bye bye love, hallo spaceboy

What a week this has been! I've been floating along on this very happy cloud of post-race endorphins, even going so far as to plot my next race. But this morning something tipped me over into looking down on cloud nine - I am one of two lucky winners of One Night Stanzas' Dream Poetry Slam competition! I'm going to get a copy of JoAnne McKay's The Fat Plant as my prize! I can't wait to read it! And I was joint winner with Red Bird - I can't think of a nicer person to share a podium with.

My dream poetry slam team consisted of the following:

Scroobius Pip, because he is fabulous live - he turns every poem into a play with multiple characters! I also love how layered his poetry is - his words are laced with so much tongue-in-cheek but it’s heartbreaking at the same time. His poems hold up a mirror to a world most of us wouldn’t like to admit we live in.

Sylvia Plath, of course. What she’d think of Scroobius though, I don’t know. She might not like “The Magician’s Assistant”!

Ivy Alvarez, who loves Sylvia as much as I, and whose work just begs to be spoken out loud.

Clive and Ruth Sansom, who were founding members of the London Verse Choir in the 1930s, and who did the one of the first (it may have even been the very first) public performances of The Wasteland. Clive’s most famous poem, “The Witnesses”, would definitely be on the programme, there’d be something for everyone in there. Scroobius could play John the Baptist, Sylvia could play Mary Magdalene….etc :) [aside: Clive and Ruth are the subjects of my novel]

John Keats - who would read prior to the intermission refreshments of piles of quinces and other ripe autumn fruits….

Gwen Harwood - I love how feisty she was. I’d want her to read her “F*ck All Editors” poem.”

Does David Bowie count as a poet? There are spoken sections (segues, he called them) on his album “Outside” that are just stunning. He’d have to get out his guitar as well.

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Apparently, it was the "genius inclusion" of David Bowie (hence today's title) that tipped the scales in my favour! I will have to buy Tom a drink or two tonight, as he played "Outside" to me in the first place!

Thank you so much Claire - if you haven't checked out One Night Stanzas yet, you must - it's an invaluable resource for poets and writers, and I never fail to come away feeling inspired and pepped up! Claire is so generous with her encouragement, and in sharing her knowledge and experience.

And please share dear readers, just for fun - who would be in your dream poetry team?