April 27th, 2024Chamber Poets returning to Woodend
A popular poetry event returns to Woodend next month.
Hosted by local poet Myron Lysenko, Chamber Poets is one of Victoria’s best-loved open mic poetry events, regularly attended by guests from Melbourne, Bendigo and further afield, as well as from around the Macedon Ranges.
They come to read their poems, whether they are acclaimed and awarded “real poets” or just local people who have something creative to say.
Chamber Poets is approaching its 100th session in June, so it’s time to remind everyone of what’s on offer at this regular Woodend event.
Chamber Poets is held on the second Saturday of every month, sometimes with a particular theme. In February (around Valentine’s Day) “love poetry” gave us good, bad or just plain crazy.
In April, to celebrate International Haiku Day, a group of passionate haiku poets came up from the city to share their stunningly clever and often witty miniature poems with us.
A couple came along to an event last year with their three small children and appeared to be ignoring what was happening behind the microphone until a feisty young poet from Melbourne gave us one of her poems peppered with mild but interesting swear words.
“She said a rude word!” exclaimed the eight-year-old boy. He continued to repeat this phrase every time the rude words appeared, to the delight of both the audience and the poet. Be warned: some dark and dangerous things can happen in poetry.
Entertainment is also provided by local band Black Forest Smoke, who have been playing their home-made songs – often poems set to music – since Chamber Poets first started on February 16, 2013.
Eccentric, playful and often very moving, their songs are very popular with the poetry crowd.
The next Chamber Poets session will be held at 1pm on Saturday, May 11 at the Woodend RSL in Anslow Street. Entry is $10 (or $5 concession) – we’re a bit old fashioned and only take cash. The bar will be open, and hot drinks and delicious soups, cakes and snacks are available.
After the always-popular Open Mic section, our featured reader will be Kyneton poet Anne Gleeson, whose gentle and often humorous poems have been widely awarded and admired.
Come along and see what all the fuss is about.
Words: Jenny Zimmerman | Image: Contributed
