A few years ago (too many to be able to track down the source again, curses!) I came across a reference to writing a decent poem essentially coming down to “a good first line, plus hard work”. An interesting assertion, and the focus of today’s waffle. Lets begin with some definitions, courtesy of Wikipedia: “Incipit” is a Latin word meaning …
And Isabelle Hudson makes three
To prove that deaths are of a jamais deux sans trois persuasion, I’ve just heard of another loss to the Canterbury poetry community – the seemingly indomitable Isabelle Hudson died on Saturday (May 30), at the ripe old age of 94. I didn’t know Isabelle well, but I always enjoyed talking with her. She loved poetry, and …
In memory of John O’Connor
We’ve lost another one. John O’Connor died suddenly last Tuesday (May 12th), aged 66. And there is a terrible irony here – he was Helen Bacand’s first publisher, as well as a longtime friend and mentor. John was a huge part of the Canterbury poetry scene, especially haiku. He was one of the first people in this …
“Loss” by Helen Bascand
Loss It takes years to understand how thought reached out, pulled down the blind, folded the sheets, stacked them with lavender in some spare cupboard. You are not the only bereft, they say. I do not want unused sheets, closed doors, last year’s scented bags that smell of dust. I do not want the husk …
In memory of Helen Bascand
This morning I’ve just found out that yet another person I loved has died – the poet Helen Bascand, two days ago (April 27th). She was 86. I’m going to try to keep it together enough to make this a seemly obituary, but it’s going to be a bit of a struggle. Helen was my writing partner …
A Dark Feathered Art 