My older brother shares a birthday with both Ian Brown and Gordon Brown. While neither he nor IB were at the Poets for Haiti event in January, both myself and Gordon Brown were, although not sat together. In a speech at the beginning, the Prime Minister spoke about how poets can play a major part when it comes to addressing the emotional significance of such events through their writing. Young buck, Marc Thomas interviewed me recently, and in fact asked whether I thought poets should be addressing political issues, and I answered – yes of course, but I do wonder if poets in fact have been shying away from this responsibility recently. In February, a story that hit the headlines here in Wales was about a woman banned from
shopping in Tescos for wearing pyjamas. While hardly as important on a global scale as thousands of people dying in an earthquake, it was a talking point at least for a day. I was on the side of the shopper – why shouldn’t she wear what she wants? I also wondered if it might be a class issue – I regularly see students in the Cathays branch of Tescos wearing various states of undress, but I can’t imagine these, mostly middle class shoppers ever being asked to leave. I heard Sue Hamblen read her poem about the story at one of Mab Jones’s events, and thought
she really hit the mark – the poem was spot on and really funny, and I had to put it in the mag. It may not be a “major issue”, but it’s the best poem I’ve heard recently that addresses a topical subject. Along with that, I asked Jackie Jones to do a picture on the theme for the cover, and Jackie too
has really come up with the goods, I think. What else be in the mag? To some extent, it is “the return of the men”, but rest assured this was
not in any way intentional – it’s just that I’ve had far more submissions from men this issue! Rhys Williams, he of Issue 3, is back with some entertaining poems. There’s one from Jack Pascoe, a regular on the spoken word scene in Cardiff. We have a great article by Owen Niblock about his mission to write 100 poems in 100 days. Roundyhouse editor, Phil Carradice has kindly sent in a
poem, along with one each from Michael Newman, Ivor Treby and old favourite, J. Brookes. We have two each from Michael Bryant and Tim Brenan. Steven Phillips has contributed one of three poems about snow, as well as another poem. There’s a spooky short story from Simon Morgan. I’ve put in my own poem “The Bought Badge” which is based on the Brian Patten poem “The Stolen Orange, printed with kind permission (see centre pages). I’ve also included my “Local Poet” poem, which French poet, Emmanuelle Le Cam has very kindly translated for me in the last couple of months, so it’ll be the first time I’ve put something in the mag in a language other than English. There are also 3 of Emmanuelle’s English language poems. For thet
hr su u ig(another first!), the writing id ise rnnn
of Gemma June Howell has been included - this time, it’s a piece of “micro-fiction” or “flash fiction” whichever you prefer. Anyone doing this style of writing at themoment is encouraged to send it in, as it would suit the mag well. Finally, thanks also to Marc Thomas and Amy Wack for their reviews. So, a packed issue as ever. Next time you’re shopping at a supermarket, and they ask you,
“do you need a hand with your packing?” just tell them– “no thanks, I read Square – and that’s packed already!!” N
ic k
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