Archive for May, 2007

May 31, 2007 at 7:21 am · Filed under Expressions, General, Literature, Newspaper article, Photography, Poetry, Poetry Event, Reviews, Thoughts, Weblogs, Work, Writing

Article by Colleen Lue
Photo by Michaela Oaten

Almost forgot to mention (so engrossed in my poetry writing, I am!):-

At

‘THE FARRAGO SUMMER SEASON @ RADA Foyer Bar,
with The Farrago May SLAM!Thursday, 24th May, 7:30pm
London

Featuring:

Keith Jarrett, The London SLAM! Champion, Dean Atta, Honest, Idil Sukan & from the US Tara Betts + another special guest from New York, (London transportation system willing!) + music from Bukola + Fran Landesman dropping by with Miles and Rykzarda with some new material.’
For more details visit: Farrago Poetry
Information: 07905078376. farragopoetry@yahoo.co.uk. http://london.e-poets.net/
http://london.e-poets.net/

=========

Miles (Davis) Landesman’s (a talented guitarist) work just got accepted by Barbara Streisand!
Miles’ mother, Fran is writer/songwriter to the stars and Rykzarda sang one of her songs a while back and tonight (so well). I believe JP, the emcee of Farrago Poetry knows both Fran and Miles well.

The one and only! I’m a great fan of Ms Streisand’s films and songs - and OMG! I’m kind of like fainting here, that IS Good News! I remember we sang, Memories from The Way We Were in our music class(at 12) and when I saw the film, I realised why we sang that song. Shortly after doing the article for my Uni newspaper on Jack Rosenthal, I saw Yentl, an incredibly moving film; I think I’ve seen all/most of Ms Streisand’s films and love all her songs.

I’d just like to add that Rykzarda sang beautifully and her singing had that Miles Davis feel to it. Accompanied by Miles Landesman - the duo performed superbly.

We had an enjoyable evening and the singing by Bukola was EXCELLENT! Bravo!

Thanks JP for a wonderful evening and a spectacular array of featured poets, musician and singers. Great work and really appreciated! Thanks once again!

http://www.collsliterary.blogspot.com/

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Loquacious - Mum’s the Word

May 29, 2007 at 9:21 am · Filed under Expressions, General, Literature, Mother, Poetry, Thoughts, Weblogs, Work, Writing

My father and I are similar: We both like poetry and singing (him at friends’ and relatives’ functions and I like whistling or humming a song, sometimes, when I’m writing poems or weblogs).

My mother and I have just 1 similarity: We both love art. She used to paint.

That’s where the similarities end: I’m constantly and actively either writing; painting; visiting art exhibitions; going along to the local common with the local conservation group to do some work on the natural habitat or attending functions/events of one type or another.

I prefer to be writing or going along to an exhibition/event/function than ‘have a chat’, whereas my mother is constantly babbling about something or other to the point where she doesn’t stop to think about what she’s saying or listen to what I’m saying, which I don’t mind, because I normally just like to discuss the bare essentials and the minimum. Point finale. Nothing more, nothing less. Then it’s back to getting my head around some writing/art/event. I prefer reading/digesting/commenting on literary works and artwork, than discuss the daily happenings around me, because those (literary) ideas liberate my thoughts and experience which I then pen or draw.

I’ve mentioned to her in the past, when I could get a word in edge ways, to take up art again but she just wasn’t interested. Yet if I wasn’t writing, painting or going to an exhibition/event/function in my spare time, she’d ring me up to ask what I was doing and if I said, nothing, her ‘rambling journey’ would begin. Fortunately, that doesn’t happen often.

