Poetry Alive and Well In Gore

Monday 28th November, 2016

roadside photo taken between Clinton and Gore, Southland, New Zealand ...

It was satisfying for me (the K of J&K Rolling) to visit my aunty in Gore recently and catch up with her news of the poetry group established there after a visit by J&K Rolling one National Poetry Day at the Gore Library a couple of years back.

... minutes, advertising not one, but two Dunedin poetry competitions for Gore people to enter ... with Poems in the Waiting Room competition on the second page ...

This is what J&K's Outrider poetry is all about. Discovering the poetry alive and well in rural, outlying areas.

My aunty is a member of the group and I was thrilled to read one of her poems she'd recently penned.

What a useful outlet this group is for her interest in written expression and in recording her personal history. She said that no matter the subject selected as a writing exercise, she finds herself delving into her memory banks. It is a pretty rich memory bank too, being in existence for over 80 years now.

 I won't publish the poem she wrote just now (but watch this space because I am champing at the bit to post it at the next possible opportunity, I loved it so much).

I'm not posting it because she may (I really hope she does!) enter it into this competition that the Gore library is promoting.

Pleasing for me personally to have this fusion of poetry happening in Gore - Poems in the Waiting Room (of which I am a Trust Member) and J&K Rolling; both giving poetry a plug in Gore. And I mustn't forget the staff at Gore Library and their marvellous support of poetry.

A Pair of Outriders

On J&K's Outrider poetry mish to Wanaka, a stop-off in Roxburgh at a favourite tea room-gift shop. The Janet Frame allusion via the table marker maybe a 'good sign'.

J&K find this sign hilarious. 

Lake Wanaka sits close to the town centre; a faithful presence. A little like the pale Labrador with the doleful face that remains outside one of the town's cafes; I guess, waiting for its owner to finish work. There under sufferance, patient, tolerant and definitely not wanting to be anywhere else.

J. taking a photo of poems created at the Poetry Creation Station in the Wanaka library.

Couldn't pass this phot opp. by. Poetry in the country epitomised by gumboots outside the library. 

Before Open Mic. and J&K Rolling's poetry reading, the children's poetry competition winners were announced.

Eve introducing us. Thanks Eve for all your hard work organising this 2016 National Poetry Day event. Much appreciated.

Another piccie after another poetry reading in another library on another adventure J&K have been on now for three years. 

And it was good-bye to lovely Wanaka.

At Luggate just outside Wanaka, we spied a photo opp. we couldn't drive by. J&K Rolling on the trail of poetry in the outlying areas - the byways and slipstreams; riding as outriders under the radar, with a wagonload of poetry.

Watch this space as J&K Rolling keep on rolling and evolving ... Once the dust settles from this latest venture, what farther poetry events lie ahead for this pair of outriders? 

On The Poetry Trail

When we set off on another Poetry Reading appointment, we often describe it as being on the road again.

Sometimes we might add a 'Yippe-yi-yay' to that - especially after we dubbed ourselves as Outriders and added horses as a motif.

And come Thursday this week, we are indeed on the road again

... travelling autumn roads all the way from Dunedin to Wanaka

... as we hit the trail again in our hunt for the fine poetry to be found in the hinterlands.

If you are in Wanaka on New Zealand's National Poetry Day, Friday 26th August, come along to the library there and take part in all the events happening, including our Open Mic session at 3.45 p.m. (Don't forget to bring a poem to read).

Looking Ahead to Wanaka in August

I can guarantee that Wanaka will not be looking as summery as this when Dunedin writer Jenny Powell & I head that way in August.

Yes, J&K Rolling are off on another Outrider Whistlestop.

This time we are accepting an invitation by Wanaka library to be their guests for New Zealand's National Poetry Day on Friday, August 28th, 4.00 pm - 5.30 pm. Open Mic. is part of the event; so anyone planning on coming along - bring a poem or two.

We look forward to breathing Wanaka's good old mountain air and admiring the beautiful scenery. But above all, we look forward to discovering the poetry to be found in this beautiful place, and meeting the locals and hearing their poetry.

