One Night Stanzas

Inspired by this forum thread at the Scottish Poetry Library, I decided to write my own Poets’ Tea Party guest-list… and I want to hear yours! You can invite any poet, dead or alive (I always think a mix of the two would be interesting), and I want to hear why you’ve picked each one, why you think certain poets would love to drink tea together, and what you think they’d talk about, eat and drink. The best guest-lists will be posted on the blog! Get scribbling in the comments box, or send your ideas to me via email.

Obviously, the guest of honour at my personal Poets’ Tea Party would be Allen Ginsberg, because I love him to bits - although he had a reputation for getting drunk, high and naked at social gatherings, so a close eye would have to be kept on him. I’d definitely invite Robert Louis Stevenson - he could entertain the assembled party with Scottish folk tales and stories of his adventures in the Pacific… I think, having read his Child’s Garden Of Verses, that he’d really appreciate a good tea party. Stevenson could have a good chinwag with Edwin Morgan, who’d get a big comfy armchair to sit in — they could argue about which city is better; Glasgow or Edinburgh. To add some glamour to the proceedings, I’d invite Dorothy Parker - who’d doubtless sit very elegantly, making brilliant wisecracks at every opportunity - and Sharon Olds, who could have loud, frank and detailed discussions with Ginsberg about sex. Charles Bukowski could come as long as he agreed to keep his language clean and not bring any prostitutes… I think he and Ginsberg would probably have a fight, and I’d be torn over who to cheer for. I’d also invite Billy Collins and just ask him to talk, because I could listen to his voice all day… similarly, Liz Lochhead. She and Edwin Morgan could come in the same cab!

My tea-party would take place on my roof, with its blustery breeze, the smell from the Fountainbridge brewery, and Edinburgh Castle looming spectacularly overhead! I’d bedeck the table with candles so we could sit out there long into the night, and I’d put empty notebooks (most probably Moleskines) here and there, so my guests could record any impromptu poetry! As well as tea from my spotty tea-pot, there’d have to be an array of alcoholic beverages… whisky for Mr Bukowski, no doubt, and probably for the Scots poets too. I think Allen, Sharon and Dorothy would appreciate some absinthe, and I’m pretty sure Billy Collins is a red wine drinker! Heaps of pastries, cakes and other goodies would all be supplied fresh (because anything is possible here!) from the Dutch Bakery on Fort Street, Victoria BC.

Go on then… tell me about your tea party! You can also check out my Poets’ tea-party wishlist on Flickr!