Source: Pete Mullineaux, Still Waters
In Memory of John Coltrane
50 years this week since the death of the great Jazz saxophonist John Coltrane. I tried to capture the impact of hearing him in this poem ‘First Jazz’ from my collection How to Bake a Planet (Salmon Poetry 2016)
First Jazz
Coltrane, cool train
taking vinyl track
with swerve
and verve, hip dip
curve of lip, gravity
bending light
with thumb
and fingertip
on moon
reflecting keys –
take a winding scale from
the black bottom
of a southern swamp
up past a levee camp moan
through a blood red foam
to the cold blue gates of Heaven –
levitate a while…
like a humming bird
a back-beat drumming bird
then deviate
on the A Train
pile back on the coal train,
the engine picking up steam
hear that bell ring
tip your high hat
to the blind engineer,
catch the rattlesnake snare…
then a rumble
and a tumble
and a sudden drop
below
with a blast so low
you go down
into the molten heat
and heartbeat
of this crazy jive,
where two and two
make five
feeling in this
moment only
you are truly
ALIVE!
Live from Kennys Bookshop Ireland!
Kennys Bookshop in Galway have made recordings of a number of poets reading their work. Happy to be included!
Cuirt Spoken Word Finalists
Source: Cuirt Spoken Word Finalists
Cuirt Spoken Word Finalists
We have 20 great finalists for the Spoken Word Platform in Cuirt – at 6.30pm this Thursday 27th April in the Kings Head, Galway. Poets & flash fiction presenters will woo a lively audience and three judges to see who will go through to the Cuirt Slam Showcase at Electric Picnic Festival in September. MC Pete Mullineaux & Special guest poet the wonderful Alvy Carragher. This event is always packed out, come early!
SPOKEN WORD EVENT AT CUIRT 2017
Source: SPOKEN WORD EVENT AT CUIRT 2017
SPOKEN WORD EVENT AT CUIRT 2017
Following the launch of the Cuirt Festival 2017 Brochure on Tuesday, the submission window is now open for the ever popular Spoken Word event, to be held on Thursday April 27th at 6.30pm in the Kings Head. The window for submissions closes on April 13th. Entries can be poems or short fiction (up to 3 minutes). Those selected from these submissions will be invited to present their pieces on the day to what is always a very lively but receptive and encouraging audience, as well as 3 judges who will pick three people to go on to take part in the Cuirt Showcase at Electric Picnic in September.
This event is always packed out. There will also be a special guest performer on the day, former winner – Alvy Carragher.
Hard copy entries (or on DVD) can be sent or given in to Galway Arts Centre: 47 Dominick St. Galway, or via email to petemullineaux@gmail.com (same email for queries).
Good luck!
