A few months ago someone at Ware commented that hearing a poem read only once doesn't always give enough time for the brain to absorb it (unlike the experience of seeing it on the page when the option of re-reading multiple times is available). This started Frances and I thinking about whether we might use this idea to give a new twist to our April evening. However, not wishing to be too prescriptive, we offer the following choices for you to think about when choosing poems (your own or the work of others) to read on the 14th. We think it should make for an interesting session.

EITHER

Read a poem of your choice with no introduction. Then talk briefly about it, perhaps say why you particularly like it; explain any references it contains; say (if it's your own poem) how it originated - that sort of thing. Then read it for a second time.

OR

Read two poems (yours or others') which come at the same subject from different angles. Maybe two poems which take opposing viewpoints; or two which say basically the same thing / cover the same subject in different ways; or, perhaps, two poems, one of which is a riposte to the other.

OR (the boring option)

Just read two poems.

The usual rules apply regarding length - think in terms of 40 lines max. for each poem, shorter if possible.