We had a rollicking good night at the Bards of New Brighton – the independent open floor poetry session that’s been going for two years.

As founder and MC, it was up to me to open our second anniversary proceedings on Easter Monday, 13 April, with ‘Brave Little Poets – my tribute to all versifiers.
Here’s the last verse of it…
“Stay with us laudable laureate,
You’re hottest debate’s own thermostat;
Deepest thoughts you enunciate;
You’re popular culture’s counterweight.
You have the power to liberate.”

There were two newbies present on the night – Derek and Bernie – performing their stuff for the first time. Well done, lads, and Derek got a good few laughs with his account of courtship and sexual frustration in the 1950s.

Pete Crompton – at the Bards for the first time – drew gasps of admiration with his eloquent evocation of a stay in a mental hospital, which included the plea “don’t be so mean with the Dopamine” and that memorable prhase about a “nurses’ bitch bark’”.

Later, Pete had ‘em laughing out loud with his poem about all the things in life that wind him up.

The atheist, libertarian poet Malpoet had penned a piece specifically about the Bards, referencing my promise that there would be cake and a “coachload of fashion models from Rock Ferry” to help us celebrate our two years of monthly sessions.

Here’s part of what Malpoet performed…
“I cast aside the tainted cake
disdain the tarty bait.
The rapier pen of godlessness
writes dagger pointed verse
Malpoet proud knows what is what
and slays the popish plot.”

There were ripostes of a sort from our splendid Catholic poets, regulars Kevin and Alex, and a brilliant performance in Middle English from regular Tim Kingham, a keeper of the Cheshire culture and conscience.

Meanwhile, our Celtic firecracker Ieuan Cilgwri made a welcome return, with new material - including "Wild Magic", a moving lament to a childhood friendship and what happened later to those special pals, including the one who descended into (I think) drug abuse.

John Gorman and Sue were back at the Bards, and on fizzing form with a comedic two-header that was all knowing innocence but nevertheless also included the concept of the “poet taster” and the phrase “impossibly anal”.

Well, there would be titters round the room. We are a Carry On film nation, after all, are we not?

John G (a member of The Scaffold in the 1960s and a regular face of TV show Tiswas) appealed for local poets to attend and recite at the Secret Gardens open day in Oxton Village (the posh bit – the ONLY posh bit – of Birkenhead) on Sunday 10 May.

Said John: “It would be a blow for poetry to flood the gardens with as many Secret Poets as can be mustered.”

If you would like to perform at the Oxton Secret Gardens then please let John know ASAP. His email is johnhgorman@ntlworld.com

I’ve run out of steam now with my review of the Bards. But thanks must also be recorded to Frankie, Theresa, Martin, Corky, Al, Scubadiver and everyone else who entertained / inspired us. It was a big meeting, the room was full, I can't remember everyone.

But I must finish with a special thanks to a young lad called John who read us a poignant poem about his grandmother that left most of the Bards moist-eyed by the end.

- The Bards of New Brighton meets every second Monday at the month in the handsome and ancient Magazine pub on the southern foreshore of the Mersey estuary in New Brighton.

Meanwhile, our Celtic firecracker Ieuan Cilgwri made a welcome return, with new material - including "Wild Magic", a moving lament to a childhood friendship and what happened later to those special pals, including the one who descended into (I think) drug abuse.


I really enjoyed Ieuans poem.


Thanks Steve this was a wild and fun night.
Great great aftershow party
one of those nights that was a classic, great people, all into partying afterwards, loved that!!!!


sod going to bed.