The December gathering of the Poetry Group reflected the festive season with mince pies, chocolates and biscuits besides some excellent poetry topical with the season.

Over 30 poems were recited which covered a wide variety of formats, including humorous, romantic, thought provoking, dealing with the natural world and even one member singing some hilarious folk songs!

The group meets monthly on the very last Wednesday morning of each month 10am to 12 noon.

New members are always welcome either to recite a favourite poem or simply sit and listen, so if you are not sure if it's for you, just come along to a session and see.

Details of the monthly locations check with Myra M. or Dave B. 

Make you laugh? 

Or make you cry? 

Make you think? 

Or make you sigh? 

U3A Poetry is worth a try ! 

 Myra

The October meeting

 The October meeting was at Phyll and Richards' lovely bungalow on Wed 28th .We had reached the letter R as our focus for the month's poems.The letter is loosely used; it can be the initial of the poet, in the title of the poem or in the theme of the work. Or we bring any piece we think the others might enjoy! As usual Phyll's 'staff ' served the coffee and bickies. Richard is such a 'treasure' ! ! David, Rosemary, Hazelle and I  shared all sorts for the delight of all.

  This month we meet there again, at 342 Woodlands Rd, Woodlands village, on Nov 25th, 10 till 12 noon.It will be our last meeting of the year. We will include poems with a Christmas flavour and any others with a strong element of S . Or not, if we fancy something else !

  We still welcome new members to try us for size. . .please 'phone Phyll on: 8029 2824.

myra metcalfe

Hanger Farm Poets' POETRY AFTERNOON

5 U3A members plus a local poet gave a happy performance to an enthusiastic audience.

David ranged from somnolent rural scenes to cheeky funny rhymes.

Pam read beautiful professinal works with her own about holidays and Wimbledon.

Hazelle chose 'The Glory of the Garden' and portrayed a naughty sleepy cat !

Michael gave us the seaside and very funny rules of cricket.

Sylvia read her childhood memories and conjured the sights, sounds and smells of our Steam Rally.

I did Pam Ayres' wicked 'Take me back to Old Littlehampton' and read about a tram ride at Seaton.

Just a few samples of the 50 very varied poems we offered singly, in duos, quartets or all together.

Cool elderflower cordial came with the tea and bickies on such a sunny afternoon ; flowers on the tables matched my poems.

Our thanks to Mike Adams for bringing his fine lectern.

An enjoyable time was had by all 14 of us !

.The subject of poems including O in the title or subject will be held over till July 29th  AT PHYLL AND RICHARD BARRETTS' HOUSE , 342 Woodlands RD, 10 till 12 noon.

April Meeting

Six members came along to recite, listen to and discuss some 22 poems with a wide variety of subjects and types of poems.

Curiously cats featured several times in gloriously funny verse such as 'Calling the Cat' by Elizabeth Coates, 'Cats' by Eleanor Farjeon and 'The Singing Cat' by Stevie Smith.

More sombre and serious contributions included 'Since There's No Help' by Michael Drayton which had the feel of an obituary, 'From a Distance' by Julie Gold, a WW1 poem of sadness and Oliver Goldsmith's tragedy 'The Deserted Village'.

But we also heard the cynical such as 'They Ask Why' by Maya Angelou dealing with 'womens' work' and the life of a kichen skivvy in Fiona Farrell's 'Charlotte O'Neal'.

These were balanced the beauties of Nature in 'Secrets of the Night' by Brian H. Gent and 'Colour Me Free' by Alex Forbes.

A significant part of this very enjoyable session was the diversity of the poems.

The next gathering is on 28th May at 10am. 

David Butcher.  

February gathering 2014

It was a full house at the February gathering, with some quite delightful poems recited, some humorous (Tom Cat), some topical (the recent storms with 'To the Fallen Trees, etc), and some with a dual message of sincerity and satire.

A wide variety of poets were read (Auden, Townsend, Goldsmith, DH Lawrence, Clare) and this gathering was also spendidly entertained by a live performance by Patrick who brought his guitar along and sang superbly several Irish folk songs including McGinty's Pig, adding a real atmosphere to the proceedings.

In all, a very, very successful meeting enjoyed by everyone present. 

David