Poole Lighthouse hosted our second poetry slam on Saturday 9th October 2004 at 8pm in conjunction with Poole Word and Book Festival. It was also the venue for the excellent Les and Paul's Big Night Out!

Links Edible Books page Poetry Slam 2003/4 Our Festival 04 brochure Les Merton from Poetry Cornwall entertained two local day centres and a care home with his dialect verse and fascinating history of the Cornish Pasty!

Paul Taylor is an outstanding performer! Go to his website (www.trombonepoetry.com)and read or have a listen to his poetry. I bought one of his CD's at the event and I have been listening to it in the car.

and something inspired by Paul....

Love is just around the corner

"You'll excuse me if I play that sarcastically", he says..
after assaulting emotions with a bluesy tear-beat,
jazz infiltrating to soothe the spirit of the unloved.

He speaks of endless nights and countless trains
pouring his heart through blue-notes into the ears of hazy
club-goers, lazy evenings with a quick eye, a wide smile

and a low voice, seductive, smoky and welcoming.
He jokes of past love and warm nights, poetic
tales of woe and wonder, and we all wonder

if he is playing, spinning a tune with us, as we sit
spellbound, captivated and falling in love.

Paula Brown

Dave, Les and Pete at Lulworth Cove	Amy with Elizabeth Kay

Rufus Dawson's art	at the Study Gallery

Our 2004 Poetry Slam (apologies, our camera wasn't working too well and we only managed 2 shots so far! More as they arrive from friends!)

John Barclay, our Poet in Residence for the festival 2004, entertaining in between rounds. (see a poem from him below)	Janice was the champion slammer for 2004!

On Tuesday 5th October, as part of the Poole Word & Book Festival, Satish Kumar, co-editor of Resurgence magazine, addressed a large number of interested people in Poole Central Library on new ways to approach terrorism. John Barclay, Poet in Residence at the Festival, heard the talk and has tried to encapsulate some of Kumar's ideas in a poem:

Talking to a Terrorist

I know you are a terrorist. That's why I'm here.
I come to you in friendship - see, I am not armed,
for like the Buddha long ago I'm not afraid
to die. Like him I come to you in peace and love.
Our leader will not meet you, won't negotiate,
but I believe there is no future in that stance.

It was a fearful thing, a most barbaric act,
to kill those harmless people in that cruel way -
and one of them my brother, Frank, who never hurt
a soul. I grieve for him and all the others too.
I don't condone your actions but I know it must
have been through anger that you did the things you did.

The only way to end our quarrel is to face
each other and by talking build a bridge of trust.
I want to learn your point of view, to understand.
What is it, friend? What is your pain? What is your fear?
I will respect your needs, acknowledge how you feel.
So talk to me, my friend; it is our only hope.

John Barclay.