Fire no.26

Recently I signed a contract for the on-line (at the ever excellent poetrymagazines.org.uk) publication of Fire No 26. It's nice to see the poems published again. This issue of Fire I thought was particularly strong and I was pleased to be published alongside poets such as Paul Davidson, Chris McCabe and Mario Susko. 'Like No Other' 'To A Fox' and 'Shred' were all previously unpublished poems while 'The Bath (Addendum V)' later appeared in my collection Cathedral Poems.

The Binturong Review

The Binturong Review is a new poetry magazine, co-edited by WG Find. I stumbled upon this magazine in the essential bookshop in Liverpool, News from Nowhere. I'm always pleased to see new magazines appearing. I know that Neon Highway is still available on-line, but I miss its print version.
W.G.Find tells me that a Binturong Review website is forthcoming in the new year. I for one welcome this. The edition that I picked up at News from Nowhere was packed full of decent poetry, mainly from unknowns (to me) and I look forward to seeing my work (WG Find has kindly accepted some of my work) in the next issue.
The Binturong Review costs £1 and is available in Liverpool at News from Nowhere in Bold Street.
Submissions welcome at renewbinturong@yahoo.co.uk

Poems on-line

Follow these links to view some poetry published on-line.
The fantastic resource at the Poetry Library, poetrymagazines.org.uk has the following poems on their archive:

'Little Be Cold' originally published in Orbis No.132 Spring 2005

'Like It Knows Exactly' originally published in Orbis No. 132 Spring 2005

Both of these poems originally appeared in the chapbook 'Poetry & Skin Cream' (erbacce Press, 2005).

'So Modern Everything Seems Pointless' originally published in Neon Highway No. 3 February 2003.

Music of 2006

A tradition of the music magazines of my youth (NME, Sounds and my favourite, Melody Maker) and the now more in-depth journals that I now read: Mojo and Uncut, is the end of year 'Best of' list. I have an addition to my original list, which shouldn't really be considered as I've just been put onto the CD by the Uncut 'Best of 2006' CD compilation, and my mate James, so I'll give it a mention here:
Midlake -The Trials of Van Occupanther (Bella Union)

The Music of 2006
Joanna Newsom - Ys (Drag City)
The Flaming Lips - At War with the Mystics (Warner Brothers)
Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped (Geffen)
Epic45 - Slides (Make Mine Music)
Plumbline/Roger Eno - Transparencies (Hydrogen Dukebox)
Mogwai - Mr Beast (PIAS)
July Skies - Where The Days Go (Make Mine Music)
Mojave 3 - Puzzles like You (4AD)
The Strokes - First Impressions of the Earth (Rough Trade)
Portal- Gone but Not Forgiven (Make Mine Music)
Epic45 - Drakelow EP (Make Mine Music)
Kate Bush - Aerial disc 2 (EMI)
Mogwai - Zidane (PIAS)
Beth Orton - Comfort of Strangers (Heavenly)

Englyn 2

After attending an open meeting of the Edge Hill Poetry and Poetics Research Group at Edge Hill University, with guest speaker/reader, Ian Davidson, on December 5th, I discussed the merits and difficulties of the Welsh poetry form, the englyn. Ian, who is Welsh, agreed about the difficulty of writing the englyn. I have attempted, throughout the years to write englyn, with varying levels of success. Some of these englyns have appeared in the magazine Haiku Scotland and discussing the form with the editor, Frazer Henderson, we agreed that there is nothing wrong with deviating from the strict form! Below are two of my recent englyns.

Flash of Yellow

Wrapped for quick burial flash of yellow
on wing a lightness in death
lanes split swallows fly past
as if on guard and to guide


Summer's Arc of Sun

Red brick lit from light summer's arc – of sun
rook sat on chimney stack
peaceful gaze shattered by swallow's
fighter plane attack, rook shifts

(c) Andrew Taylor 2006

Poem

A poem written for, and read at the wedding of two great friends of mine, in August 2006. The poem was first performed in the entrance hall at Storrs Hall in Windermere.

Of love and friendship
for James and Clare

This is your time
this is your place

allow yourself space and silence

red ribbon marking the start
a roof light leaf
seen through morning light

expectation through
watery eyes

just listen to the birdsong!
just look at the wildflowers!

a bouquet arcs through the air
do you remember driftwood in the fireplace
and drinking tea in the Egg café with the news?

Now go and tell the world
what the valleys already know

Sharing time on winter nights
pub back rooms mutual tales
of life its stresses and strains
unified through creativity

collective sounds beach walks
through spring sunshine
communication via technology
office blocks in Woking

to houses in Waterloo
helping with sanity
bringing Liverpool nearer
and back to life

such sweet piano chords
the melody weaves a quiet voice

across design studios friendships form
her excitement results in sleep deprivation!

Love is a splendid thing
it spreads like the supple dawn
across a Rothko horizon and a pebble
skimmed across Windermere

Love is a wonderful thing
it is a shaft of light
through stained glass it is walking
hand in hand along the shores of the lake

Love is a glorious thing
it's contained in the fabric
of memories etched in mind and
among the desk bound photographs

Love is a flower in the city
it is colour amongst the grey
it is the end of the rainbow
after walking through the dappled valley

Love is sheltering under trees
arm in arm
becalmed after a storm has passed
watching existence stirring itself

Bravery already exists in elegiac stanzas

stay proud amidst the sun
these salad days of summer
carry a blueberry breeze
stay sweet on the martini cloud

the sea at times may get rough
think of the lighthouse solid and sure
concentrate! the beam is spelling out
both your names

watching fireworks horizons ablaze
in the vineyard the grape is
reaching its ripeness

may the bluebird of happiness
be upon you both
always

(c) Andrew Taylor 2006.

erbacce # 8

erbacce #8 is out now. Available from the usual retailers. This edition features the great poetry from Ward Abel alongside an interview by Alan Corkish.
See the website for further details.

Reading

Andrew Taylor will be reading at Edge Hill University TONIGHT at the Learning Resource Centre, in celebration of the revamped library. Also appearing will be fellow members of the Edge Hill Poetry and Poetics Research Group.

erbacce # 7

erbacce # 7, editor's choice contains poetry selected by Alan Corkish and Andrew Taylor. Poets featured include:
Matt Fallaize
Dee McMahon
Ursula Hurley
Ashley Welch
Rupert M Lloydell
Tamara Fulcher
et al
Available to buy at News From Nowhere, Bold Street Liverpool and Linghams Booksellers, Banks Road West Kirby for £2.00
For mail order enquiries and contributors copies please visit the website http://www.erbacce.com for further details.

Poetry Reading

Andrew Taylor will be reading at the OWLS Writer's Group in Ormskirk, West Lancashire on 6th June. This is a public event and all are welcome. Andrew will be reading poetry from his previous collections of work and will be speaking about co-editing one of Liverpool's most successful poetry magazines, erbacce. More details to follow.