The Jericho Poets go from strength to strength. This reading, held within the delightful surroundings of the exquisite Art Jericho gallery, was the fourth I have attended. Three were extremely good. This was excellent. Their success is as much down to presentation as it is to the poems. Each poet chooses four or five examples of their work which they introduce and read. The readers mix the thought-provoking with sophisticated humour. The variety of styles is a delight to the ear.
John Ellinger appropriately introduced his mini-anthology with poems about painting. "People like paths must reach their vanishing point" His provocative ideas gave us much to ponder. He was followed by Paulette Rae who began with a haunting elegy to a dance teacher she had recently lost. Her resonant reading was spellbinding. Paulette's verses are extremely short; "I blur in his memories, Lose the thin layer of silver salts to the Muddy brown of irises …", David Olsen read from his most recently published volume. 'Summer rain' recalled loss - "We never thought we'd have to go without" speaking to very current anxiety. In 'Homecoming' he suggests homes live on in us and included lines like -"Once upon a fairy tale time, I had no fear of falling." His work rewards many readings. He ended with the humorous "A Poet's Night Out", an easy link to the newest member of the group, Jennifer McGowan. She started by reading a extremely funny, though irreverent, reflection by one of Odysseus' sailors - ' Bearing Witness' "Damn - we were hungry after a year of acorns!" Her classical allusions are contrasted by the topical language of her work. She carries the depth with the lightest of touches. Her performance was dramatic and effervescent.
In the second half Simon Altmann, a scientist by profession, asked the great questions of time and space and the poet's question - "What makes humans different?" His allusion to Kafka's Metamorphosis ending with the wonderfully ambiguous "That is no cricket"! His work resonated in very contrasting style to Olsen's themes of loss in "Unrequited love" - " .. and only the rain answered.". Caroline Ashley followed. Her unique, flesh tingling reading was sensuous and erotic. Love, longing and feeling pervade. In 'Bittersweet' … "Can I help you? She says sweetly… Then, sweeter still, Do I know you?" Her lines caress almost tangibly. ... "Together, forever in the prison of my dreams". Michael Swann was the group's 'big finish'. He announced that you need someone to listen to at the end of a poetry reading session, who demands no concentration. His latest published collection is very funny and the audience responded with belly laughs. But Swann is no Pam Ayres; his verses creep around in your mind long afterwards and strike at unguarded times with sharpened poignancy. His humour is immersed in sagacity. The title poem 'The Shapes of Things' concluded the evening with the thought of Rembrandt as an old and spent force drawing a perfect circle on his last day of life.
The poets had a very small, but appreciative audience for this excellent evening of well-selected poetry. They deserve more bums on seats. I commend them to anyone who wants to be abreast of the best of what is currently being written in Oxford.
John Ellinger appropriately introduced his mini-anthology with poems about painting. "People like paths must reach their vanishing point" His provocative ideas gave us much to ponder. He was followed by Paulette Rae who began with a haunting elegy to a dance teacher she had recently lost. Her resonant reading was spellbinding. Paulette's verses are extremely short; "I blur in his memories, Lose the thin layer of silver salts to the Muddy brown of irises …", David Olsen read from his most recently published volume. 'Summer rain' recalled loss - "We never thought we'd have to go without" speaking to very current anxiety. In 'Homecoming' he suggests homes live on in us and included lines like -"Once upon a fairy tale time, I had no fear of falling." His work rewards many readings. He ended with the humorous "A Poet's Night Out", an easy link to the newest member of the group, Jennifer McGowan. She started by reading a extremely funny, though irreverent, reflection by one of Odysseus' sailors - ' Bearing Witness' "Damn - we were hungry after a year of acorns!" Her classical allusions are contrasted by the topical language of her work. She carries the depth with the lightest of touches. Her performance was dramatic and effervescent.
In the second half Simon Altmann, a scientist by profession, asked the great questions of time and space and the poet's question - "What makes humans different?" His allusion to Kafka's Metamorphosis ending with the wonderfully ambiguous "That is no cricket"! His work resonated in very contrasting style to Olsen's themes of loss in "Unrequited love" - " .. and only the rain answered.". Caroline Ashley followed. Her unique, flesh tingling reading was sensuous and erotic. Love, longing and feeling pervade. In 'Bittersweet' … "Can I help you? She says sweetly… Then, sweeter still, Do I know you?" Her lines caress almost tangibly. ... "Together, forever in the prison of my dreams". Michael Swann was the group's 'big finish'. He announced that you need someone to listen to at the end of a poetry reading session, who demands no concentration. His latest published collection is very funny and the audience responded with belly laughs. But Swann is no Pam Ayres; his verses creep around in your mind long afterwards and strike at unguarded times with sharpened poignancy. His humour is immersed in sagacity. The title poem 'The Shapes of Things' concluded the evening with the thought of Rembrandt as an old and spent force drawing a perfect circle on his last day of life.
The poets had a very small, but appreciative audience for this excellent evening of well-selected poetry. They deserve more bums on seats. I commend them to anyone who wants to be abreast of the best of what is currently being written in Oxford.