I’m writing new material now which I want a publisher to publish at some point. To date, I’ve self published two books of poems to:

1. Copyright early ideas/experiences

2. Record/Note my childhood and early experiences (an idea which I kept in mind when one lecturer mentioned in a seminar that whatever we publish, we should publish influences going back to childhood or early days, even if it meant self publishing and which may/may not be seen by anyone, because those influences can then be used as a stepping stone for current influences and ideas - that was and is my way of thinking too)

Writing, reading literary works and painting, for me, have been and still are a good medium for putting ideas and thoughts on paper or getting ideas, because it hasn’t always been convenient/appropriate to discuss these ideas and thoughts, with others:-

1. The time factor for one thing
2. Acquaintances, friends and relatives lead equally busy/demanding lives.

Writing and the arts, like music, can be very stressful at times:

1.Finding the motivation to write and paint can be challenging
2.A lot of factors can make this difficult at times (as I’d mention to the poet, Wizard of Skills at a recent poetry event):-

a)Irritation - try using the public transport in London
b)The weather - a cold, wet, windy/gray day makes me feel ‘under the weather’ at times
c)Self motivation - try writing when the laundry, shopping, cleaning have to be scheduled into your busy programme and a million other things have to be done/put into action/planned for future action

So I don’t know where my mother gets all that (turbo) energy from. Beats me. I’ve often mentioned again to her in the past, to read some good books. She wasn’t interested.

I also mentioned to her that she should take up yoga and meditate. That didn’t appeal to her.

Yoga is so relaxing - after writing, reading literary works/poems and commenting on them or
painting or going to an exhibition and/or function, I do that to help relax my mind, body and soul.
======================================


Tonic In Sight

Sometimes I’d appreciate

A slice of that energy that

exerts you into a turbo mother

always asking if I’ve eaten

never stopping to listen

for an answer

too busy with your thoughts

of pleasing, being present

racking off a few things

you’ve done whilst on my

way home

my mobile in hand

on the train

saying you’ve got

something to bring

over and whether I want

anything but you get me

something different

to what I normally like

So not quite what I’d like

but what you’d like to hear

so my answers go unnoticed

in the wind of change

The mobile rings

and before I know it

your day’s journey

has just begun.

©Coll B. Lue

(Taken from my book: Poetical Inspirations - Ad Hoc & Per Se)

=============================

Silence is golden. MUM’S THE WORD.

=============================

http://literaryspot.wordpress.com/

Comments (2)

Fathers are for reading poetry

May 28, 2007 at 10:07 am · Filed under Expressions, Father, General, Literature, Photography, Poetry, Thoughts, Weblogs, Writing

My regular chats with my father on the phone normally means him reading out poetry to me followed by his exercising his vocal cords for Mass on Saturdays.


He’ll be reading out more poetry when I become an established poet and writer - nothing like ‘Practice makes Perfect’, now is there? It comes naturally to him though and he’d MC’d weddings and parties and still presides over parties, although he’s retired, singing heartrending songs like,
O Danny Boy, She Wears My Ring and Trees.

He loves poetry though and at one point wrote some nice poems. Now, he just reads poems and sing at parties and at Mass.

‘Why didn’t you become a writer or a singer? I asked.

He wanted to go into business instead. Ok, so that was an ‘easier’ option and he felt probably more at ease driving cross country and sales repping before taking on managerial positions and then doing a couple of part time jobs before he retired.

I admire those who cherish memories of their parents or who never lose sight of the fact that parents are important whether in a better place or here with us.

Having read Dean Baker’s recent blog post on a day out with his father: Day Travel with my Father, I feel we somehow manage to cherish wonderful memories of our parents and which would/would have make/made them proud.

Father, Dear

Your words
and a friendly hello

without malice or wanting
anything but to say
how’s your week been?

Your poems
recited your way

without making up or trying
too hard to speak
your mind

Your way
in a certain pitch

which comes across well
in ways which says
everything about you

©Coll B. Lue
========================

My father is never content just rambling on about his week or his daily chores like, cooking, having his regular check ups, regular morning exercise and prayer meetings as well as a daily call from his sister. I find him at his best reciting poems and singing - which are really enjoyable to listen to and which makes my regular calls to him, a pleasure.

Master of Ceremonies - Papa You’re Fine

Papa your thoughts are spoken
Spoken with wit in your
Master of Ceremonial
speeches
At Weddings, Birthday Parties
Prayer Meetings.

Excellent marks at school for
Penmanship
Gave you something to
Pen and Write
Your Speeches
Your Satisfaction
Your Joy

Nobody can take that away from you.
You are papa.

Now your forgotten talent
Is kept hidden in your heart
and mind

Just now you rhymed,
‘You’ve got a degree in English
You became distinguished’.

