An interesting mix of poetry on a very wet night.

Cayn White did three – one about chat shows and two about burgers – the first of these a mugging by a burger king and the second about the human contents of certain burgers. All three raised a laugh from the audience.
Harry Ogden did one called ‘Battlesong’ about ‘nations everywhere in tune with perfect harmony’ and some rhymes which he said were excruciatingly bad, though I’ve heard worse; another called ’Sunami’ – it’s now a word we can’t forget’; also ‘A Walk in the Cemetery’ about friends who’ve died.
Carolina de la Cruz did two cathartic pieces: ‘Past, Present, Future’ about physical abuse which I’d heard before but still had impact, and ‘The White Lady’ about drug abuse. Both very powerful pieces.
Paul Broadhurst gave us ‘Election Near’, another about the environment and one about a stag do. Paul sells collections of his poems in aid of a local hospice, a very worthy cause.
Gregorio Rodrigo, a new face, read one on war – ‘this is a soul which is overflowing’ and another about English politics and Tony Blair’s smile. I hope we may hear some of his poems in Spanish in the future.
Paul Blackburn, the Poetry King, treated us to his shuffle poem ‘Dawn Walk Through Misty Moonlight’, ‘Change’ and ‘Joy’. All well received.
Melanie Rees read two – the first an erotic fruit market piece and the second an absolutely outstanding piece about the poet looking for inspiration called ‘Little Monsters’ I think.
I read ‘The David Miles Exhibition’, ‘Met’, ‘The Joy of Shopping’ and ‘Doty’s Mackerel’.
Tony Ryan read his well received poem about an MS sufferer ‘being in awe of courage so rare’ and the pensive ‘Dark Waters’ – ‘I was the plopped pebble whose ripples folded…’
Gordon Zola unleashed an entertaining standup routine about nursery rhyme characters and, for a change a song/poem ‘The Troubadour’s Lament’ which went down well.
Dave Morgan gave us two excellent efforts, one about football and the other a homage to Jack Kerouac.
Scott Devon did a splice of two poems about being high on poet-ry and also recited part of a Simon Armitage poem ‘Out of the Blue’ which was enjoyed. Julian did an anniversary elegy to his late father ‘go, proud Polish pilot, fly…’
and the lovely ‘If I could write like Neruda’ where we were told ‘forgetting is long / but love is eternal.’ He also finished his compering of the evening with his witty ode to the Rhubarb Triangle.

Maybe at times a little more serious or somber than usual tonight (I blame the rain) but still very enjoyable and the best poems were extremely good.

Was a really good night I thought, can't wait for the next one! All the poets were great and the atmosphere was really laid back. And I swear that room was the kind of place murder mysteries happen in!