Public Spaces - Brian Nesbit - Workshop - Catweazle

Long lines:

Public Spaces

I am fascinated by the horse hoof shoes, they even have no heels.

Such small black belts, supports for horse hair tails.

My eyes open wide, this is from the 70's, a horse show in the country.

Yes, the 70's had a dream-like surreal quality to it, running parallel to the strikes.

How do the men feel as they put on the policemen's uniform?

Standing together with the others, acting together.

Respecting the real-life police horse trainer shouting clear orders.

Brian Nisbet

Now to my department, but for poetry this time.

I meet Brian Nesbit and hold the hand he offers me, turn my ear to hear him better.

His close friend reads out his poems to a crowded room.

Babies and children are taken in and out.

A little boy pushes his shoe against my knee, the sweetest familiar feeling.

I try to explain how one day the parents might adore every fraction of other peoples' younger children, it's an impossible task.

One line is what I needed to hear, about being in the presence, which poem was it?

I wonder how I can rearrange my life, be with more people, more regularly.

I hold Brian's hand again, we say goodbye, I chat with his wife's relatives on the terrace.

Workshop

We share one poem each, mine gets the shocked murmur.

I realise I need to switch the stanzas around a few days later.

I ask a friend out to coffee, she asks me to go to Catweazle instead.

Catweazle

We finally sit on the carpet at the front for the second half.

Energetic guitar players and a mesmerising balloon stage artist.

We are rapt when he stands in silence, dealing with mishaps with a simple stage presence.

My feet get sore, there is a lot of pavement for a small city.

MOMA Oxford - Charlie Cunningham - Biodanza - أم كلثوم - بعيد عنك

I have a friend who is happy to go to an opening of an exhibition one night and a dance afternoon the next day. How lucky am I?

There was a beautiful singer with his guitar down in the basement, if only someone had drawn a chalk circle for dancers we could have been part of that. Why does everyone stand still?? What a great venue for dancing that would make.

Charlie Cunningham: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SKYrslreBY

Dancing is on my mind...how lovely it is to dance with older people, they are so into it, so relaxed and joyful, so appreciative and knowledgeable.

U2 - Magnificent

أم كلثوم - بعيد عنك - Umm Kulthum - Far from you - The words...