Published 7 September 20097 September 2009 · Main Posts passionate tongues Maxine Beneba Clarke This evening, as part of the Overload Poetry Festival, fortnightly poetry gig Passionate Tongues will feature Nathan Curnow, Cate Kennedy, Jennifer Compton and Miles Allinson. From Curnow’s haunted Ghost Poetry Project poems to Cate Kennedy’s joyflights, the evening is sure to be spectacular. Poet Michael Reynolds is the MC and founder of Passionate Tongues, and the Melbourne poetry scene’s unofficial photographer. If you come across a fantastically lit dramatically Artemisia Gentileschi-like photograph of a Melbourne poet at the mic, it is likely to have been captured by Reynolds. Reynolds’ photographic exhibition of Melbourne poets can be viewed at the Brunswick Hotel (home of Passionate Tongues) during Overload 2009. The Overland Overloaded team recently caught up with Michael: When and where is the poetry night that you MC? Every second Monday at the Brunswick Hotel, 8:30pm-ish Pardon? Here. Now. People really want to hear poetry in Melbourne that often? At least every two weeks, some even more often. Seriously? Yes. Beer helps. No, seriously. How do you make them rock up? The email group for Overload, flyers when my printer works, and word of mouth. About half of the crowd comes here each fortnight. No other bribes? Just good poetry and performance. How long has it been running for? Ten years. Why is it even still running? Good feature readers, a good venue and an open stage where people don’t feel threatened or judged When will it ever stop? As long as there is an appreciation for poetry out there it will never stop. Poetry, why? What better way is there to communicate and convey ideas? Are you insane? Maybe. Are you sure? Maybe. Plug your venue Brunswick Hotel 140 Sydney Road, Good Folk Club every other Monday, Roulette Open Stage every Wednesday and great bands each other night. Plug it harder BRUNSWICK HOTEL 140 SYDNEY ROAD ETC.www.brunswickhotel.net. Passionate Tongues Poetry every second Monday at the Brunswick Hotel, feature performers plus open stage, cost $2.50. That’s a lot of poetry for only $2.50! Anything else you want to plug? Check out the exhibition of photos of poets at the Brunswick Hotel during Overload week. Oh, and there is a CD of our tenth anniversary gig available as well. Did I mention I have a chapbook? Break it down: UPON FINDING A CHAIR IN THE FOREST There is nobody else around but you look about for here is proof somebody has been before …curiosity and amusement draw you to the metal and plastic chair placed there by no-one for everyone and you think of the crowded train the one seat remaining surely not for you but your quick search confirms who the chair is for it is yours but only if you feel comfortable. -Upon Finding a Chair in the Forest is the title poem in Michael’s chapbook, published by the Melbourne Poets Union (2008). Maxine Beneba Clarke Maxine Beneba Clarke is an Australian author and slam poet of Afro- Caribbean descent. Her short fiction collection Foreign Soil won the 2015 ABIA Award for Best Literary Fiction and the 2015 Indie Award for Best Debut Fiction, and was shortlisted for the Stella Prize. Her memoir, The Hate Race, her poetry collection Carrying the World, and her first children’s book, The Patchwork Bike, will be published by Hachette in late 2016. More by Maxine Beneba Clarke › Overland is a not-for-profit magazine with a proud history of supporting writers, and publishing ideas and voices often excluded from other places. If you like this piece, or support Overland’s work in general, please subscribe or donate. Related articles & Essays 8 November 20248 November 2024 · Poetry Announcing the final results of the 2024 Nakata Brophy Prize for Young Indigenous Writers Editorial Team After careful consideration, judges Karen Wyld and Eugenia Flynn have selected first place and two runners-up to form the final results of this year’s Nakata Brophy Prize! 4 October 202418 October 2024 · Main Posts Announcing the Nakata Brophy Prize for Young Indigenous Writers 2024 longlist Editorial Team Sponsored by Trinity College at the University of Melbourne and supporters, the Nakata Brophy Prize for Young Indigenous Writers, established in 2014 and now in its ninth year, recognises the talent of young Indigenous writers across Australia.
