Same As It Ever Was. Never As It Same Was.

For 12 years now this site has galloped, tripped then limped along ricocheting from one point of focus to another. Having heavily hung our hopes on nostalgia for the first few years of our existence a hint of change arrived in December 2012 with the first 'Poetry Book of the Year.' That book was Barry Hill's 'Naked Clay.' I wrote that post and now wished I hadn't. I have the ability to write about novels but do not have the same ability concerning books of poems. I feel captivated by the words much like a rabbit in the headlights. Unable to dissect the poems or offer a real critique or praise for being awash with emotional confusion rather than intellectual clarity. I simply can not do what I have read justice. I should have asked Roger as he is not only a published poet but understands the craft far better than me. From December 2012 the site continued as it was. Then, almost one year to the day things changed. Long moments have I wondered if the change I made was the right change. I've been over how I mismanaged the whole thing in terms of Michael and Roger so will not be going over that again. Now though, with the first of a new batch of poets who will record then post their own poems here, I finally feel somewhat vindicated.

The whole affair has been somewhat tortuous. There have been a variety of E-mails sent then received. Most of those have been in the negative. Many have remained unanswered which I have taken to be also in the negative. Then, I contacted The Poetry Society. For those unaware of said charity here is a brief outline as found on their site...

"The Poetry Society was founded in 1909 to promote “a more general recognition and appreciation of poetry”. Since then, it has grown into one of Britain’s most dynamic arts organisations, representing British poetry both nationally and internationally. Today it has more than 4000 members worldwide and publishes the leading poetry magazine, The Poetry Review."

Or, as former Poet Laureate Sir Andrew Motion states...

“The Poetry Society is the heart and hands of poetry in the UK – a centre which pours out energy to all parts of the poetry-body, and a dexterous set of operations which arrange and organise poetry’s various manifestations. It has a long distinguished history, and has never been so vital, or so vitalizing as it is now.”

What changed the fate and fortunes of "Something For The Weekend, Sir?" were the E-mail exchanges between myself and The Poetry Society. Hopefully, the following verbatim missives will not induce somnolence in the reader but rather illustrate the given situation. Firstly, my E-mail to them...

"Please accept this, yet another e-mail, along with my apology. I have written before to enquiries having failed to read The Poetry Societies instruction on volunteering so hope this time to correct my mistake. I volunteer. I also wrote to Ben in marketing outlining half of a business proposal so have copied him in this time.

I have attached my CV for you to peruse. I am semi-retired now but have, as you will see, been an Assistant Publisher for a major newspaper but also a reasonably successful salesperson in Direct Marketing. It is those twin positions that matter most here I feel

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I wish to work voluntarily for The Poetry Society but not necessarily in any role the charity conceived. I am a blogger. I have had some success with blogging. A blog is a supremely efficient method in not only getting profiles raised but also promoting any given charity in their pursuit of funds. A company can advertise for free on the site whilst using the blog. Imagine the likes of Shearsman Books, Bloodaxe Books, Sine Wave Peak, Oneiros Books, Salmon Poetry, Carcanet Press, Dedalus Press or maybe Faber and Faber using the advertising facility offered them by “Something For The Weekend, Sir?” (the current title of the blog) or, stretching the mind just a little further, The Folio Society, World for Books, Tartarus Press?

To generate an appetite to advertise on the blog, those keen to advertise would need a guarantee that the money spent, placed into The Poetry Society's coffers, would avail them a return on their capital. To that end, The Poetry Society would need to supply poets prepared to either record their work then place that recording onto the blog site or, use footage from a live recital. I think it is a no-brainer.

I have previously sent you both the following but I think it bears repeating.

"Spoken word poetry is the art of performance poetry. I tell people it involves creating poetry that doesn't just want to sit on paper, that something about it demands it be heard out loud or witnessed in person."   - Sarah Kay

1. The first poet records his words via YouTube then posts them on the site having been given access via my sending them an invite. They leave it a week then invite another poet to do the same. In effect a spoken word relay that will encompass the globe. The idea is to spread poetry in the spoken form. 

 2. As this site is called "Something For the Weekend, Sir?" all posts have to be on a Friday. 

 That's it. Simple. I get nothing for doing it and don’t want anything apart from the sheer pleasure of both hearing the poetry and being part of the process.

