E Y E W E A R, THE BLOG - FREEDOM MEANS BEING UNAFRAID TO WRITE WHAT YOU THINK

A LADY LOOKING FOR NOSFERATU IN CHAPMAN'S POETRY I have been a fan of Patrick Chapman's poetry for the whole of the 21st century at least, and remember first coming across his unusual work in his book The New Pornography (1996) - which was at the time a radical departure for Irish poetry - and 20 years later still seems to be.  Chapman should be celebrated as one of the most idiosyncratic, strange, disturbing, and imaginative Irish writers now at work - and his gothic, atheistic, scientific sensibilities chime equally with Stoker 's and Cronenberg 's. We often forget the Romantics loved science and the bizarre, and mistrusted god, and are more modern than even we sometimes appear to be.  Chapman is that sort of Romantic poet. His new collection is his best by far.  Slow Clocks of Decay (Salmon, 2016) has much that appeals to that part of me which loves Hitchcock films and sexy vampires; that enjoys bleak descriptions of life's futility, and the doomed nosta...

Eyewear recommends: First reading at The Troubdour this season! Mon 17 oct: celebrating thirty years of galway’s salmon poetry with julian stannard, lorna shaughnessy, todd swift, nessa o’mahony, alan jude moore, noel monahan, anne le marquand hartigan, (ed.) jessie lendennie and guitarist henry fajemirokun Inspired by the Salmon of Knowledge in Celtic mythology, Salmon Press was established in Galway in 1981 as an alternative voice in Irish literature, and has published 300 volumes of poetry over the past 30 years. v Julian Stannard taught English & American Lit. at University of Genoa for many years— The Parrots of Villa Gruber Discover Lapis Lazuli (2011) completes his Genoese trilogy; v Lorna Shaughnessy has published translations of contemporary Mexican poetry—most recent poetry collection, Witness Trees (2011); v Todd Swift lectures in creative writing at Kingston University and is Oxfam poet-in-residence, collections inc...

Ben Parker reviews End of American Magic By Christopher Locke In 1995 Christopher Locke published his debut pamphlet How to Burn , which was followed by three more through various publishers, and from which a number of poems included in this first full collection have been taken. The long gestation of End of American Magic means that the writing is mature and consistent, with a relaxed style, and unlike many first collections there is no attempt to showcase a wide range of forms and voices. Most of the poems are stanza-less, averaging around 20 lines, while their rhythm, though far from strictly counted, does oscillate around a trimeter line, with the line endings coming like slight pauses in the laconic delivery, as if a particularly eloquent bar-fly is regaling you with tales from his life. Locke has obviously found a mode in which he is confident working, and sticks with it. ‘Telling Stories’, the opening poem, explores the thin line between lies and inventions, as w...

Eyewear is pleased to report that Salmon Poetry, of Co. Clare, Ireland, is celebrating its 30th year. As well as promoting its superb track record, a special  fundraising raffle is now underway with a unique prize of  all  thirty-one (!) of its 2011 poetry collections, signed by the authors. Have your own bookshelf of some of the finest contemporary Irish, American and British poetry.  Euro 5.00 for 5 tickets; Euro 0.00 for 12 tickets.

Not to be missed: Salmon 30th Anniversary Reading and Book Launch May 20th, 2011 Poetry Society Cafe (Studio room) 22 Betterton St. London 7.30pm Salmon Poetry celebrates 30 years of literary publishing with a showcase reading by four of its internationally-known poets: Rita Ann Higgins - Hurting God: Part Essay Part Rhyme (a memoir) Julian Stannard   - The Parrots of Villa Gruber Discover Lapis Lazuli Paul Kingsnorth - Kidland Philip Fried   -   Early/Late: New & Selected Poems Introduction by Jessie Lendennie , editor/MD of Salmon Poetry Ltd. Info: Contact  jessie@salmonpoetry.com

Salt does not have the monopoly on financial concerns, or on being a lively small press doing great work - Salmon in Ireland - among other things the main Irish publisher of woman's poetry there - is also seeking supporters (albeit more subtly) to purchase their superb collections and anthologies.  Their offer is fair and tempting - they will ship books anywhere in the world for free.  Now is the time for North Americans, among others, to order books by Kevin Higgins, Patrick Chapman, Susan M DuMars , and many others - including my Seaway - without the expense of post from abroad.  The salmon of knowledge is ever more available.

I will be reading as part of the Kingston Readers' Festival a week from now, on Friday, 14 May, 1 pm, at the Kingston Museum, with fellow poet Chrissie Gittins , for an event called Salmon with Salt . The festival is also featuring writers and speakers such as AS Byatt, Zach Goldsmith, Vince Cable, Iain Sinclair, Sadie Jones, Libby Purves, Bonnie Greer, Dame Joan Bakewell , William Fiennes and Dame Jacqueline Wilson .