APOLOGIES: Sarah (DD) Simona, Alan

PRESENT: Tricia, Liz, Nathan, Keith, Cathy

NEWS:  

  1. Write out loud:  Liz, Nathan and Harry all read poems that were well received. 
  2. Liz was pictured in the Woking news and mail on the recently reopened railway bridge near St Johns, she was listed as a local poet. 
  3. Nathan received an honourable mention from the Dark Poets Society for a poem submitted and 3rd place for another poem submitted for mental health week. 
  4. Reading group: current books are Night Train to Lisbon by Paul Mercier and Orbital by Samantha Harvey. Next meeting to be held on 19/5/25. 
  5. Write out Loud’s meetings will be held online on the 2nd Wednesday of the month. 

READINGS

Nathan: read a beautiful poem entitled Music makes me reminisce. Liz really liked the beautiful timed words of affirmation, the last series of lines was cleverly done, the musical terminology linked well with the theme of reminiscence. A well-crafted piece full of lovely imagery. Nathan also read a Haiku for which Tricia suggested that lines one and three could be swapped around. It was also suggested that an alternative word to plants could be used to enhance the piece further. 

Keith’s piece was titled A day in Italy. This was a humorous piece about a work trip that Keith made, it was very well written and articulate, although it was witty it was suggested that we need to be cautious about using language stereotypes as the main comical driver. The element relating to the old lady and the cats was very much enjoyed and it was suggested that this element could have been extended. 

Tricia piece was a found poem (Crosswords) based on answers to a crossword puzzle. Some said it was reminiscent of a shopping list, Liz liked the lines totem pole, opinion poll and suggested that as it was so abstract, Tricia was the Dali of the writers group. 

Liz’s poem, Spring Lines was meant as an anti-spring poem, with many carefully crafted literary references such as Coleridge, Wordsworth and the wind in the willows. The piece used a clever rhyme structure, but it was felt that the anti-spring message could have been a little clearer. Generally enjoyed by the group especially Nathan. 

Cathy’s Shavian Alphabet, was a very well written piece about GB Shaws attempting to devise an alternative alphabet. Cathy researched extensively the history of different types of shorthand such as Pitman and her discoveries in linguistics was very illuminating. The piece was very interesting and led to a lively discussion about various different forms of shorthand and language development. 

Next Meeting: Thursday, 19th of June at 7.30

Writing Topic: Scent/Smell. 

Wine: Keith 

Milk and biscuits: Liz 

Chairperson: Tricia 

Minutes: Sarah/Simona