It is still there
And you want to go on and on.
‘You went to school
And learnt the Golden Rule
You got a degree in English
You became distinguished’

Papa you haven’t forgotten
It’s there hidden
And when you think and remember and recall
You’re back to

Those days

You’re back to being
A man of words and speech
And joy.

©Coll B. Lue


Traveller in the Night

Over teddy bears and
paper dolls my vision
encapsulates
The soft moonlit archway
Into slumber
Gently gently
my vision becomes
a room dark and lit
only by the moonlight
seen through a laced veil.

My name, my name is softly
softly spoken
A tap so light on the window
Slowly, slowly I am awaken
Calling, calling, is that familiar
voice of Father.
Bringing edible delights small and light
hauled through the window
by a string or rope
My memory escapes me.

Asleep whenever and travelling however
His sale repping taking him
through different towns
and through the Capital.
Travelling his appetite
Roaming his freedom.

He never stayed long.
Just long enough
to drop off his little gifts for
his little girl.

©Coll B. Lue(Taken from my book: Poetical Inspirations - Ad Hoc & Per Se)
http://literaryspot.wordpress.com/

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Poetry Talk

May 27, 2007 at 10:16 am · Filed under Expressions, General, Literature, Poetry, Reviews, Thoughts, Weblogs, Writing

Last night I attended a good poetry event - with a good line up of featured poets.

A poet by the name of Wizard of Skills came over to my table and said, ‘You’re an established poet’ to which I replied, that would be great if that were the case.

Then he replied, ‘You have a top musician/singer/songwriter on your friends’ list (Myspace).

I smiled and said, ‘Oh I see, yes, in that sense, yes’.

Poetry and writing allow you this opportunity to interact amicably with other equally talented writers and the journey of writing becomes less of a journey of a single being putting thoughts down on paper, in a quiet room, with only ideas and thoughts as well as an easel and paint materials to while away any spare moment to attain a goal, the heart and soul search for. A goal which requires commitment to writing and the arts.

He commended me on my super-independance, which I backed up by saying, I valued my independence immensely as it has given me the scope to learn from established poets and allow my creativity to develop. I mean, who else, but myself, is going to deal with what comes with getting established? The pros and cons of writing? The ‘recognition’ factor which I experienced last night? I felt like a ‘celeb’ too, being given the Spanish Inquisition AND, although he doesn’t comment on my blogs, he knew:

The top musician/singer/songwriter on my previous friends’ list (prior to cancelling my two websites on account of the behaviour of some of the users of this top networking community website) but because of the way this website has handled the situation I think they have redeemed themselves in my opinion;

I had a request from another poet to be interviewed on his podcast programme, which he thought was a collaboration and it was in some ways, so (and only discussed by myself and the poet at another poetry event);

And remembered by blogtalkshow programme even though I haven’t spoken to him for 3/4 months

==============================

This means:
Your life is no longer ‘yours’;
Others follow your blogs, secretly or openly, but believe me THEY DO;
You become ‘public property’;
You get others wanting to discuss their works with you;
They want to join your Myspace friends’ list;
They want to come on your blogtalkshow, if you have one

You need:
Loads of stamina and courage even in the face of adversity;
Luck and loads of it;
To be open and frank;
To have/write a daily journal so you can use the material for future works;
To know and appreciate other writers/artistes works;
To be grounded in integrity to yourself and your thoughts;
To be you
================================

The poetry evening was great and some good poetry AND SINGING! was read/listened to and appreciated by the emcee and the audience.

http://www.collsliterary.blogspot.com/

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Stretch by Coll B. Lue

May 24, 2007 at 8:04 am · Filed under Expressions, General, Literature, Physical Excercises, Poetry, Stretching, The Body, Thoughts, Weblogs, Writing

Stretch

A cautious eye
A safe buy
Pennies’ safe
and growin
the tale is told
and the mind bold

And growin bolder
to heed, a cautionary
tale in hand
with just a few quid
in tow
For stretching those
quids can be extremely
irksome, painfully
and painstakingly so

Cracking the jackpot
is stretching those
few quids beyond
a calendar day
a calendar month
is too gynormous
a stretch

Stretching is easy
if it’s only the torso
for a few morsels
of bread and butter
pudding, bread and butter
and just bread
Marie Antoinette just
didn’t understand

It’s easy stretching your
hands to get that credit
card for those ruby earrings,
jacket, bag, shoes, take-outs
but not easy to de-stretch
the interest which
stretches hugely
at a speed of knots,
so ruby and co.
you’re out
for now.

