Poet's Corner

FEST OR FAMINE

17-09-2007

Elsewhere on this site, we reveal that Birmingham's popular Artsfest has been reprieved. The Stirrer's poet laureate Brendan Hawthorne who performed this weekend reckoned there were plenty of "arts" in evidence - but not much "fest".

FEST OR FAMINE

It all seemed a little out of sync

The flicker gone from the strobe

I think

A tarnished glitter ball

Jewel in the Crown show

spinning eccentrically

out of kilter

to and fro

A stone-face performance

in the art of planning

for the faces of abject acceptance

to give praise or panning

And so today

the beat from the heart

of this proud City

seemed a little fainter this year

such a pity

Yet the performers still gave their all

for free

The volunteers still gave their all

for free

Yet for some the cost

was too much to stomach

The cost was too much in time

to give support to artists

musicians and crafts

this showcase of talents and

co-joining paths

Where were the banners of

colourful celebrations and laughs?

Where were the beach-party pennants

and good time remnants?

Even Paradise Island

is fitted with a widescreen

and audience remote

lapped by the waves of passers-by

all washed up on fast food row

with moans of having nowhere to go

For goodness sake

this should've been a party

not a wake!

Have we forgotten

what a good time is

other than filter fag or lager fizz?

Maybe things will be better

this time next year

with no arguments of

defeatism or elitism

or else the Fest will find famine

I fear

Let the region get behind it

Fund it!

Promote it!

Show the rest of the country

what we can do

or else live up to the expectations

of those critical few

Copyright 2007 Brendan Hawthorne

How does Brendan's experience of Artsfest square with the official version of the event? If you were there, tell us how you saw it. Leave a comment on the TV, Music and Arts Section of our Message Board.