Co-host Geraldine O'Kane shares their thoughts on March's Purely Poetry Open Mic night:

Purely Poetry peeps, as the song said 'and as I recall it ended much too soon ... Oh what a night'... You packed to the rafters, thankfully you were all good, no swinging shenanigans ensued!

Our host with the most poems in the world treated us to a brand spanking new one, hot of yesterday afternoons press! We had eight magnificent first timers and three of them were Brian's, we always knew they would take over the creativity world! Our fourth Brian was very brave to declare he hates poetry (he did make it out alive)!

We had a few overarching themes running through the night love of the sea, sexism, NI's landscape, death, mental health and the moon! Other things on your collective mind were Mr Gooser, the charitable boss from heaven or hell (depends on your perspective, I guess), the eternal reflection of the razorblade, swallows at shallow heights, snow, closed accordion of sacked pleats, what is a mouse prayer, a tiny lament, chicken speak, the boxes we are born into, wild swimming, bullying, home is where you love.

Lines we loved:
The first coffin I carried was my own...
Home I returned with five kids and four boulders...
Their eyes slid off me like a human banana skin...
My despair brings me home in an odd way to you...
I'm barely human but am not a tree...
Her story lies between the opening and closing of the eyes of men...
I cut my roots and grew beautiful... (Not connected to the above poem but we ❤ the synchronicity)

Take away thoughts:
Why are we fighting like a mosh pit?
Did you know stardust can cry itself to sleep?
Are we drowning in a sea of grief?
You don't have to be isolated to be alone?
50 Whiskeys in your Rice Krispies is the way to start the day! (drink responsibly, people)

We miss you already, you attentive lot... Roll on 5th April!

Many thanks to our readers on the night: Laura Morgan, William Howard, Michael Wilson, Rebecca Jane McConagall, Peter Adair, Rich Cathcart, Helen Hasting, Elizabeth McGeown, Brian Rooney, Richard Waring, Linda McKenna, Ryan McLean, Brian McCordie, Dan Eggs, Denise Donnelly, Will Donnelly, Brian McKirky, Rainbow, Laura Hutchison, Ellie Rose McKee, Chris Thackaberry and Mark Brownlee.