Al Margen - poetry at the edges

 

I've been beating the drum and banging the gong about this event for a couple of weeks now and I make no apologies: this is an important event for poets, singer/songwriters, storytellers and for their audience. It is an important event for Gibraltar's cultural development. 

Al Margen is a 'cabaret of poets, writers and troubadours'. I love that phrase, a great way to describe a gathering of writers, 'cabaret' both as a collective noun and as a scene-setter. That's what we will have at the Rock Hotel on Wednesday evening (12th November) a scattering of tables, waiter service, low lights and high ambience, a small stage, lights, music, song and poetry. And wine, because what would a gathering of poets and troubadours, writers and songsmiths be without unas copitas de vino? Wine and song is as much sustenance to poetry as air and water.

We have gathered from the edges of Gibraltar's cultural life, from those border lands between the mainstream and 'other ways', between conscious writing and the words that sometimes stream from our subconscious and arrive without warning, giving no hint as to where they came from but simply that they are and they are here, now. We have emerged from our shadowy twilight to bring our thoughts, wrought into rhymes and rhythms and verses, and what we have to say adds that little bit more colour to a cultural landscape dominated by visual arts. From the margins we bring a sharper edge, touch of darkness, we speak of the unspeakable, shake the apple tree of complacency till the apples fall into the ground and root into new creations.

Poetry in Gibraltar is in a growth stage. Not that this is new - Gibraltarian poets have been writing for years. What seems a bit different recently, and maybe more so this year, is that poets are suddenly getting a readership, people are talking about the poets and their work. They are sitting up, pricking their ears up and listening. Not least academics, literature experts and linguists from across the world.

There have been more books, including poetry books, published in the past few months than in some past years, mostly well-received, although we do tend to like a book launch in Gibraltar - the spectacle as much as the contents. I didn't have a launch party for my poetry book Beyond the Blue, but it's worth a read:

Beyond the Blue by Jackie Anderson

There have been readings for charity: I took part in one to help raise funds for the charity Bosom Buddies, back in September, organised by the inimitable Sonia Golt, also herself a writer of stories novels and a poet. Gabriel Moreno (a true troubadour, methinks) came to Gibraltar to promote his new album, the rather brilliant Nights in the Belly of Bohemia (treat yourself to a copy; it really is good, as much musically as lyrically) and gave some local poets the mic as part of his gigs. James the Heartist runs a monthly spoken word event called Native Tongues at the MAG venue at Wellington Front and writers and rappers and story-tellers are welcome to come and pick up the mic and try out their words on willing and highly receptive audiences. Jonathan Teuma has been performing his brilliant brand of slam poetry, mixing this up with llanito haikus, in various events around Gibraltar, notably at Native Tongues and at the Cabana en el quari. Que bueno!

Gabriel Moreno's Night in the Belly of Bohemia

The Literary Festival is taking place this week and a poet's corner has been carved into this by organisers, Gibraltar Cultural Services, which places Gibraltarian poets almost shoulder to shoulder with international writers. It certainly provides a good platform from which to continue to showcase Gibraltar's talents. The Poetry Panel also on 12th November (what a day for Gibraltarian poetry!) will treat the audience to a sample of Gibraltar's poetry and a discussion of where poetry this might be heading, its development and what we can look forward to.

Poetry Panel - Gibraltar Literary Festival

This is what Gibraltarian poetry has needed for years. It's all very well sitting in a lonely room dipping the quill in ink and trimming the candles, but when you write poetry, you want to communicate something, you want your voice to be heard, your words to be read and to bear some meaning to the reader. 

Poets are emerging from the shadows of the margins of life and this is a good time to pick up their work, read it and re-read it and, because this is Gibraltar and we are small and friendly and love chatting over a cafelito or two, reach out and talk to us about our work. Engage. Be the audience we need you to be so we can grow and create more. Draw us out from the margins from time to time and help us link Gibraltar to the rest of the literary world. 

See you at the Rock Hotel on Wednesday 12th November. This cabaret of poets, writers and troubadours is waiting to meet you, entertain you and maybe even challenge you.