half time oranges

So last night, as West Brom inched their way to Promotion, we climaxed the MPOY WBA residency with a celebratory gig at B’ham Library Theatre.  I was so proud to showcase the talents of two young Midlands poets – 16yr old Dan Cullen and 19 yr old Matt Windle, who I mentored – and they were both outstanding

Jo Bell, my mentor  (who promised future bliss for the ‘morning after the night before gig’ hangover with 4 bars of top notch chocolate, thanx!) was our sterling MC/referee, and what can I tell you about Byron that you won’t already know? That he was ridiculously brilliant – you’ll know that already – the ‘Jarvis Cocker’ of poetry as he has been dubbed – but we know he’s even more than that – and 2010 will be his biggest and best year yet surely – with his first book coming out too. So I was extra chuffed that some of my mates who are ‘poetry virgins’ were saying afterwards how they’ll pay big £ to see him next time:) But they’ll bring Tena lady too….. as he is that funny….

So my huge thanks to everyone who came along, to all at Apples & Snakes for the whole MPOY experience, down to them handing out the half time oranges – now when do you get that at a poetry gig normally?  And here’s to WBA doing us proud by getting promoted next…..  to which ends, here’s the Hawthorns Lords Prayer that the audience joined in with at the gig. Although I may be more of a buddhist, we’ll call on the Bee Gee lookalike and anyone else to help us keep our Promotion space this season…..

The Baggies Lords Prayer.

By Charlie Jordan.

Our Father, who art at the Hawthorns,

hallowed be our game.

Thy Kingdom come,

promotion won,

on turf as it was at St Andrews.

Give us matchdays to celebrate,

as we forgive refs who red-card against us.

And lead us not into the Play-offs,

but deliver us from third place;

for Bobby’s the King here,

Matteo for glory,

Premiership forever.

Amen.

(Boing Boing)