We are the headliners - Sat 22nd July

 

I enter the building

resembling a drowned rat.

It's a cold,

wet Saturday afternoon,

in what should be

the middle of summer.

I hear the swish 

of the automatic doors 

and make my way, dripping

into main room, 

I'm feeling like I probably should

have stayed at home.

Then I'm met with the feint

aroma of books, history, stories.

I soon start to warm up

and feel more alive.

 

The central library used to sit

in an old building around the corner

and was a dark interesting place,

with lots of nooks and crannies,

a big staircase down to the lower levels,

and if stories are to be believed,

more than a few ghosts,

but alas the library

has now moved to Bishop Street

which is probably a better building

it feels lighter, airier

but also loses

some of its

slightly gothic character.

 

Surrounded by true crime

and biographies,

and a decent looking

computer section,

this was my first visit

to "we are the headliners",

but it won't be my last.

 

Some beautiful poetry,

performed in the open library.

A warm feeling

on a cold wet Saturday

afternoon in July.

Every Poetry event caters

to slightly different audiences,

and this was a nice, relaxed event,

with a slight coffee morning vibe to it.

There was tea and biscuits available

during the interval,

and a real sense of community.

 

The poets in the open mic section 

all offered something different.

With some really beautiful imagery 

touching all of the senses.

Some was funny, others quite sad, or reflective.

This is the beauty of poetry,

every poet has a unique story of their own,

and their own voice in which to tell it.

So, one moment you can be

almost in tears the next laughing heartily.

 

 

 

Headliner Emma Lee, is an award-winning reviewer,

and a poet/author who has a bunch of books published

as well as poems published in various collections.

She is a member of Leicester Writers’ Club

and has read at venues including Leicester’s Guildhall,

Leicester City Football Club, The Poetry Cafe (London),

The Theatre Club, Soho, London

and Polyverse Poetry Festival at Loughborough University

amongst others.

I've seen Emma quite a few times

at some-antics,

but usually just one poem or two,

so, it was nice to hear a full set,

She gave us a nice collection of poems,

taken from her different books

(All available on amazon)

which I shall definitely be checking out.

Her work has a lovely balance,

having bits of humour that counterbalance

the sadder pieces perfectly

and it is all delivered

in a soft but clear and clean storyteller manner.

 

 

So, if you happen to be in Leicester 

on the 4th Saturday of the month

get yourself down to the central lending library.

It is definitely something a little different to do

on a Saturday afternoon,

much more relaxing

than jostling through the crowds.

 Thank you to Carol Leeming for photos.

The next we are the headliners is 26th August

At Leicester central lending library, 

Bishop Street.

 

Please support local poetry/writers groups etc,

and help us to keep sharing our art and passion.

Peace, Love and Poetry

Kyle