“Very enjoyable”, “excellent standard of poets” and “a great atmosphere” was the feedback we received from our audience. They loved the inclusiveness of our event.

Open Word is held at The Grosvenor, in the beautiful town of Stockbridge, Hampshire. The Open Word Café runs from 1.30pm – 4.00pm, every 4^th Sunday of the month

It was a reading of two halves.Cat Randle performed  the sacrificial poem and played with the audience while educating them about technology with The purple fantastic feels like elastic spangled and plastic ray gun.

Rosey our poet from Mencap, read her power point poem called Taxi. When she talked about taxi’s she couldn’t get into we saw taxi’s in a very different way.

Mike Rogers proved he didn’t need the microphone. We loved his retelling of Greek myths. He took the theme of families and re-created a gripping story . My favourite lines were “Blood is thicker than water. Do you have to shed it to find out.”

Mike Rogers and his fabulous hat

David Robinson included us in his artistic process. He’s found a picture for his poem Genesis. His familial look at Adam and Eve’s first year away from the garden.  He also took us to the time of protest in 60’s London and how it impacted his hitchhiking home. “It was yesterday, it was years ago,”

David Robinson at Genesis

David Hubble An embarrassment guide to the Chinese was a well constructed clever list poem. A fabulous reply to Boris Johnson’s comment about what the Chinese contributed to culture. Quite a lot if you carefully listen to David. Cat was taken with his poem about cats regrets. Finally,  Michael Gove was the subject of David’s bile as his poem insulted him in beautiful Shakespearian-style language.

David Hubble sharing satire when politicians speak without thinking

Caro Reeves was greeting with an introduction about 5 lovely things Cat appreciated about her. Her Bird watching in Waitrose comparing the current  hoi-poloi to birds of prey. Her  poem Grand found an inspiration in nature was about being taken down a peg or two. “If you’re unique you’re not alone.” Her poem  in praise of fracking was a hymn for any eco-warrior and a wake-up call. Her set finished with Great moths reminding us of why we need our countryside

Syd Meats introduced himself as an ego warrior which explained his tee shirt and how this movement was created to help uphold people’s self-esteem. He read 4 poems in the first half The penultimate question version 1. His witty post-Brexit poem was short and a crowd pleaser. He read one of my favourite environmental poems, reminiscent of Edward Lear in its absurdity and swift in its brevity; If. His 4th poem I must not took us from cradle to grave through one man’s life defined by what he must not do.

Syd Meats helping us uphold our self-esteem

Charlotte Sherwood was able to fit us in before she moves west. Charlotte is a lyrical poet who helps us appreciate nature in its grand and intimate moments. Her first poem line  “know you have been and remember.” was very comforting. She then took us to The Ham on New Year’s day which is a place in Tewksbury and we walked with her family in the cold. Her final poem Remember had some lovely twists of word play which ensorcel us in her idyll spell.

Charlotte Sherwood weaving a wonderful word picture

We ask for feedback at the end of each session and we were asked if the guest poets and musicians could play in the first and second half.

Guest poet, Duncan Green after introducing one of his signature poems, Why create used his first half to take us on a journey into the world of early fatherhood. He examined the father’s relationship with a child in his poems Gravity,Reveal and I’m Father Christmas. He subtly captured the emotional roller coaster of early parenthood. In the second half, he explored Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. He experimented with slam and non-slam rhythms varying pace which helped us take on all the intricate concepts inside his writing.The second set is still young. Once completely learnt by heart, he will edit the poems into an even more powerful offering. He is a capable philosopher poet and this cycle is an excellent exploration of Maslow’s pyramid.

Duncan Green sharing the wonder of a small baby

Les Kazoos D’Amour. We questioned was it love of kazoos or kazoo love. We fell in love with Matt and Janet’s energy, stage banter and wonderful choice of energetic, wistful, uplifting, catchy, funny songs. Their own particular verve and personal spin lift these show tunes, songs, ditties, old and new and give them a snazzy jazzy life.  I particularly loved Ivor Cutlers; Go and sit upon the grass.This is the magic of Les Kazoos D’Amour, their sets are like being greeted by a long lost friend who is happy to see us again. We finished off their second set with a song medley involving a lot of 60’s songs and Jeremy Corbyn. I love them and they deliver joy, fun and a darn fine sing along.

Kazoos D’Amour with their  wonderful banter