When Noel Gallagher discusses why it was that "Wonderwall" was such a


massive success, and why Oasis subsequently went on to sell hundreds of thousands of tickets for their gigs at Donnington, and why he subsequently became a multi-millionaire, he talks about the square factor. He talks about how once "the squares" got involved, this guaranteed the band their success. Now, I don't think he was talking about contributors to this magazine, or


its readers, but if having the squares on your side is a guarantee of success, I'm hoping by calling this magazine Square, it'll have a knock-on effect. The real reason for the title, however, is that this mag has come out of the


once thriving Square Writers’ Circle, which was so-called because we met at the house of the wonderful Chris Brooke (poet, DJ, wearer of hats, and provider of (square) hangover patches), which is in Adamsdown Square, Cardiff (see cover). And perhaps I'm trying to be clever, in that now popular "reclaiming" the


word way. Not that I've ever really thought of myself as square, but I suppose it's a fairly common assumption that people who are "into" poetry must be a bit square. Hopefully, the poetry, and also short stories, contained within will help you to re-assess the squareness of such writing – although whether it’s better that the conclusion you reach is that reading and writing poetry is square or isn’t square, I’m not too sure. Included in this issue, along with 4 former regulars at the Square Writers’


Circle, are three Johns – John Brookes (bard of Cardiff, and erstwhile editor of Yellow Crane magazine), the comparatively famous John Hegley, and valley boy John Davies. There is also the marvellous Mab Jones, prizewinner at the last John Tripp Award for spoken poetry, and other fabulous people who have had work published elsewhere, or performed at prestigious events. If you too see the beauty in, if not all things, but at least some things, and


would like to contribute to future editions of this magazine, please contact square@post.com Next issue should be on sale August/September.


Nick


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32