2nd September

• • Today
  • 19:30

• Join us for Bury's brand new and only regular poetry open mic! Stemming from Bury College's theatre show, Once More with Meaning is now a night of poetry, local ale, and probably a whole lot of eccentricity, judging by the kind of people us poets associate with (namely other poets). It will be a night of two halves: open mikers all get to read one poem (two if you keep it short - let that be a lesson to you), then we wrap it up with a guest for fifteen minutes. We'll have a bit of a break, get a drink from the bar, then re-commence and do it all again! (Please note that The Met is closed at this time on a Sunday, so entrance in through The Automatic restaurant) THIS MONTH: GUEST COMPÉRE DERMOT GLENNON BEN MELLOR Ben is an award-winning slam poet (BBC Radio 4 Slam Champion 2009, Dike Omeje Slam Poetry Award 2008), writer and actor who has performed his work at theatres, festivals, schools, colleges and prisons nationally and internationally. AND ALABASTER DEPLUME When performing alone, Alabaster dePlume will address a room, and have his speech, song and behaviour hold it in moments of nonsense and clarity. He seems to feel he ought to share certain things, just in case everyone else was just too afraid to mention it first. He has been described by one critic as “Harrowingly funny.” £2 entry.

Open Mic Winner: Janet Rogerson

Janet Rogerson has a pamphlet A Bad Influence Girl which was published by The Rialto in 2012. She is currently a PhD student at The University of Manchester. She has never won anything remotely poetry related so was very happy to win the open mic favourite poem competition at Once More with Meaning, with the title poem from her pamphlet ‘A Bad Influence Girl’.

(We were unable to publish 'A Bad Influence Girl', however, we do how a replacement poem 'Sex Shop Sestina')

------------------------

Sex Shop Sestina

Ken works in insurance, it can be pretty

dull, though he does meet some interesting people.

One of his clients is Coco’s Sex Shop,

the things he’s seen in there, how other people live.

He would feel his face burn with shame at first

as he furtively entered looking this way and that way.

If anyone saw him what could he say, there is no way

they would believe it was work, he was pretty

sure about that. Inside what he saw shocked him at first,

it thrilled him too, he’d never admit that to the people

at work, they gave him the account on purpose, they live

to humiliate him, but he’d proved them wrong about the Shop.

                       

At home he tries not to think about the Shop

he couldn’t be happier with his wife, the way

they live is not exciting but it’s a decent way to live

and she’s not bad for her age, still pretty

in her own way, she’s a lot better than most people,

and she always puts his needs first,

he likes that about her, he comes first,

and you wouldn’t catch her in Coco’s Sex Shop

she has standards, high ones, not like some people.

Still, there are other alternatives. Another way

to live. He glances over at Sophie’s pretty

face, her round red mouth open like she’s alive.

He’s feeling down today. This is no way to live,

everyone else comes first, he should put his needs first

for once. Maybe he’ll take something pretty

home for his wife, although he’s not talked about the Shop,

she might get the wrong idea, no, it’s not her way

some people are fixed in their ways, other people,

people like him have a deeper side to them. People

have desires and needs – they can’t live

like this. Something is going to happen one way

or another. She was his first love, first

and only lover but the men who go to the Shop

are different, carefree. Sophie sure looks pretty.

Baby you’re so pretty, I don’t care what people

think, the Shop don’t own you, we can live

anywhere. My wife never loved me this way.

July 1st

• • 
    Sunday, 1 July 2012
  • 19:30

• Join us for Once More With Meaning - Bury's best (and only) poetry open mic night. Bring two poems, and we'll bring the stage. We've got a large, atmospheric performance space in a theatre, access to one of the best bars with the most variety in Bury, a prize for the best open mic-er and amazing guests - now all we need is you! (entrance is through The Automatic - since the door is a little out of the way, simply ask a member of staff at the restaurant for directions and they'll point you the right way.) THIS MONTH'S GUESTS: STEPH PIKE Steph Pike is a performance poet and activist. She has a militant poet's mind and a penetrating eye for beauty. Her first collection of poetry 'Full of the Deep Bits' was published in 2010. She is the Sheffield Grand Dame of Slam 2011 and runs a poetry night in Manchester called 'Word Up'. and STEVEN WALING Steven Waling is excited by words and languages and keeps finding them all over the place. His collections, Travelator & Captured Yes are published by Salt Publishing and Knives, Forks and Spoons Press, and he performs his poetry all over the place. Doors: £2

Open Mic Winner: Joy France

Joy enjoys mucking about with words and inflicting them on others. She is based in Wigan and loves the North West performce poetry scene, having had guest poet slots as far afield as Sale and Wallasey.

Whispers       in the air               on the wind  aren’t clear   are they there?        Do you miss me?

