Maybe it was that I’d had two months off – but I think it was more than that, I think it was just a very good run…this was easily the best open-mic set, the best bunch, since I’ve been turning up on the semi-regular for Poetry At The Fringe.

I was in the early bracket this time, about reader number five. And I shared two poems, both with vague – or overt – Bukowski inference, timed to read given what would have been his 99th birthday had just passed.

So it was I Used To Live In An Old Post Office and Dirty Old Clown. I think they went down pretty well; well enough that at half-time the guest poet, Rachel Doré approached me, keen to work together – share a bill or what have you – at some point. So that was cool. 

There were some very good poems in the open-mic slot, including some decent work from readers I’ve previously not been so fussed on. Goes to show you. Poetry is an on the day/in the moment thing. 

After the break Rob Joass was the musical guest – and he did a fine job. He played some sweet songs and his lyrics seemed to resonate with the crowd, thoughtful; poetic.

Then Rachel took to the stage, or in fact the floor – for her set. Her poems were funny and she had a great way of delivering. There was quiet rage and she took us all for a good spin with some of her yarns.

I liked it a lot.

I hope I get that call. I reckon we’d do a decent double-act – completely different but somehow on the same page, or at the least complementary. 

For various reasons I hadn’t made it in June or July, out of the city both times. So it was good to be back after reading there in March, April and May.

Hopefully I’ll get there for September. It’s a spring celebration theme.
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