October '10 Live Night

Tuesday 5th October

Jay Ramsay

Jay Ramsay is the author of over 30 books of poetry, translation and non-fiction. He pioneered the connection between poetry and personal development and has taken his work abroad to America and Europe. His most recent book The Poet in You (O Books) was published in 2009.
Jay comes to us from the UK where his work has been praised by Ted Hughes, Kathleen Raine and Robert Bly. We look forward to hearing his performance. Details of his poetry workshop, Edges, on 2/3 October in Bray, are shown on page 6 of the Space Inside Journal
http://www.jayramsay.co.uk/

IN BOWOOD LIBRARY
Bowood House, near Calne, Wilts.

The flattened skin as if ironed without a crease
to the edge of the claws and the tail, lifeless in 2D
at the centre, in front of the fireplace: jaws, sabre teeth
wedged open under taxidermist’s eyes
for fierceness—to rationalize
the murder that was yours, for sport
for proof of our pathetic domination.

Your leonine hide stretched like savannah,
the earth from the air, where gazelle and zebra
and wildebeest cross and pink flamingos
cloud above wherever there is water
but there’s none here, only dry musty leatherbound
books on the rising shelves; with their soporific smell
in the afterlunch haze...and above them
painted into the ceiling’s moulding, in relief,
the faces of the Greek philosophers in profile
impassive as vases.

So we ruled
and now we pay the price

and as we stand to leave, to breathe the sunlight,
the alarm goes off...as the suspects exit,
breaking the trance of centuries.

Jay Ramsay


Conor O’Donnell

In 2000, Conor O' Donnell teamed up with Tom Galvin to form an Irish and American folk band, playing in pubs around County Wicklow. As The Big Muddy, they toured the US and could often be found gigging in Portland Oregon. Conor’s mission was to bring great American style music to Ireland and, last June, the Americana and Roots weekend was launched in Greystones, to great acclaim. Tonight, Conor plays solo giving us a taste of his folk roots with lively version of songs by Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.

School of Rock

Celebrating 10 years, WSMD presents Summer School of Rock 2010, featuring some of the bands from this year’s camp ready to rock you with old and contemporary tunes. This is another chance to see the bands following their performance on Culture Night.

Space Inside Poetry Contest Winners

Martin Swords, contest adjudicator, will announce the winners of the Space Inside Poetry Contest. The winning poems will be read on the night and prizes awarded to the lucky winners.