But you’d always say “Bollocks, girl” when I’d talk of other worlds. And you’d do it with that kindly smile like you were enlightening a child. Then you’d say “and there’s no ghosts, no God no Heaven, no Hell.... but I can tell you girl that there is today. So grab it. Live it. Fuck it.” With you, there was no pretence. You made my world make perfect sense.

Whispers       in dreams     like kisses     feel real.                Is it you?

We were meant to grow old together. Disgracefully. Do wheelchair wheelies down care home corridors. Fill baths with bubbles. Or jelly. Draw penises on sleeping staff’s foreheads – with a sharpie. But you went and died. Died - not heroically or stoically but stupidly. Making a cup of tea. I see it. Different ever time but you’re there, alone and slip slipping away from life. From me. Gone in an instant, or slow drip drippings. But always there’s the blood. That red sticky that floods your kitchen, and my mind. Indelibly.

Whispers                 Whispers                I strain to hear       hushed whispers.     Don’t go.

I want to hear your laugh. Tattoo it on my skin. Remember every moment. Like the night I came in, and found you, crossed legged, naked, on our bed.   Eating cold beans from the tin. On my antique pearl embroidered bedspread. Tried to object but your infectious laugh grabbed me by the throat, And you grabbed me and we made hard love instead. In utter hilarity.  On our bed. On my antique pearl embroidered 57 variety stained bedspread.

Whispers.               Whispers.                Whispers.

You gave me spontaneity.

Taught me Carpe Diem.

To say “Sod ‘em”

“Stop crying girl

 Cos there is today. Grab it, Live it. Fuck it.

 Move on”

“I’m trying, my love. I’m trying”

Open Mic Winner: Benny-Jo Zahl

Born with a pint of joey holts bitter firmly in hand, Benny-Jo Zahl has been making a prat of himself in public for as long as he (or anyone else) cares to remember. Stumbling into the Manchester poetry scene he found a 2nd home and began to put directionless scribblings to good use. Several years later he finally gets good at it. Blending the rhythms of his musical influences, surreal humour and a unique logic-devoid way of looking at the world around him Benny-jo Zahl is now one third of the Working Verse collective, whose debut poetry show was staged at The Lowry on January 7th 2012. Their second show is also at the Lowry show on August 4th. 

bennythepoet.co.uk

M28

Its a cul-de-sac

you can ride your bike
with no fuss then
moving day came and went
tea crates
just big enuff
to fit a 7yr old in

No5 ely close
2nd left off shawbrook
to my eyes a fortress
of Zahl, in truth
a dorma dungalow

The proud brown beams
of the portculis portch
since painted white
to match the p.v.c.
of the newly installed
dinning room windows
but
my memories remain untouched

Stabled in the driveway
my mothers chariot
i discovered motorhead
in the back of that
battered blue metro
stolen 3 times
but always turned up
(does burnt out count?)

Dads white van
suffered a similar fate
buried face first
in the finest brick wall
little hulton had to offer,
i remember playing dinosaurs
and other carnivores
on the passenger seat of that van
school runs on bicycles
aren't quite as fun as
racing dad down medway rd
in the direction of home

The neighbour to my right
spencer & his good lady,
obsessed with motor guzi
computer games & ozzy osbourne
when he left i mourned 'cos
his replacements were
boring as hell!

To my left
a building that housed
the quietest & loudest
labradors on this earth
but the annoyance was worth it
every second
5yrs my senior
and unbelievaby out of my league
emma
the subject of many a restless dream
at No5 ely close
2nd left off shawbrook

6th May 2012

• • 
    5uNd4Y, M4y 6, 2012
  • 7:30pm

• The Malt Bar, Bury

• Join us for Bury's brand new and only regular poetry open mic! Stemming from Bury College's theatre show, Once More with Meaning is now a night of poetry, local ale, and probably a whole lot of eccentricity, judging by the kind of people us poets associate with (namely other poets). It will be a night of two halves: open mikers all get to read one poem (two if you keep it short - let that be a lesson to you), then we wrap it up with a guest for fifteen minutes. We'll have a bit of a break, get a drink from the bar, then re-commence and do it all again! (Please note that The Met is closed at this time on a Sunday, so entrance in through The Automatic restaurant) This month's guest poets: KEISHA THOMPSON Keisha has been writing poetry since her childhood. As a teenager she performed all over the country, at International poetry festivals BNV '08 & '09 and the Nuyorican Poetry cafe in New York. She is a member of Young Identity, a poetry collective which exposed her to opportunities such as featuring in Saul Williams show at Band on the Wall, Manchester. Recently she has moved on to writing short plays and short stories, one of which was turned into a short film and screened at Cornerhouse Manchester. REECE WILLIAMS Reece is a poet and performer and a member of the Young Identity and Inna Voice Collectives. He has performed internationally in Washington DC and New York, and shared the stage with some giants of poetry including Saul Williams, Jean Binta Breeze, Linton Kwesi Johnson and Kei Miller. Reece has written for the stage and for the screen and recently won the Best Film Award in the Cornerhouse UnderExposed Film Festival and ELMI ALI Elmi is a writer /performer based in the North West. He is part of the prestigious Young Identity poetry collective Manchester. He writes poetry, short stories, plays and film. This dynamic artist and enthusiastic performer has performed across the country with poets like Jean Binta Breeze, Saul Williams, Chuck Perkins, The Speakeasy Collective and The Spoken Word All Stars. Elmi has had his words displayed in the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, the Platt Hall Gallery of Costume and the Whitworth Art Gallery. ***NEW*** Once More With Meaning is now introducing a prize for open mic-ers! Currently, our focus has been on guest poets and we admit we have been neglecting our wonderful open mic-ers...no longer! From May 6th, we are introducing a prize for our open mic-ers. A slip of paper will be left on the tables of our audience and, during the show, they are able to vote for the poem they enjoyed the most for whatever reason - it can be personal, they might admire the technical skill or the delivery. At the end of the show, votes will be collected and a winner will be named. The winning poem will be published here on the Once More With Meaning blog along with a bio of the poet, so if you're in need of online publications for your writer's CV...well, this is a perfect opportunity. We hope this will not only encourage more open mic-ers, but a higher standard and some friendly competition! So go for it - we want to hear your best.

