Up North

Been up and down to Leeds half a dozen times in the last few months, for one reason and another.   It's an interesting place. 

And I fell in love the night before last. Look at this!  There's a ticket booth, where we bought our tickets, which I don't ever remember seeing when I was a kid.  And a gilded balcony, red velvet curtains, and an orange clock, which I do.  No usherette with a torch and a tray of tubs and choc ices, though.

 

Reading at Holt Acoustic Club, 18th October 2011

This is me reading at Holt Acoustic Club on 18th October 2011. Also on the bill were Wiltshire, based singer Jacqueline Sharp, and Reg Meuross, and we all had a warm reception and a thoroughly enjoyable evening in friendly company.

Coming up on Friday 4th November is the launch for my poetry collection, 'Communion'. It will be held in the Halo Café Bar at 141 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8BA, and will feature Bristol poets Alana Farrell, Dru Marland, and John Terry, along with singer-songwriter Reg Meuross.  It starts at 8pm and entrance is free.

At this point, I feel compelled to point out that my definition of Communion is very broad, encompassing love and sex and friendship. Therefore, Sunday best need not be worn, and alcohol will be on sale in the bar.  See you there, I hope!

Poetry Space

Here's a link to a fantastic review of 'Communion', my collection of poems, by Sue Sims of Poetry Space.

You can read some of my poetry here.  'Communion' is available to buy from the Indigo Dreams website, or from Amazon.

The Goddess of Never Not Broken

Akhilandeshvari.  Akhilandeshwari.   Akilandeswari.  Would be grateful for input on transliteration and pronunciation.

Times have been tumultuous of late - some very wonderful times coupled with bad things coming in thirty-threes rather than threes. As I age, I have become increasingly fatalistic. I also believe in synchronicity.  Akhilandeshvari - the Goddess of Never Not Broken - has come along just when I and my girls need her.  

If you haven't yet encountered her, read this.  (I feel a pome coming on.)

A Poem for National Poetry Day 2011

For this year's National Poetry Day, I'm posting a poem about poetry - British Sign Language Poetry, to be exact. It's also about being a hearing, non-signing person in a Deaf environment.

Mute

                                                                  

for Jo G

The room is rapt, in silence,

unless the shepherding of air

makes a sound I cannot hear,

like the gasp of leaves in free-fall,

the shrill of flowers

as they are picked.

Words that filled my mouth

with their flavour

wither to husks,

stick in my throat. 

I am mute

in this place of poems,

plucked from nothing

and given form

with a clap like a dove

starting into flight,

while my hands hang,

dumb lumps of meat.

In time

I might trace

that shimmer of purple,

conjure voice from empty space,

sign the infinite shape  

the word poetry makes.

© Deborah Harvey 2011

My first poetry collection, Communion, is published by Indigo Dreams and now available to buy from their website, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com, and good independent bookshops. 

A launch for Communion will be held on 4th November 2011 at the Halo Café Bar, 141 Gloucester Road, Bristol BS7 8BA, with singer-songwriter Reg Meuross, and guest poets Alana Farrell and John Terry.  Entrance is free.  All welcome!

Skulls, Demons and Incompetent Masons

Haven't had time to blog much at all lately, but now I have and here's some interesting stuff I spotted in St James' Priory in Horsefair, Bristol on Doors Open Day early last month.

Detail of a memorial to the Gibbes family, 1630s.  Love the skull with bat wings and an egg timer on its head. 

The priory was founded in 1120. This high window is the oldest 'ocula' ('eye') in the country.  

















Another winged skull on this magnificent tomb.  

This is a memorial to various members of the Dighton family, spanning 85 years. Looks like the stone mason made a bit of a cock-up at one point. A palimpsest of Death ... 










... and a wholly demonic cherub.


















The 14th century Church of St James, which was bombed in the devastating raid on Bristol City Centre on 24th November, 1940, has been further ruined by post-war city planners.  















Even the incumbents can't bear to look.

Sculpture at Bristol Eye Hospital

Details of series of carved brick panels entitled The Creation, by sculptor Walter Ritchie (1919-1997), the last living pupil of Eric Gill