Last night I read in Waterstones, Cork City, with the well-known writer William Wall. William has had his latest collection of short stories published by Doire Press and it’s well worth checking out. For me, I was much more nervous than usual because this was the closest I’ve ever read my poems to the actual place where they come from. I was less than 2km from the area known as Jewtown. However, to make matters worse, who was sitting in the front row with his silver crutch?
For those who have read my collection, there are a few poems near the end set in the 21st century. The last poem is called the Last Sabbath at South Terrace Synagogue. In this poem, I refer to Freddie leaning on his silver crutch. Most people with a knowledge of Jewish Cork would know Freddie referred to Mr. Freddie Rosehill who has been responsible for the survival of the community over the last few decades.
I didn’t know whether to read the poem in his presence but something told me that I should. I couldn’t look at him throughout the reading of the poem but at the end of it, I did see a faint smile when I joke that I couldn’t look at him.
Another aspect of the night was the unusual situation that my performance was being videoed for a college thesis. Some of my poems are going to be put to music so I’m very much looking forward to that.
John Breen from Waterstones was a great host and both William and I were introduced by Madeleine D’Arcy, also a Doire Press author. There were approximately 45-50 people there and a whole crew of Jewish ladies came from Cork and its environs.
The whole evening was lovely with a good atmosphere and I look forward to reading in Cork City again in the future.
