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specks - james campbell

James Campbell can be identified at Sydney poetry readings by his ever-present beenie hat. This is an excerpt of a poem that is almost certain to get us banned by filtering software up and down the land.

From Specks by James Campbell

If you’re a speck why you’ll feel fine,
for we’ve no need to prove to anyone
How fucking great we are,
no legend in a lifetime,
cos specks don’t have expectations,
We just enjoy the view,
and snuggle up against another speck,
Together we might be a nug of gold,
or then again,
a lump of shite.

Or maybe I’d be a speck of cum upon her breast,
now that’s my idea of heaven,
She’d touch me to excite herself,
I’d hear her moaning, fingers roaming
Down beyond where I could see,
shit I’d be aching,
and she’d be sweating,
Me, your little speck,
I’d go wherever,
do whatever,
baby

Photo Source: bikeracer

ten things to wear forever - bill tibben

So our first actual poem on the blog is by the charismatic & beautiful Bill Tibben and it's short & sweet (just the way we like them round here).

ten things to wear forever

( a ‘meditation’ on the
front cover splash
of a fashion magazine )

the front cover
of the fashion magazine
blared a feature article
‘ten things to wear forever’

… what might mine be?

my skin
my scars
my breeding
and civility
my sins
my innocence
my fears
and confidences
my wrinkles
and my ring

Photo source: CWalker

Brett Whiteley Studio Reading: Marcella Polain

August 26th Brett Whiteley Studio Reading: Marcella Polain, poetry editor of Westerly, winner of the Anne Elder Award.

Readings held fourth Sunday of the month from 2pm, 2 Raper Street Surry Hills. $7/$5 concession for featured Guest and Open Mic. Enquiries Brook Emery 0410 406 149.

Square Circle Poetry Group - This Sunday

The Square Circle Poetry Group: meets first Sunday of the month 6.30pm - 9.30pm Heffron Hall, cnr Palmer and Burton streets Darlinghurst Info 9332 2886 or http://www.homestead.com/noelshomepage2/index.html also for details on the Continental Philosophy Group 3.30 - 6.30pm Heffron Hall.

Phoenix - University Of Sydney Writer's Society

The University Of Sydney Writer's Society: Next meeting this Tuesday July 31 from 5.30pm-7pm in the Isobel Fidler Room, Manning Building. Come along to find out how you can be part of this year's Phoenix (The University of Sydney Writers' Journal). Details of writing groups and upcoming speakers (recent speakers included Kate Grenville and David Brooks) will be provided and you can enter the Open Mic (fiction and poetry) competition.

PULP: Susan Hampton

Poetry UnLimited Press (PULP) is delighted to invite you and your friends to the next Sappho Cafe Poetry Reading:
Wednesday August 8 7pm - 9pm
Sappho Books & Cafe
51 Glebe Pt Road
Glebe
Ph 9552 4498

This month's Guest Poet is Canberra-based award-winning poet and editor Susan Hampton. For many years, Susan taught writing at universities. Her five books of poems include Costumes and A Latin Primer. With Kate Llewellyn, she co-edited The Penguin Book of Australian Women Poets (1986). In 1990 she won the Steele Rudd Award for Surly Girls. Her latest book The Kindly Ones, from Five Islands Press, was shortlisted for five awards, and won The Judith Wright Poetry Prize for 2006. Susan also edits fiction, non-fiction and poetry. You can see samples of her work at www.foxediting.com. Her books are also available through www.abebooks.com Don't forget - after the Guest Poet's Reading, you get a turn to read your own poetry in our Open Mic Competition, in front of a supportive poetry-loving audience. *$2 entry fee includes a raffle ticket.

Two Boys in A Rocket

Poetry and hip hop theatre from thomas and bravo
One night only
Friend in Hand, Glebe
8pm sharp
Slam after
Tuesday 7 August: $5

The blokey half of slam champions housecat havoc, thomas and bravo, weave poetry, song and animal tricks into a performance so poignantly beautiful that it would crush an orange.

thomas

Live Poets Society: Three Men From Iraq

Continuing its long tradition of presenting poetry and literature from other cultures/other languages Live Poets' Society welcomes Three Men from Iraq - poets Jamal al Hallaq and Fadeel Khayat and translator Mohsen Beni Saeed - at Don Bank Museum TONIGHT, Wednesday, July 25th at Don Bank Museum, 6 Napier St North Sydney. There will be a brief talk about modern Iraqi poetry and how it impacts with society with feedback welcomed - and then the poets wil perform.There will also be an Open Section Expression where anyone is welcome to recite, sing, tell a story or a joke and/or play an instrument.Doors open 7.30. $7 admission includes supper and drinks.Further details: Danny Gardner 0422 263 373 or dannylivepoets@yahoo.com.au

PULP Poetry Party Update

"Just a note to say thanks to the 95+ people, including Guest Editor Judith Beveridge and Guest Poets Peter Boyle, Stuart Rees, Joanne Burns and Stephen Edgar, who came to the launch of our journal Ilumina on Wednesday.

We'd also like to say a BIG THANKS to everyone who bought multiple copies (!!!), especially Selected Poets (who already had their free copies): notably Cathy Bray, Michael Buhagiar, Ashley Burton, Carolyn Rickett, Tessa Lunney, Meredith Pitt, Jill Gientzotis, Mario Cabrera, Jennifer Campbell and Onur Karaozbek. Now that everyone has had a chance to look at the Journal (and see how good it is),

PLEASE support this not-for-profit initiative and help us sell the last 50 copies, so we can do it again next year. Please reserve a copy ($24.95) by return email.Last but definitely not least: a heartfelt thanks to those who helped out on the night: especially Lynnette Simons, Maestro Hostess of the Terrace; Vesna Leto who selected the excellent wines for the night; Number One Helpers Ashley Burton and Libby Lin; indispensable Julianne Wargren for printing all the invites, and as always Ralph Bergmann (also the Production Manager for the Journal)."

- Roberta

Poetry Unlimited Anthology Lauch & Open Mike - Wed 11 July

Just missed this one @ Sappho Books in Glebe...

Guest poet & open mic next month also...

Poetry @ Friend In Hand - Glebe Tuesday 3rd July

New regular spoken word night @ Friend In Hand. Miles Merrill is the first artist-in-residence.