Little Mountain Readings

I am incredibly excited to be launching the first Little Mountain Readings (LMR) this weekend, in partnership with South Coast Writers Centre and Sturt, supported by Arts NSW. LMR will be a regular poetry event in Mittagong.

The first LMR will take place this Saturday, November 30th, at Sturt Cottage, 6-9pm.

The event will combine poetry with the romantic atmosphere of the cottage, where writers and literary enthusiasts can relax with a glass of wine, canapes and music.

Local poets Ken Challenor, Kerry Miller and Monica Markovina, as well as acclaimed writer Mark Tredinnick will give poetry readings on the night, followed by an open mic session.

Tickets are $25, or $15 for SCWC members and friends of Sturt. For bookings, please contact the South Coast Writers Centre here or call (02) 4228 0151.

Poetry Open Mic - 24th November

 As I near the end of my cafe poet residency with Australian Poetry I would like to thank Gilbert's of Mittagong and Australian Poetry for helping me to establish this residency and for supporting me throughout.

Rhiannon Hall - Poet

I would also like to thank all those who came to talk about poetry with me and that attended one of my events, particularly thank you to Anna Kerdijk Nicholson and Mark Tredinnick for attending round table discussions about their poetry.

Peter Carmody - Sound Tech

On Saturday the 24th of November Susan Pearce and Peter Carmody from Carmody Out of Ireland met me at Gilbert's of Mittagong for the last of my poetry open mics. Susan and Peter have been amazing during my residency, lending me a PA system and setting it up for me. It has also been a pleasure to hear Susan's poetry. Susan's poetry is an observation of the culture and people that surround her and includes some fabulous lines, such as: "...an upside down view of the world..." (from a poem about taking her cat to the preschool she teaches at) and "...black is the... chemical smell of newly laid tarmac..." (in a poem that describes colours to someone who is blind). 

Susan Pearce - Poet

Treva Taylor - Poet

All the way from Wollongong, Treva Taylor from the South Coast Writers Centre, made a trip to Mittagong to entertain and challenge us with his poetry, that ranged from funny poems about mobile phones to emotional poems about poverty, war and the death of a child. Thank you Treva for making the drive and inspiring us with lines like, "...cast iron around his head..." and "...my eyes are watching the flow of electrons...".

Jared Camilleri - Poet

Repeat offender Jared Camilleri, again surprised us with his poetic skill. Jared's works have a depth to them that is awe inspiring for me. Congratulations Jared for your recent poetry reading on the local radio and good luck for your future publications.

Gregory Tome - Poet

Gregory Tome's poetry is always well crafted. Thank you Greg for joining me on many of my Fridays at the cafe to talk about poetry and for attending so many of my cafe poet events. I hope to see some of the poems that Greg read on Saturday in publication soon. From a poem about a woman pegging out clothes to a poem about a woman handing out potatoes at Auschwitz Greg captures small actions in such delicate detail.

Lorne Johnson - Poet

It was so exciting to have so many promising emerging poets at this event, including Lorne Johnson. Lorne has been generously offering me advice on my poetry and publishing opportunities, drawing my attention to a new Perth magazine called Regime. Lorne has been published in various places, including Meanjin, Regime, Rabbit and the Red Room Company's phone app The Disappearing. I especially enjoyed Lorne's poem about artist Adam Cullen. It has been a treat to meet you Lorne.

John Brown - Poet

Thank you to John Brown for capturing this event with your photography expertise. It was brilliant to hear John read some of his own poetry this time around. For someone who has not been writing for long John has a skill for words, capturing everyday life in his writing. An example of John's craft can be found in this line, "...brotherhood unspoken, but lived...".

Kerry Miller - Poet

Kerry Miller's poetry is often philosophical and always captures an interesting and well thought out concept. At the open mic Kerry read an anti-Pastoral poem with some harrowing lines, such as, "...skeletons of drowned trees..." and "...in a bowl of liquid sky...". 'Liquid sky', what a beautiful description of rain and flood. Although the image 'liquid sky' may be beautiful the reality of flood, as dangerous and destructive, is also conveyed in Kerry's poem in the words 'skeletons' and 'bowl'. Nothing can escape the effects of flood, everything is caught in the 'bowl'.

Ceinwen Hall - Artist

Thank you to my sister, Ceinwen, for joining us, supporting us and for reading out one of our Dad's, Phillip Hall, poems.

Thank you to the South Coast Writers Centre, HighlandFM, Highlife, and Highlands Post for their support, advertising my residency and events.

Poetry Open Mic

"Poetry begins in reading" - John Tranter
 

All enthralled by Kerry Miller's poetry
 

As cafe poet at Gilbert's of Mittagong, I have just held my fist poetry open mic today. It was a great day, with good food as always. Thank you to all of the staff for being so supportive of my residency and of poetry.

Susan Pearce dazzles us all with her talent
 

Everyone in the cafe today was dazzled by Jared Camilleri, Kerry Miller and Susan Pearce's poetry.

 

"A poem is something that the heart says to the mind, says to the body - poetry is an embodiment" - Mark Tredinnick
 

Rhiannon Hall reading a poem at Gilbert's of Mittagong

Thank you to Peter Carmody for organising a sound system for me.

"Poetry is a language awake to its connections" - Jane Hirshfield
 

Deeply engrossed in Jared Camilleri's poem

Thank you John Brown for taking photos of the event.

I hope to see more poets at my next open mic on the 24th of November. Here's a great blog post by Pip Smith about reading poetry out loud.