Culcher Vulcher: Queensland Poetry Festival

I popped into my first-ever poetry reading this Saturday night past. It was part of the 2011 Queensland Poetry Festival, held at the Judith Wright Centre. I didn’t know what to expect—literally, since I hadn’t read the program. Turns out I was going watch 42 poets recite a poem each. 

 For the most part I really enjoyed it. There were a few which strayed a little too much into the old-biddy style of poems; namely ones about having a cup of tea, taking a walk, then having another cup of tea. Apparently there’s an entire anthology of poems about tea and coffee…

 Sorry, was lost in a light-to-middling breeze of cringe.Though I should add that the coffee-based poem I did hear was actually good.

Typically, the poems I enjoyed most were the sardonic ones. A female poet whose name I can’t remember told a story of stealing lawn from a golf course; her imagery of her brother, laying grass laid into the tray of a speeding ute was great. I liked Brisbane poet John Koenig’s poem best. It was all about urban romance— young lovers kissing on a neon corner, a trampy young thing waiting in her bedroom for a boy to call, while outside a young guy spits onto the city street. I wish I could find it since I can’t do it justice here. It was visceral and stunning and really fantastic to hear something that felt so current. 

That was another thing, hearing. As I said I haven’t been to many readings. It was strange to experience something that had no visual stimulus. It was purely someone speaking. And with me sitting in the back corner with poor eyesight, I couldn’t even watch their faces. I really had to focus otherwise I found I missed out a whole lot. It was interesting to feel my mind slipping this way and that before I roped it back in. 

I’ll also include this link to Jacob Polley, poet in residence and a bit of a babe. His poems are fantastic too—this one in particular.