A review for the local paper:
Kei
Miller/Liz Berry/Fiona Benson
Hailing
Foxes/ Waterwoven/Rachael Clyne Bristol
Poetry Festival
As
I write, Bristol Poetry Festival is drawing to a close following a glorious
fortnight of readings at venues in and around Bristol.
From
the hugely popular Bristol Poetry Slam, where the cream of the West Country’s
performance poets battle it out on stage, to smaller, low-key gatherings in
cafés and the back rooms of pubs, poets and lovers of poetry have been coming
together to celebrate our national art-form.
The
flagship event of this year’s Festival was the reading at Arnolfini by three of
our best contemporary poets, Fiona Benson, Kei Miller and Liz Berry. Colin
Brown, the Director of Poetry Can, the Bristol-based organisation responsible
for organising the Poetry Festival said: ‘there were three essential poetry books
published in 2014 and we are lucky enough to have the authors of those books here
in Bristol tonight.’ Each poet was very different but equally distinct. Anglo-Scot
Fiona Benson read poems that showed how hearts can be broken by language; Kei
Miller made language sound like music; Liz Berry took us gently by the hand and
led us to the place where poems come from, and it was both thrilling and
beautiful – but you can’t describe poetry, you can only experience it. ‘That
was wonderful,’ said one audience member as we emerged into the September
night. ‘As soon as it started, it was like we were all together inside a
miracle.’
Photo © Dru Marland
A
special mention too for the event at Bristol Central Library, where local artist
Dru Marland launched her latest illustrated anthology of poems, Hailing Foxes, a celebration of Bristol and
its wildlife during the city’s tenure as European Green Capital 2015. This delightful evening, which also included performances
from Wells Fountain Poets and Rachael Clyne, saw many of the featured poets coming
together to read their work. Hailing
Foxes is available from Gert Macky Books and good independent bookshops,
price £5.
John Terry
Pat Simmons
Dru Marland
Dominic Fisher
Wells Fountain Poets and Colin Brown
And how can you not love England's smallest city, with this view on one side ... 
... and this on the other? 
We were headed for the poetry judging at the Bishop's Palace, as my poem 'Mr Cowper's Hares' was slugging it out with the other shortlisted poems for one of the prizes on offer. 
I've a soft spot for the Wells Festival of Literature poetry competition because back in 2010, my poem 'Coleridge Changes his Library Books' took first prize. It was this that prompted me to stick my head above the parapet and start going to open mics and entering more competitions - which in turn led to a publishing deal for my poems and my novel, and the making of so many friends in the poetry community.
As it is, 'Mr Cowper's Hares' put up a good fight and came away with the Hilly Cansdale prize for local poets in their paws. 
I could have done without the dog getting down and dirty in the mud ... but he wouldn't be Ted and Weston wouldn't be Weston without it.
Pat Simmons
