What a day! The books had arrived before Christmas, frustratingly too late to schedule anything before the turning of the year, so the date was set for Saturday 25th Jan in the Flying Scotsman room, the largest of the function rooms at DGLAM (Danum Gallery, Library & Museum)
Two conflicting anxieties: the obvious one that no-one would come, and, because we'd not ticketed the event, that it would be over-subscribed. It was the latter, as it transpired, and the more pleasant problem to have, particularly since the library staff were so accommodating in helping us to squeeze in more chairs.
Another conflict: an audience with a large contingent of family, friends and fellow poets can be both a cradle of comfort and a source of anxiety, as they are the people you least want to let down!
In the good hands of my close friend and songwriting partner Ian Parks taking MC duties, my longstanding musical compadre Kev Fitzpatrick to aid with the musical interlude, and daughter Sadie looking after the book sales desk, I was able to concentrate on the performance and ease into it, despite some early wobbles in the voice.
In short, it could not have gone better; I was overwhelmed by the audience response and all the books I thought I may have over-ordered disappeared at the interval.
After the break, I had the opportunity to speak about the overlap between poetry and songwriting as Kev and I presented a short set of poems from the book that I'd set to music, before a second half reading from Iron Harvest.
It was a pleasure and a relief to adjourn to Doncaster Brewery for a wind-down, a de-brief and a little time to absorb the significance. It's not hyperbole to say I put my heart and soul into this book, and the event was for me, a personal valediction. It was a day that will live long, and I owe thanks to those who came along and helped make it memorable.
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