April Closing.

Hello Everyone.

Just to let you know the deadline for our April Theme 'The Fool' is the 6th of May.

Many Thanks to all those who have entered!

Ledbury Poetry Festival

Chris Kinsey

Chris Kinsey was BBC Wildlife Poet of the Year in 2008. She received an Arts Council of Wales Writer's Bursary in 2000. Her collection, Kung Fu Lullabies, Ragged Raven Press, came out in 2004 and was well received by critics. She launched Cure for a Crooked Smile, Ragged Raven Press, in November 2009. A further collection, Swarf is forthcoming: from Smokestack Books. A commissioned sequence of poems Houndlove is published in Poems of Love and Longing, Pont Books, Gomer Press, 2008. Eight of her nature poems for children aged 7-11 will appear in All Through the Year also to be published by Pont Books. Chris has also written a stage play Feathering the Dark which was given a rehearsed reading at Aberystwth Arts Centre as part of the 2009 Travelling Light Festival. Her short film script Legless was shortlisted by TAPs ( Cymru) for production by ITV's It's My Shout in 2008. Her digital story, Houndsplay is published on the BBC Wales website. She has had a story and poetry read on BBC Radio 4 and Radio Wales. Chris also writes poetry reviews and a regular Nature Diary for Cambria. Chris has two rescure greyhounds and has been dubbed Greyhounds' Poet Laureatre. She is a member of Greyhound Rescure Wales, Academi, Powys Arts Forum and the Board of Ty Newydd, The National Writing Centre for Wales.

Brian Clark

Brian Clark is a writer who worked in newspapers, radio and television and later as a freelancer, speacialising in rural issues. Some earlier poems were broadcast on Radio 4, and he began writing poetry and short stories again in 2008. He likes in rural Yorkshire.

Biography

Hello everyone,

Hope you are enjoying the beautiful weather! We thought you would like to know a bit more about our winning poets so here's a short biography for Chris and Brian...

Ledbury Poetry Festival

Brian Clark

IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK

The church clock stopped five times altogether

on Wednesday when all the talk was of the weather

at The Easingwold Wayfarers annual dinner.

There's been A recurrence of people urinating

in the Market Place; there is no natural cover

because it is extremely well lit

The News can exclusively reveal

with CCTV pictures to prove it

(Luckily Beck's ducks taken to safe haven).

But Axeing councillor's teas is tinkering

when the W.I offers a salvo of soups.

Intrigued by the Fury at school plan for pub

Relieved that Forced rhubarb's name protected

Oh for An Evening with Pam Ayres (sold out)

Now that Garden waste is back on rota.

Despite Triumph in Pony Club Quiz and a

Silver in World's Original Marmalade Contest

Still the Call for ideas to boost town.

Dear Sir, I read with dismay and distress...

Dear Sir, I really must protest...

Dear Sir, I am depressed...

Source: The Easingwold Advertiser and Weekly News, March 5, 2010

By Brian Clark

Chris Kinsey

CURRENTS

Market Day 23rd February 2010.

No more echoing screams, no greasy thrills,

all the bright vans, pistons and pulsing lights

of the funfair struck overnight.

Across town, the sheds and pens of the cattle market

were razed. Tesco built fast under arc lights.

Yesterday was Grand Opening.

Ont the bridge, a man, smart-for-town

stares down at the stony shallows,

leans uncomfortably far over ferry gliding ducks.

Others are leaning too, they list into air

thickening with cross-hatching snow.

The last gentleman's outfitters is going slowly:

Viyella reduced, hound's-tooth checked caps half price.

The Seconds Shop went months ago.

Currys is clearing out too.

Walking on through the shrinking street market,

a muscle in my back is a little too tight,

not painful, but tense enough to pull me out-of-true.

When I return, the man is still leaning over the bridge,

grainy behind snowflakes and blurred by cloud.

Someone lobs a three quarters ciggy from a van

and he snaps into focus, snatching it before it dampens.

"That's better." He smiles and goes,

leaving a gap for the wind's harmonics.

Cries get louder. A lone goose flies close to the hill's rim

unpicking the seam where weather fronts merge.

It beats for its flock and down falls.

by Chris Kinsey

And the winner is!

The votes are in and the huge pile of entries have been read, re-read and deliberated over.

Due to the overwhelming response to our March theme of 'Small Town' we have decided to crown two winners. Thank You to all those who entered - it was a tough decision - but hopefully you will agree with the two we have chosen.

Ledbury Poetry Festival

April's theme

Hello Everyone!

Our April theme is 'The fool'