Ruby & Accessories.
In good condition.

©Coll B. Lue

==========

‘Stretching’ can be a good word to have and use to extend your imagination as far as you want.

1. Stretch out and yawn, out of sheer boredom of everything including life
2. Stretch out for a bikkie (could be a biscuit or a pair of bikinis if you enjoy shortening words for the pleasure of it)
3. Stretch the imagination so the bikinis and the person in them make you want to take a shower; or if they are biscuits - imagine seeing gnats all over your duvet or bed spread with all the crumbs accumulating into an ant’s nest (I’m sure you prefer the first option)
4. Stretch your dollars/(s)quids to make them last the hour, in which case a drink is probably going to be your best bet of getting value for money (VFM)
5. Stretch your clothes so your buttocks fill out your jeans or slacks well
6. Stretch those legs out enough so you trip others up on their way out - if in a cafe - help them to a seat and recommend the most expensive drink, then get your commission from the cafe owner
7. Stretch and tell the world you love stretching and laying down, cos it feels better than standing up straight - who wants a stiff back and back pains - not me for sure
8. Stretch out a canvas and tell others you make a good canvas stretcher - in case they need one and they can come to you for just that service, at an exorbitant price though, but indicate the highly skilled craftsmanship required
9. Stretch your hands out to others who want a helping hand but sweetly drop into the conversation that this doesn’t come cheaply
10. Stretch out your torso like the bronze statue, The Thinker (by Rodin), so you look like you’re always thinking up ways to get VFM (value for having a great thinking mind - which always find ways to do things the easiest way possible with the least amount of effort ie laze around and not move a single muscle/tendon)

It goes without saying doesn’t it?

Your presence is all that is required. What more do they want from you? Why should you budge an inch when it’s them who want something done?

The best solution:
Tell them in no uncertain terms, to do the job themselves if they want it done so badly. What’s in it for you? eh?

And then you do the noble thing and storm off to meet up with some friends for a moan.

http://www.collsliterary.blogspot.com/

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A small gathering by Coll B. Lue inspired by WAZ at the Bar Academy, London

May 22, 2007 at 12:43 am · Filed under Expressions, General, Literature, Music, Musicians, Poetry, Thoughts, Weblogs, Writing

A small gathering

 

From my leather seat

the stage is only a few feet away

 

From where I sat the songs

were perfect

and my ears were tuned

with the meaning understood

 

Geared to the metallic

sounds mixed with the traditional

the guitar is tuned

my ear hears the voice

and the sound is

clear

the keyboard too

and I sat, transfixed

 

My back, straight

the music flows

smoothly across

and the gathering

becomes silent

with awe.

 

©Coll B. Lue

The Bar Academy seems to host some really good events like the performance of Scroobius and Pip about two months ago and now, WAZ.  They are an amazing band and you should just listen to the music, even.

They played to a small and intimate crowd this evening but the singing was brilliant - it was as if they were playing to a packed Wembley arena - it was that good.

A really good night had by the audience.

http://www.collsliterary.blogspot.com/

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For Lorn by Coll B. Lue

May 21, 2007 at 9:07 am · Filed under Expressions, General, Literature, Poetry, Thoughts, Writing

 For Lorn

In days mist

Spreads over

And the Dew

gathers

Insipid

Spreading

slowly

Across

my mind

And sinks

into a deep

Well

Collecting

gathering

welling

up

and

deepening

©Coll B. Lue

 http://www.myspace.com/assgoblindisliker

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Tidal May by Coll B. Lue (to be read at the Farrago Poetry evening)

May 20, 2007 at 2:15 pm · Filed under Environment, Expressions, General, Literature, May, Poetry, Thoughts, Writing, Youth

It’s not that I can’t see beyond May’s pole
It’s a wonder I get up la and around the vault
of trees in and around my vicinity
in and around and near proximity
of the changes in the leaves around
which change constantly from green to brown

