This Sunday June 6, SpeedPoets roll back into InSpire Gallery Bar (71 Vulture St West End) from 2pm boasting a double feature to make the sparks fly in your frontal lobe!
The poetry feature will be none other than one-time hermit-derelict-wildman, Billy Jones. Billy is an artist, poet and emotional expatriate born in Camden, New Jersey in 1935. In addition to his seven previously published poetry collections and numerous exhibitions, he has kept a journal of drawings, paintings and poetry every day since 28 June 1975. When asked about Jones’ work, fellow QLD legend Thomas Shapcott said, the mystical awareness of larger forces within the quotidian is what makes his work special … a remarkable record of a life spent simply, and deeply.
Here is a poem taken from his 2006 collection, Wren Lines (papertiger media – soi 3 modern poets) and one of his incredible images:
PURE LAND
frog in bathroom
sink as I brush teeth
in oval silky oak mirror
moves out of way
of gurgling tap
chrome green
with white belly
spatula suction cup
fingers & toes
cascade of fleeting streaks
in back of the eyes
skids into shaving bag
backs in slow peering out
must live in there
there goes my overnight bag
pure land of enchantment
what is a man
what is a treefrog
but this sudden curving
radiance behind the eyes
And approaching the mic softly will be Brisbane band, The Stress of Leisure. This will be an acoustic gig for the band, featuring Head-of-Leisure, Ian Powne and delightfully flamboyant keyboardist/singer, Pascalle Burton. And as a special treat they will be showcasing songs from their eagerly anticipated third album, The Soft Approach.
If you have not yet had the pleasure, check out the video to House and Garden from their second album Hour to Hour.
As always there will be two rounds of Open Mic, live sounds from Sheish Money, Raffles, Free Zines and for the second time, the SpeedPoets ‘Poetry Rummage Sale’. So make sure you come with some coins in your pocket to take home a bargain or three… all books will be $2 or under!
See you at InSpire this Sunday… Entry is a gold coin donation.