The well-heeled county of Surrey is, it has to be said, somewhat of a desert for open mic poetry. But there is at least one place where the flag still defiantly flutters. The 1000 Monkeys, run by Janice Windle and Donall Dempsey at the Keystone pub in Guildford, maintains the kind of grassroots poetry traditions of which Write Out Loud strongly approves. Our new chief executive, Steve Pottinger, has read there on more than one occasion. And it’s my local open mic as well.

Until a few months ago Jan and Donall ran two monthly poetry nights in Guildford, before the Bar Des Arts closed its doors to poetry and became just another cocktail bar. So now they have hunkered down at the Keystone with a loyal following, and recently have been encouraging some of their staunchest regulars to spread their wings with 20-minute feature slots.  

In January it was the turn of Eddie Chauncy, with his crafted, delicate sonnets. On Monday night Kyle McHale, pictured, a lyrical poet from the US currently resident here, was in the spotlight. The theme, a combination of Burns night just gone and Valentine’s Day to come, was not compulsory, but Irishman Donall encouraged the Scottish element by donning a kilt and reciting some Burns himself. Janice also delivered some Burns and some poetry of her own, and from the floor Hilbre Watts popped up at regular intervals to supply more examples of the Scottish bard’s wit and wisdom.

Lest he be accused of lack of patriotism, Donall also sang an Irish folk ballad, The Curragh of Kildare, which is also the land from where he hails, as well as reading a moving poem about the loss of a child. He then introduced Monkeys and Write Out Loud regular Ray Pool, who demonstrated his nimble versatility with a ballad about a miller’s daughter, ‘On The Millpond Bridge’, and two poems that he has blogged on Write Out Loud, ‘Psychic Vison’, and the enjoyably knockabout ‘That Was The Seventies’, the latter delivered in one of his speciality northern voices.  

Other open micers included Rochelle Parker, whose readings took in a paean to the down-to-earth qualities of the buddleia; Michael Cutchey, whose poems have such as ‘The Rust God’ have a religious tone and broad sweep; and Mancunian Jim Carter. Jim, in a nod to those romantics in the audience read a love poem by Leonard Cohen, before dispelling such sentiments with the heartfelt ‘These Are the Things that Fuck My head’, including “repeats of repeats of repeats of repeats” and “the thought of President Donald Trump”.  Karen Izod’s thoughtful poems included one about conscientious objectors, another about women meeting to stitch together at Gladstone’s library in Cheshire, and the sly ‘Being Prepared’, about a little foil packet that she always carried in her handbag. It is an English breakfast tea bag, of course. Other regulars who read on Monday were Alex Twyman and Alex de Suys. 

Eddie Chauncy’s poems included the seductive ‘I’m Not Allowed You’, and another striking one about comparing two coins showing younger and older versions of the Queen, the “early beauty” and the “wise old lady”.

Both Eddie and featured poet Kyle McHale were described as shy and retiring by Donall Dempsey when they first appeared on the Monkeys’ radar, and he marvelled at how they had changed and grown in confidence after giving regular readings. Kyle McHale’s poetry is engaging and lyrical. He is concerned with the great outdoors, and in particular, fishing, and that meant poems such as ‘At The Pond’, ‘Old Pier’, and one dedicated to Ted Hughes. My favourite was ‘Between Buildings’, about the possibilities of side streets: “Being lost in Venice means anything you want it to mean.” There was also a moving poem about his father: “I have known the path trodden / through forest floor dirt / where my father has stepped.”  

Janice and Donall’s tireless enthusiasm and energy has also included the publication of three anthologies of poets who have appeared at their nights in the past, including some big names that they have lured down to Guildford. This year they are trying something different, inviting entries to an anthology competition, to be judged by poet and publisher Alwyn Marriage. Janice emphasised on Monday night that submissions could include previously published work. The deadline is 31 March.

Let’s hope they can keep the poetry flag flying in Surrey for many nights to come. Next month’s guest poet is Daniel Smith.

Greg Freeman

See more pictures