Saturday, September 19

Poetry Book

I am quite excited, in the last week I have published my first poetry book! And I've done three amazing poetry readings!

The first one was to open the exhibition Petite . I was quite nervous as I wrote the poem I read out a couple of hours before as I saw the artwork for the first time. It was an incredible experience, seeing the work of The ARt Tree's artists all come together, and to finally meet the artists. I am extremely excited about the future (aka past when I finish my education, finally!) because I can see some wonderful collaborations happening between the artists and their art, with my poetry. (It's still odd saying 'my poetry', I think I am still in denial that I can now call myself a 'published poet'...). The opening night was Tuesday, and today we had a 'meet the artists' do, and I read two poems from my book. (It is also strange saying 'my book'.) However, because I am an incredibly organised person and missed my bus to get to the event today, my lovely neighbours Sue and Hannah were able to come and give me a lift. Phew!

The second exhibition was for the Manly Lagoon Festival, where artists were invited to 'create' an artwork on the day of the lagoon. So I was invited to write a poem about the lagoon and the festival. This was my first official poetry 'gig', ( a few weeks ago now...) so reading that poem felt like a rite of passage in itself. Once again, the artists there were amazing and I made so many contacts! I also discovered I now need a business card to give to people. It would make life a lot easier.

So three down, one to go! I'm still pinching myself!

Also if you are interested in purchasing a book, entitled Petite, (A collection of poetry if you couldn't guess!) please give me an email at emily_mcintyre@yahoo.com. Or even if you want to say hi!

I find the following poem by Shelley quite cheeky, but charming. I suppose it may be a reflection of how I've been feeling lately!

LOVE'S PHILOSOPHY

The Fountains mingle with the river
And the rivers with the ocean,
The winds of heaven mix for ever
With a sweet emotion;
Nothing in the world is single,
All things by a law devine
In one another's being mingle -
Why not I with thine?

See the mountains kiss high heaven
And the waves clasp one another;
No sister-flower would be forgiven
If it disdain'd its brother:
And the sunlight clasps the earth,
And the moonbeams kiss the sea -
What are all these kissings worth,
If thou kiss not me?

-P.B. Shelley from this website

Friday, September 18

Blog

So I have decided that since I was professionally being linked to this blog site, that this shall now be my public blog/website/thing. My personal blogging rambles will be no more! (In the public eye anyway....!)

This is one of my favourite sonnets by Shakespeare, enjoy!

SONNET 116
Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.