Beer and poetry

Lovibonds provided a very special ambience for the book launch.

Here we were, people who love poetry, together with people who love and make beer.

It is always a pleasure to meet people who put attention into their craft, and Jason and David of Lovibonds made us feel very welcome.

The people who turned up for the poetry loved the beer - Lovibonds certainly seemed to be making a lot of sales - and I think that the people who came for the beer loved the poetry. Everyone was very attentive.

Afterwards a young couple who hadn't known the poetry event was on made a point of coming up to me to thank me. The young woman said "I haven't heard poetry before but I really enjoyed it."

It is my belief that good poetry properly read is a kind of magic. I think it reaches the parts even beer cannot reach.

Lovibonds have posted some photographs of the event on their Facebook page, here. Some of the photos are of a different event the previous day. This is me in this photo. It's a bit weird because it looks as though I am scratching my left ear, until you notice that both my hands are holding the book.

A happy event

The launch of David Henschel's Heres and Nows at Lovibond's Brewery in Henley-on-Thames was a lovely occasion.

A varied selection of David's poems from the book were read by myself (Martin Dace), Norah Henschel, and John Torrance, as well as some poems of our own (also in the book) remembering David.

Good though they are on the page, David's poems were made to be read out loud, and the event breathed them into life.

I realised how many of the poems encourage us to find and be the poet within - not necessarily that we shall all write, but that we can all live poetic lives. There was a recurring theme of what in us passes and what lives on, too.

It's late and I'm tired. I'll write more tomorrow.

Here once again is the Amazon link to David Henschel's Heres and Nows. (RRP £6.50).

Book launch event this Saturday 2nd October!

At this point I have abandoned the idea of tickets - too complicated - just turn up!

Lovibonds

4.30-6pm
Saturday 2nd October,
Lovibonds Brewery, Market Place,
Henley-on-Thames
RG9 2AA
(entrance off the car park).

Beer, poetry and good company in lovely Henley-on-Thames.

Here is the Amazon link to David Henschel's Heres and Nows. A limited number of copies will be for sale on the day at the special launch price of £5 (RRP £6.50).

And you – whoever recognise
a kind of beauty, any place
in anything where eye or ear discerned
and touched with them in turn
your spirit with the laughing wand
have also waked, and passed beyond.

- from Each waking one of us, David Henschel

Book launch event - venue confirmed

Photo adapted from Steven Depolo

We have a venue for the publication launch party for Heres and Nows.

The date: Saturday 2nd October, in the middle of Henley Literary Festival.
The location: the tasting room at Lovibonds Brewery in the heart of beautiful Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.
The time: 4.30-6pm (time to be confirmed).

This event will suit poetry lovers and lovers of fine beer alike.

I need to know numbers as space is limited. If you would like to come, please contact me using the email address at the foot of the right-hand column of this blog, when you will receive a virtual ticket.

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