Brisbane is about to be flooded with words, as the first of three events raising much needed funds for those who have experienced siginficant loss as a result of the Jaunary floods or Cyclone Yasi, fires up on the deck of the beautiful Riverbend Books.
The Riverbend Poetry Series has been a highlight on the Brisbane poetry calendar for the last 6-years, and the opening event this year features the stellar line up of Alan Wearne, the launch of Brisbane New Voices II, which brings together Chris Lynch & John Koenig’s debut collections and mistress of all things sonic, Pascalle Burton.
Described as an avant-garde performance-poet musician-lady, her experimental manoeuvres with words and sound are an elegant dragnet. She gallivants across the theatrical tightrope between poetry, sonic art and music, and will be tied to none. Pascalle has performed in a ridiculous amount of venues and festivals over the years, both in Australia and overseas. Recent projects include The Stress of Leisure, Flight and ouTsideRs (with David Stavanger), and The Lavender Room’s Zine-in-a-Matchbox and Tortured Poet series. Her debut poetry collection, A Vast Laugh, was released through Small Change Press. She is currently messing with the idea of ‘reversible poetry’.
Here’s something new to give you a sample of what Pascalle has been up to:
Staghorn
hold on, host
sucking water from clouds
getting your fill, you don’t see me
watching you flirting
I’m lurking
winding my way like a
shark assassin or
tentacle terrorist
ready to take the next few years of this
hoping if it won’t kill me, it’ll take care of this
we’re all thieves
they’re all hosts
birds under threat will peck your accessories
real estate law will provide measures for these
prime property squatting
sharpening beaks and images
blink when they’re lying and frown when you’re serious
this intolerable heat
cinnamon ice cream hits the incinerated
like snow in the tropics
or sin in a tight spot:
regenerated
they’re all thieves
we’re all hosts
metho cocktails sipped inconspicuously
insidiously
McLennan’s lyrics score the way for intineraries
tattooed men drag their feet on the pavement
and women hold children on hips well rotated
hosts:
the trick’s not to get roasted
live ‘til tomorrow and
you’ll get promoted,
you just know it
just need a contract to show it
we’re all thieves
they’re all hosts
and the past keeps stealing into my sleep
You can read and listen to more of Pascalle’s work at:
www.myspace.com/pascallemaiden www.thestressofleisure.com www.myspace.com/flighthq www.lavenderroom.etsy.com
Details for the event are:
Date: Tuesday 22 February
Location: Riverbend Books, 193 Oxford St. Bulimba
Time: Doors open for the event at 6pm for a 6:30pm start
Tickets: $10 available through Riverbend Books and include sushi and complimentary wine. To purchase tickets, call Riverbend Books on (07) 3899 8555 or book online at http://www.riverbendbooks.com.au/Events/EventDetails.aspx?ID=2481
These events are always hugely popular, so book early to avoid disappointment!
And don’t forget to get yourself a ticket in the Hold Back the Water: Disaster Relief Raffle. The prizes are well worth the entry and the cause is more than worthy.
Hope to see you there,
