The final edition of the literary magazine, “Grafitti”, is about to be published under the imprint of Catchword, a Cirencester-based writers’ group. Somewhere Else Writers, also based in Cirencester, share a debt of gratitude to the founder of the magazine and both writers’ groups – Dr Rona Laycock – who has been a prime mover in encouraging the development of both amateur and published professional writers around Cirencester. Rona has devoted considerable time and energy to running writing courses and events, most recently at New Brewery Arts in Cirencester, and is now planning to spend more time on other interests, although she will still be involved on a more relaxed basis in the activities of local writers.

Somewhere Else Writers are pleased to note that in the final edition of Grafitti, the winner of the poetry competition is our founder member, Iris Anne Lewis, who also wrote another poem published in the issue. Another group member, Graham Bruce Fletcher, who has been featured with short stories published in recent editions of Grafitti, also has a commended story in the last edition. Copies of Grafitti 29 can be ordered from Dr Rona Laycock, at 33, Sandford Leaze, Avening, Glos, GL8 8PB, enclosing a Sterling Cheque for £4.50 made out to Catchword Writing Group.

This month’s story is Throwing Cockerels by Al Passey. Al was inspired by the Liverpool poets of the 60s and says he has been struggling with wordsmithery ever since. Throwing Cockerels was first included in the Fish Anthology 2020.

To read Al’s story click here

The Spring edition of The High Window features two poems by Iris Anne Lewis.

The first poem The Woman of Dolní Vestonice was inspired by a remarkable figurine found in a paleolithic settlement in the Czech Republic. Some thirty thousand years old, it is one of the oldest ceramic items known.

Much closer to home, the second poem, Down Ampney, explores the history of this small village near Cirencester. 

You can read the poems here 

Our current Chair, Selwyn, has written “Gwyl and Beryl” – a very short story – which you can read by clicking here. He explained: “This short story was completed after being set a free-writing exercise at one of our Wednesday meetings. We were asked:

‘Given a free choice, would a banana have blue hair?’.

Of course, who knows where to go from there? But, surprisingly, a story came to mind of how behaviour, out of the ordinary, leads us to question ourselves and others before coming to a resolution of our conflicting emotions.’

The group is now welcoming new members to join its weekly meetings on Wednesdays at Somewhere Else Deli in Castle Street, Cirencester.  Whether you already write, or have always wanted to, but would appreciate support and inspiration, contact us via our group website. Alternatively, just leave us a message at Somewhere Else at the top of Castle Street. Members write poetry, plays, fiction, and other forms of writing.  Some are published and performed, but others prefer to explore their personal potential. If you want to get the most out of words, get in touch.

This month’s poem, ‘The Stag’, by Frank McMahon, won second prize in the competition, ‘Voices for the Silent’, run by Indigo Dreams Publishing. It now features in their anthology of the same name.

Frank’s poem also appears in his second volume of poems, ‘A Different Land’, published by Palewell Press. The poem is a protest against the killing of wild animals for sport.

Frank says, ‘Poetry is thriving these days in the UK, partly due to all the local writing groups around the country.

I want to acknowledge all the help and inspiration given by the members of the Somewhere Else Writers Group.’

The group is now welcoming new members to join its weekly meetings on Wednesday afternoons at Somewhere Else Deli in Castle Street, Cirencester.  Whether you already write, or have always wanted to, but would appreciate support and inspiration, contact us via our group website. Alternatively, just leave us a message at Somewhere Else at the top of Castle Street. Members write poetry, plays, fiction, and other forms of writing.  Some are published and performed, but others prefer to explore their personal potential. If you want to get the most out of words, do get in touch.

To read The Stag click here.

Church bells have pealed out across towns and villages in Europe since medieval days. Published in the quarterly poetry review magazine The High Window, Iris Anne Lewis’s poem  ‘The Bells of Lübeck’ explores the history of the German city, of Lübeck, through the story of the bells in its large and impressive church, the Marienkirche.

Once the centre of the Hanseatic League (a union of towns and merchants’ guilds that dominated northern European trade in the medieval period) Lübeck and its citizens enjoyed great prosperity. However, as a result of a bombing raid during the second world war, much of the town and the Marienkirche were engulfed by fire. The bells fell nearly 400 feet and crashed to the floor of the church in a molten and broken state.

The church has been magnificently restored, as has the city, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, the bells remain exactly as they fell – a shattered heap, partially melted into the ground beneath the vault and serves as a peace memorial.

You can read Iris’s poem about the bells here 

One of the most cheering sights of January and February is the stirring of the soil as the first snowdrops pierce through the earth. Published in the webzine ‘Ink, Sweat andTears,’ the poem Consider the Snowdrop by Iris Anne Lewis presents a measured and delicate ode to the snowdrop, speaking of perseverance and grace. You can read Iris’s poem by clicking here.

This month’s poem, Winter’s Orbit, imagines how it would feel to undertake a winter migration in a time before way markers, roads, or cities. Poet Tina Baker takes the reader back to prehistoric humankind, struggling across a dark and featureless landscape.

She said: ‘They were the first to make tracks, some possibly still in use today, but how did they decide which way to go when the stars were hidden by cloud, or the river forked, or the land was covered by snow and the view ahead a blizzard? What did they do when the sky fell to earth when the way forward looked the same as the way back?

‘The aim was to create a claustrophobic mood, the feeling caused by short, grey winter days which seem to stretch into infinity, the days you feel like walking until the clouds are left behind until you find the sun again.’

Tina was inspired to write more poetry after joining Cirencester-based poetry group Wordbrew. She said: ‘I find I’ve been challenged and encouraged by the excellent poets in the group.’

To read Winter’s Orbit click here.