Poetry thrives in the Bay for National Poetry Day

Poetry is having a moment in Hawke’s Bay. No longer the sole diversion of dusty elbow patched English teachers, poetry has diversified, amplifying the voices of would-be thespians from all walks of life, from the cradle to the grave. Now in its twenty-fifth year, Phantom Billstickers’ National Poetry Day falls on Friday 26 August, a call to celebratory action from poets across the country. 

Last Tuesday night saw Napier city centre enlivened by the second Progression of Poets. A free event, sponsored by Hawke’s Bay Readers and Writers Festival, six poets performed across three venues, rotating while audiences remained in place to drink in the cornucopia of word play on offer. Local poets, Marty Smith, Shelley Burne-Field, Ricky Day and your illustrious author teamed up with Wellington legends Tarns Hood and the prolific and powerful Apirana Taylor. 

On Friday from 11am, Emerson Street shoppers will be serenaded by a selection of Napier Live Poets, proclaiming their truth to the people on the streets. Under the custodianship of Jeremy Roberts, a local poet of acclaim, Napier Live meets on the first Monday of the month at 6pm at Community Arts Napier for open sharing of work. They also collaborate with schools and run events promoting the poetic cause. 

Roberts does not rest on his laurels when it comes to getting poetry to the people. He hosts a monthly radio show, Hawke’s Bay Poetry Live, on the newly rebranded Radio Hawke’s Bay, in which he interviews local poets and showcases their work. He is also one of the literary editors of Vines, a local anthology of writing and art, published almost biannually, celebrating the breadth of creativity in the Bay.

Hawke’s Bay Live Poets is another opportunity to have your words heard. Coming together at  Cedric Alexander Theosophical Hall in Taradale on the second Monday of the month at 7pm, they’ve been meeting for thirty years. To celebrate this fact they are publishing an anthology of contributors’ poems, to be released on 22 September.

Celebrating the fringes of the poetic community, Common Poet’s Society is the last regular open mic of the month, falling on the last Tuesday from 7.30pm at Common Room in Hastings. This is a consciously created safe space for people to pour their souls onto the floor for the pleasure of a sympathetic audience. Their nod to National Poetry Day will be the second iteration of Poet on Call, Friday from 4pm outside Common Room. Passersby provide a prompt and receive an impromptu poem produced on a vintage typewriter.

For the competitive among us, the poetry-loving people of the Bay must imperfectly elect a Slam Champion to represent the region at the National Slam held annually in Christchurch. Now in its fifth year, Hawke’s Bay Poetry Slam has evolved from a singular event to a series of heats leading up to a Grand Finale at Spaceship on 15 October. Those who fancy themselves Slam Champion still have time to sign up for the second heat, held on 15 September at Paisley Stage.

With all of these activations and happenings it can’t be doubted that poetry is growing in the Bay. This is the result of conscious and concerted effort by a number of major players. 

Wardini Books are passionate about all things literary and are a forerunner in this poetic renaissance, sponsoring Common Poets, score-counting the Poetry Slams, and supporting the Readers and Writers Festival, as well as many other endeavours. For National Poetry Day they ran a well-subscribed competition. Check out their socials for videos of the winners and a few surprises.

Motif Poetry are tireless in their pursuit and promotion of poetry. They sponsor events across the North Island, including the Slams and Common Poets, as well as running workshops for poets of all ages and stages.

Independent local publishers, EV Books, forge the way in print poetry. The brainchild of published poet and Napier Live founder, Erice Fairbrother, and editor extraordinaire, Val Thompson, EV creates a platform for poets to see their work preserved on the page.

Pipi in Havelock North, have long popularised poetry, papering their walls in verse and including poems at the back of their cookbooks and hidden in the packaging of their take home pizza bases.

Creative Communities and the councils too recognise the worth of poetry and lend both financial and practical support.

But all this would be meaningless were it not for the will of the people, voting with their feet to come out to shows and to share their work. What draws them then? What is the appeal? Poetry elevates ordinary language to the realms of the divine, allowing us to reveal and experience deeper truths, to be vulnerable, and to have our voices heard. In our increasingly atomised society, poetry offers a glimpse of the inside of someone else’s mind, to see the world through their eyes. It’s a view we all could do with.