Launching Linda Lamus's A Crater the Size of Calcutta, 30 October 2015

It was a splendid evening on Friday, 30 October at the Boston Tea Party on Park Street in Bristol. Many of Linda's friends and family came to celebrate the publication of her collection, A Crater the Size of Calcutta, by Mulfran Books, and ten of us read a poem each. Thanks to Karen Hoy for these photos.

 Dikra Ridha reads "Ghazal."

 

John Terry gave a wonderfully exuberant performance of "Signor Floretto's Italian Flea Circus."

A full room, with some audience members following along in their copies of the book.

 Madeline Gittus reads the title poem.

There will be a second launch of the book in Cardiff on Thursday, 5 November as part of the First Thursday series at Chapter Arts Centre. 

The roll begins...

...for those trying a poem a day for National Poetry Month--come one, come all!

1. me

2. Simon Reynolds, Bath Spa University

3. Jenny Martin, Bath Spa University

4. Alia Brinkman, Bath Spa University

5. James Evans, Bath Spa University

6. Cat Conway, London

7. Nik Jones

8. Don Kingfisher Campbell, California

9. Anonymous (who are you?)

10. Zoe Deleuil, London

11. Alan Summers, Bradford on Avon

12. GB (?)

13. Barbara, Victoria, Canada

14. Barbara Marsh, London

15. Karen Hoy, Bradford on Avon

That's the start--I'm sure there'll be more to come. I better go write my poem for today!

Compensations

On Halloween I received my settlement cheque--connections, anyone?--and since then I've been buying things to improve my day to day life, including a new, powerful eco-radiator for my used-to-be-cold flat, new glasses, membership in the university teachers' union (which I'd been wanting since I began at Bath Spa), a microwave, Circulon 2 saucepans to complete my cookware collection (actually my first settlement purchase--I bet you didn't think I was that domestic), etc., as well as taking out to dinner those who stood by me through the injury itself--Matt (and so I need to treat Claire soon, too)--as well as friends who supported me through the suit &c., such as Alan Summers and Karen Hoy.

I'd still rather have my left jaw normal, but in lieu of that, I'm enjoying a sense of the improved ease and quality of my everyday life. That eco-radiator has, at long last, made it comfortable to be in my bakehouse flat in cold weather, and that truly makes each day better. I also decided for my trip to Berlin this weekend for the Poetry Hearings Festival to forego Easyjet for an airline that would neither try to sell to me throughout the flight nor nickel-and-dime me for such things as hold luggage, etc.

Small pleasures.