I Used To Be A Rapper (second edition) *OUT NOW*

Thank you to everyone who bought a copy of the first edition. There are no more available and never will be again, so hold onto it and hope I die young and famous!

This second edition of  'I Used to Be A Rapper' contains several different poems, as well as photographs, illustrations and a new full-colour cover showing a detail from my 2008 painting 'It's Yours'.

The book is available online from www.lulu.com. There is a discounted online to compensate for the delivery cost to addresses in the UK. Overseas mail order is also available (contact me for a quote) and I will be selling and signing copies at various gigs throughout 2013.

Thanks for everybody's support. I look forward to my first review!!

peaCe

To Sea

Refugee Week 18-24 June 2012

To celebrate the innumerable stories of political and economic migration that have shaped our cities and societies, 'To Sea' reworks Edward Lear's 'The Jumblies' for a 21st century audience. Echoing the bravery and persistence of Lear's green and blue creatures, this poem serves to highlight the superhuman struggles undertaken daily in the name of freedom and opportunity.


Poetcurious says:

I know the original from my childhood and read it regularly to my young daughters. Reading it as an adult I was struck by the parallels between the fantastic story of the poem and the realities of many of my own friends journey's to this country. Once I had written the poem, I recited it for some of my friends whose stories had inspired it. They told me they were moved by the honesty of the piece and that it resonated with their own experiences. This was obviously a very rewarding response. 

After that I contacted human rights charity 'Restless Beings' to discuss turning the poem into a film. I was introduced to video-journalist and documentary maker, Ceren Yilmaz. I presented my ideas for visuals and Ceren edited my still images into the animated montage that you see projected onto my face in the film.
Ceren shot the performance in a single first take before editing it and delivering it to my inbox before midnight!

My greatest thanks and admiration go to Ceren, Mabrur and the whole Restless team for their support and dedication to this project. I am very proud to be associated with this crew!

If you would like to know more about the Restless Beings; find out more information about ways to support Refugee Week; get a film made or if you just want to see more curious poetry, check out the links below...peaCe

www.refugeeweek.org.uk
www.restlessbeings.org
www.cerenyilmaz.com
www.artofcurious.blogspot.com

Twitter:

@poetcurious
@_cerenyilmaz
@restlessmabrur
@refugeeweek

*new poem* FLASH BANG LONDON

FLASH BANG LONDON

by poetcurious

In a flash London was back

Back on the map, back on track

Back to back but never back to that

Dark days of 2011;

Its 2012 and London is heaven

All sins forgiven; despite there being more poor in prison

Isn’t this an old one Stephen? Just being retold

For the new youth, while the new old, remember

Stories from days past

When 10 pence could make the day last

Where we walked slow and we prayed fast

How does this one end again? The detail escapes me,

But I see through their gloss; what dem posh wanna make me.

Still, the fireworks were excellent; emotional, expensive

Which in ‘these times of austerity’ makes me apprehensive

Can we afford this? Really though, can we?

If we can, then that’s all good

But can you stop trying to skank me? And thank me

Come hand me a couple of Olympic tickets

(something close to the finish line)

While I’m writing these slogans on placards and pamphlets

For colleagues who are standing on picket lines.

See, it’s just a whole lot of politics

I need someone to help me unpick it

We all gotta have our fair share of the glory

Or lets tell dem man where to stick it.

Still, the fireworks were excellent; the party more intimate

The purse string are tight and them clubs I’m not into it.

So we rave on in maisonettes

Pissing through the xmas debts

Cut the decks, place your bets and laugh off your losses

A punch of rum, some drum and bass

Your wifey whining on ya waist

A smile on every drunken face

For whatever life offers.

WORDAMOUTH presents REAL TALK @ The Bedroom Bar. 19/10/2011.

That's right, we are back at a new venue in Old Street in East London. Featuring at this first night is Resonators singer and live-loop solo artist Bunty Loopings with her unbelievable one-woman beat-box, loop pedal extravaganza and superpoetstorytellaractors Katie Bonna and Richard marsh with...

DUET

a scratch performance by Richard Marsh and Katie Bonna

Duet is a brand-new piece, so at the time of writing we can'’t give you a synopsis of the story. But you can probably expect tales of the world's least romantic, most romantic stag and hen dos, festivals, lonely Christmas dinners and too many coats. A wry, warm, real romance told in a hopeful, heartfelt way.

...You'd be Bonkers to miss it!!

peaCe

WORDAMOUTH IS BACK!!

More details soon, but after a long summer break WORDAMOUTH is back at a new venue in Old Street, bringing midweek party poetry vibes to all comers. Come and join us at the newly refurbished Bedroom Bar (63 Rivington Street) for the best in spoken word, storytelling, MCing, beatboxing, freestyling...you name it, we've got it! All backed by sick DJs spinning hiphop and eclectic breaks from beyond the crate. Simply put: WORDAMOUTH IS BACK!!*

*Start talking!!