I am back home from the luxury and lazy days of rural France, the total madness of the Fringe and the subsequent onslaught of Covid that both Paula and I suffered, to greet you all and to record the poems you read and shared over the last two months. I will do it as one piece if that's ok. Thanks to Lynn for sending me the record for August and thanks to Ralph of whom Lynn wrirites, 'Ralph stepped up and somehow managed to keep us all in order.' It would be kind of you Ralph to let me know how you did it!

July

I read from a newly published pamphlet from Candlestick Press on. the subject of Cathedrals

Bach at St. Davids by Gillian Clarke and Cathedral Builders by John Ormond. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ormond

Jane read The Wonderbra Song and Oh I Wish I'd Looked After My Teeth both by Pam Ayers

Carol read The Pylons by Stephen Spender and Dark Brocade by Simon Armitage

Chris read The More Loving Ones by WH Auden and Waving At Trains by Rogr McGough

Irene read Love in the Age of Google by Brian Bilston and Mana of the Sea by DH Lawrence

Sue L read The Horse That Had A Flat Tyre by Richard Brautigan and Desiderata by Max Ehrmann

Ralph read The Wise King by Kahil Gibran and Crossing The Bar by Tennyson

Sue J read The Pig by Anon and The Common Cormorant by Christopher Isherwood

Lynn read Brief Reflection On Cats Growing in Trees by Miroslav Holub and With Only One Life by Marin Sorescu

Dave read Poetry arrived, er.........well.........by David Harmer and Sleepers by Victor Hudson who is DAVE!!!!!

Catherine read The Tuft of Flowers by Robert Frost and Moor by Kathleen Jamie

Here is Dave's excellent poem

Sleepers

It is almost dawn

On the day you will be born

The day when you, rather reluctantly,

ill end your nine month slumber

and enter this waiting world.

We sit by the phone waiting,

but it,like you, sleeps on.

We, who want to sleep,

sit in the morning murk

drinking tasteless tea

in a room for tradesmen and travellers

trying,by force of will,

to wake the phone and make it ring.

But it maintains its dormant state.

Please bring the word,

then the completely exhausted,

the merely tired,

the wanderers and worriers,

can sleep contentedly.

Then the phone awakes, the call's been made,

your sleep is done, you have arrived

and through the ether we hear your early cries,.

Your mother sounds contented,

Father's head is in the skies.

So welcome, three times welcome

Your birth brings joy to all our lives.

Victor Hudson

Thank you Dave, a really moving poem which also touches on experiences many have shared

August

Ralph read Ulysses by Tennyson and On Marriage by Kahlil Gibran

Lynn read Brief Reflections on Accuracy by Miroslav Holub and Proper Names by Marin Sorescu

Sue read To Fame by RD Blackmore and Poetry arrived by me

Catherine read Ashes by Michael Longley and The World is Too Much With Us by Wordworth

Carol read ode to a Nightingale by Keats and Cuppa by Brian Bilston

Chris read Sing a Song of Yorkshire by Christine Bingham and Eden Rock by Charles Causley

Jane read An Ode to Hay Fever by Chris Burden and A Tale f Two Settees by Pam Ayers

It sounds like I missed a really interesting meeting. And AS EVER, thank you all for discovering modern poetry, old poetry, funny poetry, serious and reflective poetry, Oh I Could Go On and On and On poetry. AND, AS EVER, poetry new and fresh to me and to us all.

See you sooon

David