Poetry in Suffolk is a very active and viable force.
The Suffolk Poetry Society was formed in 1952, and celebrated its Diamond Jubilee year in 2012
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The Society is open to anyone with an interest in poetry in Suffolk.It is associated with five Cafe Poets locations in the county that meet regularly to hear new poetry read by living poets, as well as hearing poetry from those no longer alive. Meetings take place in Halesworth, Woodbridge, Sudbury,Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich. Contact details are available on the Suffolk Poetry Society website www.suffolkpoetrysociety.org.uk .
The Suffolk Poetry Society has recently re-vamped its newsletter to members, and it appears under the title of Twelve Rivers.
The Bury St Edmunds Cafe Poets group also has its own excellent website Poetry Aloud, which shows a wide selection of writing by Suffolk Poets , and you can listen to many of the poets reading their work. Just click on this link to Poetry Aloud . The webmaster, Colin Whyles, is making excellent progress in his target of building up a sound database of contemporary poetry being enjoyed in Suffolk.
The Suffolk Poetry Society organises a series of events throughout the year involving important poets reading their work, details of which are also shown on the Suffolk Poetry Society website.
Bryan
Thank you for your message of your birth in Leiston, your love of this area of Suffolk, and your combined interest in Architecture and Poetry.
I take up your invitation, tell me something about your poetry, if only to qualify your title ‘Enfant Terrible’ at the age of 80!
At the age of 70, anything the prolongs childhood is of interest to me.
Dear Madam, Dear Sir – I am deeply and profoundly attached to SUFFOLK (born 20-9-1933 in Leiston) to its Church Architecture, George Crabbe, John Constable (=greatest painter of ALL time!) – I studied ARCHITECTURE in London moving in 1955 to Exile in Switzerland / Extremely passionate Architect /Poetry flow mainly on the British Landscape /Numerous Books, Art-Works, Exhibitions etc – In Switzerland I am well known as an “Enfant Terrible” but my Suffolk of wonderful estuaries does not know anything of me! I grew up 2 kilometres from Britten!s Red House in Aldeburgh town also of the great Poet George Crabbe.
If you are interested in my work ad a n exiled suffolk Architect Poet and Artist please kindly get in touch with me
Thank you, Ivor, for your kindness here. I expect our paths will cross again before long … David (Gill) and I are greatly enjoying the Suffolk poetry scene.
Caroline.
I am sorry we didnt get a chance to talk at the AGM. I have made sure your links are active on my Poetry in Suffolk page. Thanks for the input.
David (Gill) and I enjoyed joining you all for our first SPS AGM yesterday.
I discovered your site shortly after our arrival in Suffolk (from Swansea) last October. I am particularly interested to see that you have a section on poetry form. I use my Brekekekex blog for different forms – and my Coastcard blog for general poetry matters. I’m not sure if the links will show up, but I’ll have a go at pasting them in …
With best wishes,
Caroline
http://carolinegill-brekekekex.blogspot.com/
http://carolinegillpoetry.blogspot.com/
Also …
http://carolinegillpoetry.blogspot.com/2012/01/publication-pointer-2-book-of-forms-4th.html
Jim
A simple enough question that is very difficult to answer. Your question implies you would like something in the Suffolk vernacular, well I cant help you there, and most elegy or funeral poems contain references that might not match what little information you have given me. However, assuming your ‘old Suffolk boy’ has had some involvement with Suffolk earth I suggest Margaret Willy’s ‘An Old Labourer’. Otherwise try a short comment by Philip Larkin ‘ The daily things we do’.
If you have trouble finding the words of either, get back to me at ivor@versifier.co.uk
An old “Suffolk Boy” who was a friend has recently died, He was a bit of a character and rogue with a kind heart. I wonder if you could recommend a suitable poem to be read at his funeral.
Regards
Jim