Once More With Meaning Introduces...

Once More With Meaning is now introducing a prize for open mic-ers!

Currently, our focus has been on guest poets and we admit we have been neglecting our wonderful open mic-ers...no longer! From May 6th, we are introducing a prize for our open mic-ers. A slip of paper will be left on the tables of our audience and, during the show, they are able to vote for the poem they enjoyed the most for whatever reason - it can be personal, they might admire the technical skill or the delivery. At the end of the show, votes will be collected and a winner will be named.

The winning poem will be published here on the Once More With Meaning blog along with a bio of the poet, so if you're in need of online publications for your writer's CV...well, this is a perfect opportunity. We hope this will not only encourage more open mic-ers, but a higher standard and some friendly competition!

So go for it - we want to hear your best.

1st April 2012

• • 
    Sunday, 1 April 2012
  • 07:30 until 10:30

• The Malt Bar, The Met

• Join us for Bury's brand new and only regular poetry open mic! Stemming from Bury College's theatre show, Once More with Meaning is now a night of poetry, local ale, and probably a whole lot of eccentricity, judging by the kind of people us poets associate with (namely other poets). It will be a night of two halves: open mikers all get to read one poem (two if you keep it short - let that be a lesson to you), then we wrap it up with a guest for fifteen minutes. We'll have a bit of a break, get a drink from the bar, then re-commence and do it all again! (Please note that The Met is closed at this time on a Sunday, so entrance in through The Automatic restaurant) This month's guest poets: A young poet's special! Join us in celebrating young and upcoming talent. ADAM WOOLLEY Our youngest guest of the night, Adam has a knack for humour and would rather drive a unicorn than a car. Fresh from experiencing organizing his first open mic at Bolton Grammar School, Adam is a dynamo of wit, humour and geekery. ANNA MCRORY The president of the Oxford Poetry Society and ex-darling of Bolton Grammar also, Anna is visiting The Malt Bar for a guest slot. Sabotage Reviews describe her poems as "erudite, funny and charismatically performed." and ZACH RODDIS Host of Manchester's "Say Something", The Poetry Advent Calendar and a huge assortment of other projects, Zach Roddis is a fireball of Mancunian poetry, done the student way.

4th March 2012

• • Sunday, 4 March 2012
  • 07:30 until 10:30

• The Malt Bar, The Met, Market Street

• Join us for Bury's brand new and only regular poetry open mic! Stemming from Bury College's theatre show, Once More with Meaning is now a night of poetry, local ale, and probably a whole lot of eccentricity, judging by the kind of people us poets associate with (namely other poets). It will be a night of two halves: open mikers all get to read one poem (two if you keep it short - let that be a lesson to you), then we wrap it up with a guest for fifteen minutes. We'll have a bit of a break, get a drink from the bar, then re-commence and do it all again! This month's guest poets: SIAN S. RATHORE Sian S. Rathore is a conceptual writer who writes criticism for Stride Magazine, is a serial blogger and has recently started to write for the Huffington Post and Thought Catalog. Her work has most recently been published in Bad Language, Cake and UP Literature, and she edits short fiction at Metazen. Rathore is 22 and living in England. AND MARK MACE SMITH Mark Mace Smith, aka ThudDub, is our final guest act. Multiple time slam champion (most memorably for us Mancunians at the Superhero of Slam finals) and Glastonbury poet, Mark has performed extensively across the UK. The open mic is open to all poets, regardless of ability or experience - anyone is welcome! Doors: £2/ £1 conc. Also £1 if you happen to be buying a drink at the bar. Gotta support our venue and all.