Via reading about the Canadian poet Christian Bok, I found about the mysterious world of ‘Pataphysics. This is from the Wikipedia entry: ‘Pataphysics (French: ‘Pataphysique), a term coined by French writer Alfred Jarry (1873 – 1907), is a philosophy or pseudophilosophy dedicated to studying what lies beyond the realm of metaphysics. It is a parody ofContinue reading “Gettin’ ‘Pataphysical”
Tag Archives: Bishopsgate
Blood, Sweat, Tears and Poetry
Today I spent a couple of hours at the Bishopsgate Institute being interviewed for BBC Radio 3 by Patience Agbabi and her producer Simon Evans. It’s for a programme called ‘Blood, Sweat, Tears and Poetry’, broadcast for National Poetry Day on 9th October at 11.30am. This year’s theme is ‘Work’ so they’ve been interviewing poetsContinue reading “Blood, Sweat, Tears and Poetry”
Litvinoff at Guardian
Very interesting article at Guardian Online about legendary East End Jewish writer Emanuel Litvinoff. Below is a clip of me reading a poem, Improve Yourself, at Bishopsgate Institute. The poem is based on an extract of prose from Litvinoff’s Journeys Through A Small Planet (1972; recently republished as a Penguin Classic).
Newborn
Being but men, we walked into the trees Afraid, letting our syllables be soft For fear of waking the rooks, For fear of coming Noiselessly into a world of wings and cries. Dylan Thomas Birth is a kind of entrance. But how fast the river seems. Faces turn to greet the moon. You walkContinue reading “Newborn”
New Bishopsgate poems online
A selection of poems written during my residency at Bishopsgate Institute are currently on display in the building. They are also online here, with explanatory notes. The poems are: The Archive Wake Up Lazarus The Coder Queer things in Egypt The Blackpool Mile Mr Bradlaugh’s Fishing Tackle Bishopsgate, in elevation Bishopsgate, from Bishops Square MrContinue reading “New Bishopsgate poems online”
Featured in the East London Advertiser
Fame at last! The East London Advertiser have published today a full-page article about my residency at the Bishopsgate Institute. The article, by Victoria Huntley, includes two poems, ‘The Archive’ and ‘Queer Things in Egypt’. Here’s the clipping (also online at the Advertiser’s website). Snappy title, eh?
“Black Panther” and Ackerman’s Microcosm, &c.
Today was a good day. First, a meeting with the lovely Will Carr, Director of The Poetry School. Swanky little office in Lambeth Walk, shared with Poetry London (for whom I’ve just written three reviews) and two doors down from Spread the Word. A literary enclave, sort of. Will recently moved down to LondonContinue reading ““Black Panther” and Ackerman’s Microcosm, &c.”
Tom Chivers 