the birm*

I love poets.

I’m not talking about “famous” dead ones that made things rhyme (though I have nothing against those) but about the people around you and I who are word-artists. You know who I mean. Either well-known or not, these people have a way with words. What they say “doesn’t always make sense, but bypasses the brain and goes straight to the heart” (one of my favourite poets, Mike MCarthy, said this a few years ago during a song-writing workshop while talking about lyrics). What they say/write might be witty, funny, romantic, spiritual, profound or silly and it touches you, making you reflect, feel, pause, smile or cry. I consider myself thankful to have some of these poets amongst my friends…or is it that some of my friends are poets..?

Talking about friends, thanks to some great friends from Newie (thanks guys!!!), I recently received PJ Wolf’s album in the mail. I’ve enjoyed Pete’s songs and lyrics since the days of Compos Mentis and of the all piece band and I must say that in his recent (and to my knowledge, first) solo EP the quality continues. Though the songs were great when I first heard them, they just keep getting better. One in particular just hits the spot and gives me that special feeling of wanting to laugh or cry (at the same time…or somewhere in between). If you live in Australia, go and listen to him or purchase his album “storms dreams and flying machines”, if not, listen here or here.