as well as art books - eywildbooks.com.
Rosalynde Price who has, for years, been awaiting the right ‘discerning’ publisher now joins this list with her first collection Heartbane, with artwork by the Suffolk artist Carol Lawrence. Roz is well known in Suffolk Poetry and PoetryAnglia circles where she organised events for many years and still helps organise poetry cafés. Her monthly poetry workshop Panda Poets is now in its twelfth year.
The Royal Harwich Yacht Club, now at Woolverstone near Ipswich, is set in an AONB (area of outstanding natural beauty) and the glass wall of our Orwell Room overlooks its eponymous river. The river is wide here and ambience of the room reflects its changing moods, whatever the weather.
The readings will be presented by Ian Griffiths in conversation with the poet.
The yacht club, though only about four miles from central Ipswich, as represented by the station, is in a different world. The attachment has instructions and routings from the A14 which do not involve driving in the town.
On Tuesday at 2:50pm Radio Suffolk will broadcast an interview with Carol which features this event.
Fred Ellis, poet and author of 'What Is Poetry'.
I have myself written about a trend, in the publishing world, towards a convergence of the arts and this is exemplified by Eye Wild Books whose every production is an art-house fusion of word and visual art. Their backlist now includes poetry by Ian Griffiths, Dave Martin, Peter Watkins, Valerie Denton, Gillie Harris as well as art books - eywildbooks.com.
Rosalynde Price who has, for years, been awaiting the right ‘discerning’ publisher now joins this list with her first collection Heartbane, with artwork by the Suffolk artist Carol Lawrence. Roz is well known in Suffolk Poetry and PoetryAnglia circles where she organised events for many years and still helps organise poetry cafés. Her monthly poetry workshop Panda Poets is now in its twelfth year.
The Royal Harwich Yacht Club, now at Woolverstone near Ipswich, is set in an AONB (area of outstanding natural beauty) and the glass wall of our Orwell Room overlooks its eponymous river. The river is wide here and ambience of the room reflects its changing moods, whatever the weather.
The readings will be presented by Ian Griffiths in conversation with the poet.
The yacht club, though only about four miles from central Ipswich, as represented by the station, is in a different world. The attachment has instructions and routings from the A14 which do not involve driving in the town.
On Tuesday at 2:50pm Radio Suffolk will broadcast an interview with Carol which features this event.
Fred Ellis, poet and author of 'What Is Poetry'.