Mabh Savage
Words and the world passing by; how it sings to me; how I clamour back.
Post Box Poets: The Return!
I really love this venue in Chorlton, Manchester (UK) and was delighted to be making a return to find out what vernacular vivacity was on offer for this month’s Post Box Poets. I was mightily surprised to find myself reading in the second half of the event! This event is the brain child of The Quiet Compere, Sarah L Dixon. An accomplished poet herself, she has found a wonderful space for speakers and listeners alike to gather and be happy. The talent on offer is mind blowing, and the variety in style and topic keeps the evening moving along so fast, I can’t quite believe it when it finishes.
Every poet brought something unique to the floor. Sarah herself has stories of tweets and grey rainbows, and is utterly gripping to listen to. Hannah Mackay spoke about a twenty year gone relationship and the resonance still recurring. Sarah Maxwell moved from sad but beautiful musings to amusing anecdotes about holidaying, with some lovely, avian metaphors thrown in.
John Darwin impressed firstly by not having any paper to carry (always jealous of those that can memorise!) and then by moving from humour to painful poignancy effortlessly. I don’t think any of us will now forget the phrase ‘I just like art galleries and getting pissed’. My favourite was ‘Cuckoo’, which to me just spoke of the callous nature of humanity via a very local snapshot.
Jonathan Eyre brings his poetry to life with a performance style that speaks of the theater; every word spoken just so to leave the perfect imprint on the listeners mind. His poem about ME I heard for the second time tonight, and if anything it only moved me more upon repetition. Pat Selden sat and talked to us as if we were confidantes; short funny bursts of what seemed spontaneity interspersed with longer stories and musings, traveling from music to politics and stopping off on a few places between. Highly entertaining.
With the Tories in town, it was no surprise there were a fair few political offerings. Neil Fawcett inspired a few wet eyes with the story of Jack, slave to the wage; very relevant in our current cutback culture. Freda Davis spoke heatedly about the entropy stemming from so called enterprise, and boy, were there some cheers at this!
Janine Pinion proved her intense powers of imagination as she took us with her on an adventure to become smaller than the rain; simply delightful.
Martin Vosper finished off the night speaking of a love not yet found, superheroes (where we find a poem within a poem) and the beauty of nature; he mixes humour, observation and wit to deliver a range of subjects that not only inspire laughs but thoughtfulness.
Oh yeah, and I read as well. I don’t know about everyone else but I enjoyed myself? To read a bit of the poetry I performed last night click here and here, which are two halves that last night I rolled into one for the first time ever. To the lady who said my poems are like ‘listening to a painting’: I love you! And thanks. Here’s to the next Post Box Poets!
Autumn Haul
Foraging on the way to the farm.
A Modern Celt: Book Launch Update
Just having a discussion about the mass appeal of the Morrigan as a tutelary goddess. Here’s one of my comments:
“I do work with the Morrigan but quite happily accept that not only does she have commonalities with other goddesses but the likelihood is at least some of her nature and legend was brought across the entire continent as memories of Hekate and the like. Having said that, I do treat Morrigan and Hekate as separate entities because that helps me compartmentalise my own working in a way I suppose; I believe that the spark of energy is within me somewhere, and the god/goddess/spirit I choose to work with is an anthropomorphism of the path I want that spark to take.”
A toast to you
Just got myself a glass of Kath’s Viking Blood Mead. It’s wrong to drink it without making a toast, so here’s a toast to everyone who is here, or will be here later, and who has put up with my hermitism and madness throughout the duration of this project. Sláinte my friends!
A Modern Celt: Book Launch! Online so you don’t have to leave the house…
Please join me for an online discussion/debate/ramble in celebration of my first book being published. The book covers the influence of Celts on modern society through Pagan and non Pagan eyes, and through experiences both spiritual and mundane. I’d like people to get involved this Friday night by asking me questions, putting tasks to me, asking me to write for them or to research something; my pen is in your hands! Message me here by leaving a comment, or on twitter @Mabherick or at http://mabhsavage.tumblr.com or on my facebook page which you can find via the event link (click on the photo). 8pm, Friday 27th September 2013. Grab a glass and get typing!
Rising in the Fall…
Taken while on Equinox Camp with amazing friends. The sun shone hot and I had to steal an Americanism for my title, simply because of how high I felt; how drunk on happiness and calm and balmy contentment; how warm and exquisite and worldly. We ate well; we talked; we foraged. And in the absence of formal ritual I used acorns, beech nuts and feathers to build a makeshift altar (on top of my car) simply to celebrate the unique balance; the joyous pause; the twilight of the year.
Future Learn
This is the best idea I have seen for a long time. Courses designed and run by universities, which are totally free. Learning from the top minds in the country and no course fees, no attendance; simply log in on your pc, phone or tablet. Join discussions. Debate. Enjoy! This is what learning should be like in a modern age; in a time when we all have to work or parent or do things that don’t allow for a fine routine for anything else in our lives.
I have just signed up for forensic sciences, java programming, natural resources and the Higgs Bosun particle physics course. The max time that this will take up a week is 5 hours; I can do this on my lunch breaks! I am so excited.
This is a totally new project so I’ll keep you all updated on the course content and if the structure actually works; currently my excitement is outweighing any cynicism, but my mind is open!
Watch this space…
