English Language Bookshops in Paris - 4

The Red Wheelbarrow at 22 Rue St. Paul and directly in my 'hood is packed floor to rafters with fiction, non-fiction and children's books and has an admirable section of poetry. The present owners have put the business up for sale, so if you want to run a charming bookshop, now's your chance.


If you want to buy books at a very reasonable price in Paris, this is the place for the time being as everything is on sale - up to 50% off, which makes the foreign mark up more palatable.

Details here: http://rwb.paris.free.fr/index.htm

Tokens for the Foundlings - New Poetry Anthology

Along with the great and the good (Carol Ann Duffy, Gillian Clarke, Don Patterson, Seamus Heaney, David Harsent, Dannie Abse,  Elaine Feinstein and co) is little old me.

I am delighted to have been asked to contribute to this anthology of poems for the benefit of the Foundling Hospital Museum in London. Edited by Tony Curtis, the book is just about to be published (27 March) by Seren. Cover art by Tracy Emin - fab!

Details here:

http://www.serenbooks.com/book/tokens-for-the-foundlings/9781854115812

and information on the Foundlings Museum is here:

http://www.foundlingmuseum.org.uk/

Tagore at Le Petit Palais

Another cloudy day in Paris - another art exhibition to see before it closes. Tomorrow. Tagore, best known to me as a poet, but also, as I now know, a lovely painter. He has a touch of Blakesian vision about him. Much of the work is quite dark in tone and shading with a talent for mythological creatures, tender portraits, especially those of his wife, landscapes and narrative paintings - in fact something for everyone. Super!

Le Petit Palais garden has just sprung into life - spring is surely days away.

Spoken Word - 5 March

At the risk of being very arrogant (surely not!) and reviewing my own gig, it was lovely to be the featured reader at Spoken Word last night. I gave a first outing to my South African poems from what I hope will be my next, next book, Quagga (sometime, maybe). I worried about just how much explanation to give, but some of the poems do need a bit of introduction. I usually err on the side of less is more in these matters, but not yesterday. I hope I got the balance right. Great evening and even I sold some books, which is always a pleasure.

http://spokenwordparis.blogspot.com/ for  a report

New poem

A new poem from my newest manuscript, Quagga, written last year when I was in South Africa. Zonnebloem, which means sunflower in Afrikaans is published today by the lovely folks at Ink, Sweat & Tears.

http://ink-sweat-and-tears.blogharbor.com/

Ai Wei Wei - Jeu de Paume

Ai WeiWei's photographs opened this week at the Jeu de Paume. Unbelievably the first important exhibitions of his work in France.

Interesting selection of his documentary work, including the now iconic triptych, Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn, and the Fairytale Photos. I especially liked Study in Perspective, which is Ai giving the finger to cultural and political institutions, and the selection blog photos which are shown digitally on multiple screens. It takes the eye a little while to get used to the multi-changing images, but once you're in the zone its vivid way to see the work.

Go early to avoid the queue. Ends 29 April.

Poems during Lent

I am taking part in a poem a day challenge for Lent. My poems will be posted on the Work - Lent 2012 page.