Swan Song Performance (I think)

I had some blog glitches to iron out here, in the process of giving it all a simpler and more streamlined look. So I'm late-ish to post that back in August I was featured at our local performance event, Poets Out Loud – for my final occasion, I believe, though I didn't tell people that on the night.

One of two features, I was billed as 'local legend'. (*Big grin.* I love that!) 

I was first up; then there was the Open Section; then we heard from the other (visiting) featured reader, the wonderful Es Foong aka Waffle Iron Girl, from Naarm (Melbourne) – one of my old home towns in earlier days. (And the program always finishes with a 'slam', with prizes and all.)

Es was a joy listen to, and to meet. I bought her book, which is a treat in all sorts of ways – and you can too, by clicking the link above on her name. 

Astonishing poetry! (When were you last astonished by a poem?)

I didn't have for-sale copies of my own latest, the collaboration Paper Birds (see earlier posts, via index in left side column) as it was published in America. (You can buy it in Australia too, only not from me; see BUY MY BOOKS at top of screen).

Because it was a feature – i.e. I wasn't just popping up to do one poem in the Open Section – I performed seated for the only time in my life. I have mobility issues these days (at nearly 86 years old) and thought that would be a better look than desperately clutching the mic stand in order to stay upright. When we booked the performance, some months previously, I hadn't realised it would be like this.

It still worked all right. I've noticed that audiences love it when I totter on stage, poor decrepit old thing, then open my mouth and go 'POW!' After this performance, Sarah, who runs Poets Out Loud, said to me privately, 'I love to watch everyone suddenly sit up and take notice when you start to speak.' (I love it too.) However, I decided this would be a good time to bow out gracefully from my long career in public performance. I might still 'pop up in the open section' now and then, we'll see; but no more features.  

I'm not retiring from poetry, however. I'm still writing it, still blogging it, still participating in online poetry groups on facebook, still Coordinator of the international blogging community Poets and Storytellers United ... 

Also I'm well into the first draft of my next memoir, about the psychic and magical aspects of my life. For all you who have been eagerly awaiting, it'll be a while yet, but it IS happening.

I've been quiet on Instagram lately, with the memoir taking precedence, but will see about making some more poetry videos soon. Or just posting the text of some shorter pieces.  

Meanwhile, stay tuned. In my next post I'll share some poems which the crowd loved at my last performance.