Introduction of Poets at National Poetry Day Open Mic Night

Introduction:

Esteemed members of the Hamilton poetry community, honoured guests, casual passers-by, ladies and gentlemen welcome to the National Poetry Day open mike extravagana.  We have what that poet laureate of 1970s British telly Mr Ronald Barker once called “a packed programme tonight”.

I am here for reasons of irony and points of difference.  If I have any literary fortes they are certainly not poetic ones.  I strongly suspect that poetry is more than sarcasm, character assassination, excessive use of hyperbole and strategic placement of adjective.  I will offer all of the above, cunningly inserted in the slots between the bona fide artists, to hopefully make them look good by comparison

Guest Poets:

Stephen Oliver:

First amongst our guest poets is Mr Stephen Oliver.  Stephen has led a terribly sheltered life, slumming it around the world, having to make do with residences in Paris, Vienna, London, San Francisco, Greece and Israel.  Authoring 16 volumes of verse, freelancing as a broadcaster, vocal coach, journalist and radio producer, Mr Oliver currently resides in New Zealand after two decades across the ditch.  Stephen Olivier.

Meliors Simms:

Our next literary worthy draws inspiration from diverse sources and lists foremost amongst her achievements an enthusiasm for traversing Hamilton lanes and alleyways on a red bike with wicker basket.  Much of Meliors Simms’ work as a poet and visual artist is in the field of natural history and science, both hard and fictional.  Think Marie Curie meets David Attenborough meets Arthur C Clarke with some Sarah Ullmer thrown in for good measure.  Meliors Simms.

Di Schilov
We next offer a teacher/student recitation.  First up is Di Schilov who teaches speech and drama both privately and at secondary school.  Di will be followed by two of her charges, Brooke Neill and Clare McDonald, who will be reading work by Lauris Edmond and Fiona Kidman, respectively.  That’s unless their plans have changed…

Sue Emms:

The following poet doubles tonight as judge of the Wintec Open Poetry Competition and as performer in her own right.  Sue Emms dates her serious writing back around a decade ago and lists novels, nonfiction works and poetry in the published column of her literary CV.  If poetry competitions were akin to horse racing she could claim both one on the nose and another placing in the recent Timaru Rose Festival.  Sounds like a sure bet to me.  Sue Emms.

Open Mike Poets:

Meg Davies:

The first of our open mike performers graces the pages of that paper of record, the Hamilton Press, on a weekly basis.  A well known mistress of verse, the force behind the annual Moan Poetry Collective contributions to the Fringe Festival, Meg is a warm, caring individual, excellent cook and first class gossip.  She moonlights as a political campaigner and spin doctor.  Megan Davies.

Yongjoo Kim:

Next up, giving our humble event an international flavour, is Yongjoo Kim.  Hailing from Korea, Yongjoo enjoys the magnificence of the New Zealand countryside and the richness of the Maori tongue.  She is proudly supported today by her husband and family.  Yongjoo Kim.

Judy McDonald:

Our next poet describes her opinions as “vociferous” and is a strong advocate of pedestrian rights.  Judy McDonald co-ordinates Living Streets Hamilton and it sounds as though she seldom takes a backward step.  All grist for the poet’s mill, no doubt.  Judy McDonald.

Richard Selinkoff:

I think I’ve said all I could possibly say publicly about our next performer on previous occasions.  Richard Selinkoff is of a certain generation, background and disposition: that much will soon be evident to you all in his work.  What I’ll add today is this: the guy is currently enjoying a purple patch, mining an interesting if not altogether happy past, and it’s a privilege to hear him speak.  Richard Selinkoff.

Clive Kingsley-Smith:

Clive Kingsley-Smith is a member of the Poets Alive group.  Currently basking in a busy, productive retirement he contextualises his own poetry in terms of a family tradition of writing and reflection.  Clive Kingsley-Smith.

Gerard Scott-Dickens:

Hailing from Te Awamutu by way of the United Kingdom Gerard Scott-Dickens has been toiling away on the great New Zealand novel for a half decade.  He’s had four volumes of poetry published to date and tonight breaks his open mike cherry.  Gerard Scott-Dickens.

Jenny Fraser:

Jenny Fraser has been writing poetry since the early 1970s.  A teacher of folk music and otherwise active in the creative arts Jenny works in the Waikato but enjoys both east and west coast beaches.  Jenny Fraser.

Sue Edmonds:

Like myself Sue Edmonds resisted some of the formal deconstruction of poetry that is the stock and trade of academia.  It could not, however, erase her early bred enthusiasm for Milne or Stevenson or works learnt and loved at school.  She values reading and writing on a cathartic level and as a means to connect with both friends and family.  Sue Edmonds.

Elaine Riddell:

Our next poet judged the Hamilton City Libraries Junior Haiku Competition, drawing on her particular interest in English versions of Japanese poetic verse.  Her enthusiasm for writing was rekindled five years ago upon retiring.  Elaine’s work has been published in journals and anthologies in New Zealand and overseas.  Elaine Riddell.

Barry Smith:

A retired scientist, Barry Smith has been writing prose and poetry for what he describes as “yonks”.  With a healthy dose of self-effacement he is vague as to where or when he’s been published though is rather keen for us to plug for his radio show, ‘Burbling On’, which features every Sunday on Community Radio at about 1:15pm.  Barry Smith.

Gail Pittaway

Even by tonight’s heady standards our next performer is something of an over achieving superstar.  The theatre critic for the “Waikato Times” no less, Gail Pittaway holds high teaching position at Wintech, enjoys bureaucratic responsibilities with the HCAC and can be heard regularly on National Radio’s 9 til Noon slot reviewing books.  Gail Pittaway.

End:

And on that charming note we conclude proceedings.  Thank you to all contributing poets, to Celia Hope for her organisational prowess and to you, the punters, for your attendance and attention.  Good evening.