National Poetry Day: Words For Breakfast and Tongue Fu

National Poetry Day: Words For Breakfast and Tongue Fu

09 October, 2009
by: Lowri

This is the first National Poetry Day I have officially celebrated. Back in the days of yore my wonderful English teacher Mr Connell spent the day scrawling epitaphs onto a series of giant pads he had erected in the school hall. That made a mark on me. But since then the day seems to have passed me by – until now.

The Poetry Breakfast organised by Poet In The City is heavenly. Set high in an office space in St Pauls, Polly Clark reads from her three collections; 'Farewell My Lovely', 'Kiss' and 'Take Me With You'. It's barely 8am, and the room is full mainly of women; excited, bright eyed women who are clearly delighted to be out of bed and giving audience to such a wonderful poet. Her work is piercing, touching; with a darkness initially hidden by her quirky turn of phrase.

'A face like a bag full of facts' describes the detective in her latest collection – inspired by Raymond Chandler's work. 'Elvis The Performing Octopus' stays with me all day: a true story about a circus performer who kills himself.

('might say that a story that ends in the wrong place
always ends like this -
fabulous in an empty room')

Re-reading it back at my desk I realise the distinction between poems written to be read and those written to be performed. Polly Clark's are, to me, the former. Their depth requires consideration – and is sometimes missed as they wash over you when you hear them.

Caroline Bird on the other hand - one of the poets at Tongue Fu - exemplifies the latter. Her style is fierce, funny, poignant; brimming with the wit and sass of a confident woman. Like a lot of the young poets coming through, her poems have an easily accessed narrative – making them perfect for the stage. Her first: 'Wednesday stole my Tuesday' is funny and brilliant, referencing the way that days 'avalanche' just when you're beginning to get the hang of them.

(Sorry if i'm misquoting you Caroline) 'All I found were a load of green Fridays from Thailand – I took a couple of those for the pain.'

Tongue Fu at Rich Mix is an event with a different approach to poetry. They have a house band – amazingly talented musicians all (double bass, drums and keys) - who accompany the poets, adding atmosphere, pace and funk. They are - sometimes comically – directed by the poets before each performance.  Requests include 'gritty funk' 'mellow hip hop', 'abstract jazz'. It takes amazing skill and deftness of touch to entirely take your cues from a performer whose work you've never heard.

The hosts Chris 'Ventriloquist' Redmond and Shane Solanki (aka Last Mango In Paris) have constructed an amazing line-up, worthy, in my opinion, of far more than the £5 ticket fee. Performances range from the comic pantomime by 'a couple of German rappers from the future....' (Voodoo 4) to 15 year old poet Manik (Malik Marland) - an artist already shining with brilliance. His 'Piscies' is startlingly mature.

'Your hands are soft but gone....you're the ocean...you're drowning me.'

He is amongst the gaggle of extremely young poets who are sitting at the front of the stage, presenting a chuckling united force. Straight from the schoolyard to the stage, and they are all unbelievable.  Jodi Anne Bickley is plucked fresh from winning the 2009 Camden Roundhouse Poetry Slam (her third ever gig). Her understated poem about 'thinking your phone is ringing but it's in your head' compares the object of her desires to a list of great things:

'You're better than the drop in Skream's version of 'In For The Kill'....(but not as good as Danny from CSI)'

Alex Gwyther, a finalist, is another incredibly talented young poet with a tumbling, urbane style. The music leads - the male poets at least - over the (albeit small) bridge from spoken word into rapping. Alex's flow is amazing; you get the feeling of the next line before it's passed his lips.

Inua Ellams really makes the most of the band – especially in his impressive final piece 'Lovers, Liars, Conjurers and Thieves' ('sitting at a laptop screen, trying to let my fingers know what my heart means').

Rapper, poet, musician Dizraeli is frontman of Bad Science and Mud Sun as well as being Radio 4 Poetry Slam winner. His work is incisive and often dark, cutting brutally to the heart of the matter with a directness which gives me goose bumps. His poem about the women of Iran living half lives with limited freedom is so effective, with its repeated comment:

'I don't think Mohammed would have wanted this. I don't think this is what the Prophet would have wanted.'

But it's his closing poem 'Maria' which stays with me - prickling my skin even now - with its tragic narrative and haunting ditty:

'Won't you follow me? To find a space a little closer to the sea? To float away away away.
Today today.

Everything must die, no sooner dry then we are taken by the tide
And float away away away

So very little time to play.'

Lowri Clarke


Tongue Fu is a bi-monthly event. If you have any sense at all you'll check it out. For details of the next edition click here.

To view all London Poetry click here.
For things to do in London click here.

Lowri