LOOSE MUSE, ANGEL POETRY & POETRY COMP.

Hi there,

 

I’ve been having real trouble with my computer/server recently…not sure what’s wrong, but having done a mail out at the beginning of the week, the e’s I sent to lots of you just came bouncing straight back, which is both irritating and confusing.  So I’m sending the whole thing again, in the hope that this time whatever was wrong has righted itself, and you do all get the information this time. Anyway, as I wrote before, in October I have two amazing gigs, and information about a poetry competition that I’m helping to organize.

 

On Wednesday 11^th October, I have LOOSE MUSE, a  monthly event for women writers of all genres on Wednesday, 8.00-10.00 p.m @ The Poetry Café, 22 Betterton Street, London WC2 (Covent Garden tube) £5.00/£3.00 concs.  The two featured writers this month are poet and stand-up Katie Southall, balancing her poignant, and perceptive poetry with razor-sharp wit, and playwright Sarah-Jane O’Neill sharing the pro’s and con’s of staging short plays and how this can be combined with other forms of writing.  Plus open mike readings from the floor to share and explore work - sign up for open mike 7.30-8.00 p.m.

 

On Thursday 12^th October  there is ANGEL POETRY, a free event @  Borders Bookstore, N1 Centre, 26 Parkfield Street, London N1 (the shopping mall opposite Angel tube),at 6.45-8.15 p.m.   As well as the open mike floor spots (sign up 6.30-6.45 p.m.) this month I have a real feast of featured poets – Nii Ayikwei Parkes, international poet, writer and publisher bringing his own brand of passion, Jacob Sam-La Rose, promoter, writer and brilliant Caribbean  spoken word performer, and Jessica York, dazzling Ugandan poet with a raft of words to challenge the mundane PLUS Special Guest Poet – Oystein Wingaard Wolf flying in from Norway to join us at Angel Poetry.    

 

As always, do come along and share the passion and the joy.  It would be wonderful to see you at either of these events. 

 

And finally, I’m working with Prospect Burma to run the ‘ROAD to FREEDOM’, an international poetry competition, open to all poets. Burma is now one of the poorest countries in the world, its people one of the most oppressed. This year alone, 4 Burmese writers were sentenced to 7-19 years in prison for publishing a book of poetry, and their democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi (The Lady) has been under house arrest for 11 of the past 17 years.  This poetry competition is dedicated to her and to all writers silenced by brutal regimes. All proceeds go to Prospect Burma www.prospectburma.org Registered Charity No: 802615

 

1^st prize - £200, 2^nd prize - £50, 3^rd prize - £25 + 6 ‘Highly Recommended’ get a selection of books. The ‘Road to Freedom’ Poetry Competition is open to anyone, anywhere. All poems should be written on the central theme of Freedom, either in Burma, or elsewhere where liberty is no longer part of the human equation.  Rules as follows:

-Each poem should be no longer than 40 lines, and must be typed on one side of A4.

-There is no limit on the number of poems submitted by each entrant. Each poem must be typed on a separate A4 sheet, and will be judged separately.

-All entries must be written in English and be the original, unpublished work of the entrant.

-Entry fee £5 (US$9.50) for first poem and £3 (US$5.50) for each additional poem.  Payment for overseas entries must be made by credit card. Please give name of credit card, account no., expiry date, + signature.

-Cheques/money orders should be payable to Prospect Burma, and sent with your poem(s). Entries received without accompanying payment will not be deemed eligible.

-Closing date for SATURDAY 14^TH OCTOBER, 2006. (Tues. 17^th Oct. at the latest)..   

-Winners will be notified in early November, receive a copy of the ‘Road to Freedom’ anthology, & can read their poem at the anthology book launch at a venue to be announced in late November.

 

Judges:   i) Agnes Meadows – International Poet, Host various poetry events in London.

ii) James Byrne – Poet, and editor of The Wolf Poetry magazine  iii) Nii Parkes – Poet, editor of X-bout International Poetry Magazine, & Director of Waterways Publishing, iv) Niall O’Sullivan – International Poet, Host of two leading poetry events in central London, and v) Patricia Herbert – Vice Chairman of Prospect Burma.  

 

All entries must be marked ‘Road to Freedom’ Poetry Competition to: Agnes Meadows - Prospect Burma, c/o Porter’s Lodge, Rivermead Court, Ranelagh Gardens, London SW6 3SE. 

 

I know the deadline is very close, but that shouldn’t prevent you from entering. It’s a fantastic opportunity to support an excellent charity and the people of Burma, so please, please, please enter the competition, and pass on the information to any poet you know who might be interested.  For more information  contact me agnesmorgn@aol.com or leave a message on 020-7833-5828 (my mobile’s still dead).

 

Love always,

 

AGNES