We are just hoping it doesn't snow too hard in late August; we'd hate not to be able to get there. Maybe this time horse-back isn't going to be an option ... (just kidding).

Striking Gold

As part of our latest Outrider venture, on April 28th, J&K Rolling (Jenny Powell and myself) read poetry at the splendid Queenstown library.

We were interested to discover what cultural veins could be tapped in this resort town full of tourists taking in the wonderful scenery and experiencing the many outdoor, adventure pursuits available. Intellectual pursuits are not really what Queenstown is mainly known for.
However the library begs to differ. It has a wide choice of reading material and is obviously a real asset for the town.

Where would we find the poetry? (Apart from the poem by David Eggleton that ribbons its way around the lakes's stone wall?)

Some members of the Queenstown writing group (the Real Alchemists) were present at the reading as well as others who aren't writers, but who were there because they simply loved poetry and welcomed the opportunity to hear it being read 'live'.

Our Outrider philosophy of taking poetry to outlying areas and discovering the poetry there, was well and truly achieved. It was especially gratifying to hear one of the audience members state, "Don't forget us ones out here on the edge of things". That right there, is what J&K Rolling Outrider Tours is all about.

Queenstown surprised and delighted. We felt as if we had struck gold, not only in the beautiful calm and sunny weather, the stunning autumn colours and the beauty of the place (which quite frankly, we'd expected) but also by finding a heart-beat there that many others in their pursuit of more commercial, touristy aspects, do not hear.

Poetry in Queenstown

Queenstown library where Jenny Powell and myself will be reading poetry on Thursday April 28th.

Situated at the bottom of Bob's peak, a small creek (Horne Creek) runs beside the library, under a bridge built from local schist rock

The colours of early autumn captured by the Horne Creek bridge by Queenstown library. Bob's Peak is where the chairlift takes you up to the top for an outlook over the town of Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu, with the Remarkables range in the background.

Lake Wakatipu and Remarkables


Robert and I visit Queenstown often. It is his old hometown and where his mother (who was born in Kingston at the bottom of Lake Wakatipu over 80 years ago now) has lived for over sixty years.

However, next week our visit will be for a different reason than at other times. I am looking forward to discovering a part of Queenstown I've never had a chance to experience before. Queenstown is so deeply entrenched in the tourism trade, with its emphasis on adventure and nature, that its more intellectual side is easy to miss.

Jenny also has connections with Queenstown and the surrounding area that she is keen to develop. We're both looking forward to the new dimension that poetry will bring to our experiences, present and past, of this unique location. It could well be a question of 'watch this space'.

Roll out the poetry carpet Queenstown - here come the outriders. J&K Rolling (aka Jenny Powell and Kay McKenzie Cooke) bringing the poetry to find the poetry.

Outram, Otago & Gore, Southland

Some photos of J&K Rolling's recent outrider readings for New Zealand's National Poetry Day.

The first reading was on National Poetry Day in Outram at '8 on 87' cafe. Many thanks to Sue for her generous hosting of our event. Also thanks to poet Richard Reeve for accepting our invitation to join us for this reading. And thanks to those who attended. It was an evening of lively discussion and readings.

***

A week later saw us heading for Gore (and back again) through the sleety rain and brooding clouds (a glorious rainbow somewhere in the green, green hills between Gore and Clinton, was a kind of wondrous guardian for our trail home).
The reception we received in Gore from the Gore Library, was as warm as ever. This is our third visit there. We really appreciate what the library staff there do for us (they even put on a special morning tea).
Their willingness to advance and acknowledge the art of poetry in their library, is awesome.
The local poetry group (who hold their meetings in the library) were there in force and we heard their poetry as well as fielded questions and discussion about how to get your poetry published. We were impressed with the quality of the poetry and look forward to hearing about any publishing successes.

Poems Galore in Gore was the theme for this National Poetry Day  ... the people of Gore responded to the challenge to bring a poem along to the library and a display-board was made to show them off.