 At the foot of each post is this caveat…" All poems are copyright of the poet. Permission for this poet to post their work here has been granted by blog owner. All rights remain with the individual poet and their respective publisher." The site couldn't exist on just one the one post posted each Friday. There would need to be, in my opinion, four posts. The main event each Friday, Spoken Word. Perhaps an article written by either one of The Poetry Society's team of another yet to be selected.which will be posted each Tuesday followed each Wednesday by Postal Poetry Books. This will feature A book of poems purchased from a Charity/Thrift shop then mailed to one of the selected team to review. The written review is then posted onto ‘Something for The Weekend, Sir?’  on a Wednesday leaving Friday free for the Spoken Word bit. Sort of a poetry mail art. Poetry recycled.

If this is of interest, then please let me know. I would act as curator. The whole project would be that of The Poetry Society. My only influence on the blog would be to ensure that a post is available for the Friday and if not, get another poet, from anywhere I can find them, to post something of theirs. And to ensure that the advertisements required from suitably interested parties are priced, prepared and paid for...

All the best,"

I now always prepare for the silent non-response from those unfortunates I E-mail so was surprised, gratified even, when this reply returned within hours not days...

"Dear Russell,

Thanks for getting in touch. It looks like you've also tagged in the Poetry Book Society - just so you're aware, they're a separate organisation to us.

Thank you for your proposal. We normally take in volunteers to help with various tasks in the office and at our events, however due to the pandemic most of us are working from home.

In regards to your proposal, thanks for sending it and for putting so much thought into it. Unfortunately we can't accept advertorials to the website (editorial or blogging content with paid-for mentions/placements from other organisations).

If you'd like to enjoy some poetry readings via video, we are currently making highlighted poems from our recent online Zoom readings available on our Vimeo page, with more being added every day:

https://vimeo.com/poetrysociety

 We're working on moving this over to youtube, but it is a slow process!

We also feature audio readings from poets (including spoken word poets) on our podcasts, available via Soundcloud or Spotify. Search for 'The Poetry Society' in your podcasting app of choice to find them.

While your proposal unfortunately isn't a good fit for our website, you're very welcome to feature any of our Vimeo or Podcast readings from poets on your own website or blog, so long as they're properly credited to The Poetry Society.  Both Vimeo and our Soundcloud page should allow you to embed content into your own website.

Very best wishes

I was like Pooh Bear with his hand in the honey jar. This is what I had been waiting for. However, I would prefer the poets themselves to post their performance poetry. Then again, beggars cannot be choosers, can they? Can they?

With spoken word, the central reason for this blog sites purpose taken care of, I wondered what else we should or could feature. I mean having the one weekly post is all well and good but with Friday the premier day, and with seven days in the weak, shouldn't we consider at least posting on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday and possibly Sunday?

Then there is Postal Book Poetry. Postal Book Poetry affords us a way of sharing our shared love of poetry through the medium of poetry books delivered to friends by the use of the postal service and of poetry books. It shares a similarity with Mail Art. A book of poems is sent to the first person on the list of poetry lovers who then purchase's another book of poetry from a Charity/Thrift shop before mailing it to the next team member to review. Each member in a long line of them simply writes a short poem on the inner cover of the book before mailing it to the next person in line. Each recipient keeps the book sent them with a poem composed by the sender before writing a review of the book which is then posted onto ‘Something for The Weekend, Sir?’  on a Wednesday. Simples.

This follows as I said, although only by inspiration, Mail Art which is an art form born of the Fluxus movement started in the 1950s which grew through the 1960s until now it is a global movement. One of its key creators/collaborators is Michael Leigh who is an Admin on this site.

Then there is another thought, a stray one that sort of slipped in. Postal Poetry where friends and family, perhaps on holiday or simply for the hell of it, purchase a postcard then write a poem on the back before mailing said postcard to a mate or loved one. Let's hope this bastard offspring of Mail Art and Postal Poetry not only makes its own impact but adds something to the creative brew. What if we combine the two? Books of poetry posted and or postcards with poetry written by the sender? Why suddenly we have Postal Poetry. Mail Art as it were in a poetry format.

Oh, the sun has got his hat on. Hip, hip, hip hooray. As for this site. All is good. The site now feels but also looks how I envisaged.  

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All poems are copyright of the poet. Permission for this poet to post their work here has been granted by blog owner. All rights remain with the individual poet and their respective publisher.