WOWO 20 February 2025 7.9pm GMT

Our programme this evening is comprised mainly of texts that were scheduled, but not presented, in the past few weeks. Our prolific members have inundated us with wonderful submissions, so that we can look forward to another 120 minutes of fascinating story-telling and poetry.

The Sunday Visit by Mary Hodson is a delightful memoir of pleasant childhood visits to the farm of loved relatives. The story captures the resonance between the innocent child and the caring grandfather in an environment of nature, family and tradition.

The White Cliffs of Dover by Mary Hodson is a deeply moving family memoir that follows a pilgrimage to Belgium to visit the grave of a relative who died in the Battle of Ypres in 1917. As the family retrace his journey, the narrative captures the weight of loss, remembrance, and the importance of passing down these stories to future generations.

Vertical Ridges by Jutta Rosen contrasts the abundance and comfort of life today with the rigours of the Famine in the 1840s. The desperate and backbreaking efforts to provide food are visible to this day on the hillsides of Connemara, for those who know what to look for.

They by Póilín Brennan is an enigmatic poem which examines the unseen influences that shape our lives. The poem explores an omnipresent force, leaving the reader to interpret who or what ‘they’ represent, while imparting a sense of unease and reflection.

A Short Poem by Joyce Butcher is a playful but perceptive piece exploring the complexities of language, self-expression and regret. With clever wordplay and rhythmic flow, the poem captures the internal struggle between speaking freely and wishing for restraint. Both humorous and reflective, it highlights the tension between spontaneity and hindsight, reminding us of the power – and pitfalls – of our words.

Threading Time by Deirdre Anne Gialamas is a meditation on the passage of time and its impact on the human experience. The piece weaves through memories, contrasting fleeting moments of joy with the weight of nostalgia.

Resurrection by Anne McManus is a sharp, darkly humorous poem that reimagines the experience of being raised from the dead – only to face the burden of life once more. The narrator, who has found peace in the afterlife, is suddenly pulled back, not for divine glory, but to pacify the mourning of others. With biting wit and a sense of weary resignation, the poem explores themes of duty, fate, and the unintended consequences of miracles. In a world where resurrection is no blessing, the speaker questions whether peace can ever truly be eternal.

And don’t forget! The closing date for entries to our monthly Mug of the Month competition is drawing nigh! The key words to be included in your fifty-word submission are SHADOW and SHELTER. Anne Murray, at annemurraypost@yahoo.ie is expecting your entries by Sunday 23 February at the latest! That’s the coming Sunday!!!!

We wish all participants a thoroughly enjoyable evening!

Programme

Short Story The Sunday Visit Mary Hodson

Memoir The White Cliffs of Dover Mary Hodson

Poem They Póilín Brennan

Short Story Threading Time Deirdre Anne Gialamas

Short Story Vertical Ridges Jutta Rosen

Poem A Short Poem Joyce Butcher

Poem Resurrection Anne McManus