Hidden Story

Origins and Other Issues is the second collection of poetry, self-published by Ursula Troche, who states 'This is a deeper exploration of my central concern about how we all relate - or could or should, or must relate - to Africa.' She also includes poetry from her trips to Barbados and to South Africa.

I have selected the following poem to share:

Hidden Story

The colonialists

Must have known

About the Greatness of Africa

So they called

A beach in Barbados Bathsheba

Imagine

A beach named after an African queen

A name for a beach

On the east of the island

And it's this eastside

That faces Africa

Eastside Story

Yes, especially this side of the sea

Has a story to tell

Of the journey

From Africa to America

A story that does not reach

Enough attention

A story that does not reach

its oppressors

Only the oppressed

Have access to the truth

Recognise the story

And their allies

Their allies, too, must speak

So that those who need to hear it

Might listen

The colonialists

They must have known

That their story is dangerous

That is why now they don't listen

To the consequences of their story

Ursula Troche, 12.08

To contact Ursula: ursulatroche@yahoo.co.uk

National Poetry Competition 2009

Now in its 32nd year, the Poetry Society's National Poetry Competition is one of the world's biggest and most prestigious poetry competitions. Winners include both established and emerging poets, and for many the prize has proved an important milestone in their professional careers. Add your name to a roll-call of winners that includes Carol Ann Duffy, Tony Harrison, Ruth Padel - and have your work published in the leading international journal of contemporary poetry, Poetry Review.

FIRST PRIZE: £5000; SECOND PRIZE: £1000; THIRD PRIZE: £500
Plus Ten Commendations of £50

All winning poems will appear in Poetry Review, on the Poetry Society website: http://www.poetrysociety.org.uk/, and in Aesthetica Magazine (media partner). This year's prize also incudes the opportunity to read the winning poem at the Ledbury Poetry Festival, described by Andrew Motion as 'the best in the country,' in 2010. For full details of the festival, call 0845 458 1743 or visit http://www.poetry-festival.com/

ENTRY FEE: £5 for the first entry, £3 for each subsequent entry.
FREE second entry for Poetry Society members

DEADLINE: 31 October 2009

Rasta in the White House

Ziggy Marley, Rita Marley and family visit the Obamas...

When I first set eyes upon the above photos, I just smiled - it was such a lovely image and I knew that this image could never have existed during the Bush years. Only in Obama's time...

I think the images speak for so many of us and it makes me realise how important it is to see ourselves in different and unique settings that are usually not accessible by us as African-Caribbeans.

An Evening with Benjamin Zephaniah

What a great start to the month. On 10th July, I went to see one of the UK's poetry greats, Benjamin Zephaniah, who read from new work and older favourites at this exclusive show held at the Southbank Centre. This event was part of the London Literature Festival 2009, which is on until 16 July.

For me, this event was such a rare and great treat from start to finish. Benjamin Zephaniah's humour and poetry performance style was such an inspiration. I felt wonderfully stirred by his lyrical rhythms and vibes so much so that I am keen to get on with writing more of my own poems.

There is something about good quality performance poetry that is difficult to put into words. Even before Benjamin had uttered one word on his arrival onto the stage, the emotions took hold of me in anticipation of what great art was to be bestowed upon us. And me being a poet - and there must have been many of us in the audience - just enhanced the whole mind, body and spirit experience.

I sat in tune to a delightful and insightful one-man show delivered by this Rastafarian dub poet without music for almost 90 minutes - no easy task. Benjamin expressed himself by telling a few humorous true stories and intertwining those sometimes political and yet wholesome issues in such an accessible and non-offensive way. I am not sure whether I enjoyed the stories more than the poems - all I know is this was an excellent combination and delivered in such an honest manner. I think he swore once! A truly great artist and great event and for me a particularly liberating evening.

http://www.benjaminzephaniah.com/

http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/

Photo: Top - Benjamin Zephaniah at Southbank Centre. Photograph Ursula Troche

Photo: Bottom - Benjamin Zephaniah at Newham bookshop in Barking. Photograph: Katherine Rose/Observer