Friday Night at Off The Page

You threw gravy in my face and broke my f*cking nose, that’s my f*cking problem

Was the first poetic line I heard last night at Off the Page Alice Springs. It was hosted at the infamous Todd Tavern, the riverside pub in Alice.   My wife and I had wandered into the public bar, to be met  by  man rearranging his nose.

 The night was going to be interesting, perhaps not in the way I had imagined,

but interesting nonetheless.

Off the Page featured Sophie Cunningam, noted Australian journalist, author and current editor of Meanjin and Jennifer Mills semi-local author and poet just returned from South America, as the headline acts.  There were also a number of local poets and authors given exposure during  the  open mic section of the night.  

So on finding the correct door to the venue we were met by a curious throng

• very “arty” looking people, emmaciated, unkempt hair,waifish
•  a mix of punk feminist-lesbian( to be politically incorrect and stereotypical).  I felt a pang of nostalgia for old uni days.  
• wisened, whiskey soaked rogues

 Myself, I think I  must have appeared odd, perhaps a mix of punk/skinhead and Aussie ocker ( Shaved head, 3/4 length army green pants and Dr Martens).

The night was well attended with about 40  people, large enough to be considered successful but small enough to feel quite intimate.  The only disappointment was that part of the room was used by kitchen staff as  thoroughfare for the bar, resulting in recitals being intermittently interrupted by the clatter of plates and the unintelligible babble of the public bar.

Aside from the headline acts, one particular performer who stood out was a young poet who recited a poem about a Jazz singer, that was sung partly in the Jazz style.  One of my work mates felt so inspired they got up and sang their poem to the tune of Julie Andrews – My Favourite Things.  

I ,however, restrained myself.

Overall it was a pleasant night, very cheap entertainment, that left me bursting with inspiration.

Related posts:

1. Happy Good Friday Jennifer Fallon (famous Australian author) was asked by her...
2. Haiku Friday   Dead tree clawing sky The red sand peaks...
3. Haiku Friday a cross was borne to place us in your...