I can’t see the art in forrestry
I can’t quite make out the tapestry
of green and brown swirling in the vicinity
around the common, around Abbey Mills
around the pole in the middle of the craft fair
where May comes but once a year
and all the craft shows out in the open
in colours green, brown, white and opal
perhaps or maybe the rainbow of the Maypole
Ribbons for hair and for clothes get more attention
and I sometimes see the children viying for a mention

May see changes which change constantly
from a patchy gray to a pastel green and brown visibly
and my colours grow clearer as the month passes by
and I can’t see the end of the month’s eye
beyond the colours that get me by
beyond a dream of clear blue hues
around the garland of ribbony views

The crown of flowers at the top of the craft pole
gets a glimpse of the spring in my steps as I feel the cold
passing the autumn into a neatly stacked mould
of seasons that get my mind in different modes of reasons
to follow the ribbons, leaves, flowers and garlands
around my mind woven in swirls
descending rapidly into a flurry of vibrant twirls
symbolising a feel for the changes in me
as I dance my heart’s desire for a homily

©Coll B. Lue

http://deanjbaker.wordpress.com/

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Fav - Her - Teacher’s Perfect by Coll B. Lue

May 18, 2007 at 7:46 pm · Filed under Art, Expressions, General, Literature, Poetry, School, Teacher, Thoughts, Writing, Youth

Fav – Her – Teacher’s Perfect

Yep - English was my fav subject
and my fav teacher Miss Ebborn
taught English as cool as any peer
teacher would do - yep.Absolutely, well spoke she did
Unmatchable, her words
her style
her methodology
her best Grades
for us
from us - ‘A’ Star
Famously she got on
and made us her fav class
Her our fav teacher
So young and ‘with it’
at the time
She didn’t have to work with us
we didn’t have to work with her
so we understood each other
well

There were no other subjects at school
except Art & History
Now that’s my History of the Arts

©Coll B. Lue

Taken from my book: In Respect of Carpe Diem, Sincerely

and also visit: www.literaryspot.com

Comments

Staging my act

May 18, 2007 at 7:43 pm · Filed under Art, Expressions, General, Literature, Poetry, Search, TV Personalities, Thoughts, Weblogs, Writing

Performing is kind of like playing ‘life’ on stage - my first taste of it was during prep school days when we had to perform on stage, in my case I chose just to sing, during the Christmas period -didn’t want to make life too difficult at 6 years old - know what I mean?

Then later during my one year in Junior school in London, in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (pseud. of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson - fine) and the knitting grandma [I wish I didn't let on my grandma made me knit my own scarf and hat which looked more like a table mat] in Little Red Riding Hood. I remember a school friend who went to the Italia Conti Stage school, but left school and sold Time Share apartments but then changed direction completely and worked for a major high street bank in its computing dept; one classmate went on to join the Sutton Theatre company; her singing was excellent and I remember avidly listening to her stage performances at Christmas (being an all Girls school we were lucky - we didn’t have to compete with boys, which I remember during my prep days, was actually quite daunting). Another classmate became ITN’s 6 o’ clock weather girl and now works for CNN’s weather dept, one Miss Oke. Hi Femi!  I remember Miss Ebborn, our English teacher telling us about getting into the National Youth Theatre, which is how you started in the media biz; I used to listen to Talkback formerly LBC Radio and heard you talking to Clive Bull about being the youngest Agony Aunt ‘pioneer girl’ at the National Youth Theatre; then I remember seeing you hosting Top of the Pops, then onto reading out the weather on ITN’s 6 o’clock spot. When in France, I saw you on CNN’s weather news - How’s it going?  Can’t see a Myspace profile, do you have one?  My best wishes to you Femi.

When you like writing, performing becomes an instinct and it’s like staging life sometimes - so being on stage is a natural act.

I like the following poem because it makes me think of performing (as a singer - in the poem) and of writing as a means of putting on paper, thoughts - personal and general, because it’s a natural means of being heard:

Legends of the Common by Dean Baker

My comment:

This is a truly wonderful write - so true too - a singer is always a singer - an exhibitionist to the core - a poet is always a poet - always taking mental or written notes and communicating this to other poets who like performing like a singer - Life eh? (sheesh)

===============

Now let me go and make up a poem.

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