Never Mind the Beasts

I am heading to London tomorrow.

I need to refuel at least once a year in London. It is where I cut my second teeth.

Friends and artistic communities. Yes please.

One of the most welcoming for many years when I lived in London was Xing the Line run by Jeff Hilson, and now also with Iris Colomb.

They are celebrating their 25th anniversary.

A marathon reading.

I am happy to be among the many fellow poets, artists, musicians, writers.

I am going to read a prose poem from The Green Monk (Boiler House Press). It is the first book I published during my transition to living in Spain 10 years ago. The poem, about sucking souls, was commissioned for the Kakania Symposium on 31 March 2016 at the Austrian Cultural Forum. It was also part of my farewell reading in London for Xing the Line at IKlectik. Old Paradise Yard. Near Waterloo. 22nd June 2016.

I will also read a second prose poem from my latest book, Dream Dust (Broken Sleep Books 2025). My first book under my new name Marcus Silcock. It is about hungry ghosts.

It is nice to be back in the saddle once a year. I wish it were more often.