Some thoughts on reading at Over the Edge next week- and a poem

In ten day's time I will drive to Galway and join Breda Spaight and Afric McGlinchey as featured readers at the Over the Edge reading in the city library. I am thrilled and rightly nervous at the thought of this reading. Moreover, I am  proud to be doing it and glad of the validation of my writing. There is always this nagging question with me, how much of a writer am I really? Do I spend enough time and energy at writing to justify a claim to the title poet? On good days I see the progress I've made, other days I only see the rejection emails.
I don't have this kind of insecurity about my job, I'm good at it and I can say so. I know how to gauge that, how to up-skill and reinvent, reinterpret, keep fresh. I am inspired by my students and my colleagues in the English department and rarely too tired or otherwise turned off to make most days a good day at the office. There is an element of  performance in teaching and of course a script in the form of a syllabus and prescribed texts.

Maureen Curran reading at the March Over the Edge

The March Over the Edge reading in the Galway City Library features Garden Room Writer Maureen Curran with Breda Spaight and Afric McGlinchey see here

I'm sure Maureen will enjoy her visit and reading in Galway.

Over the  Edge is run by Susan Millar DuMars and Kevin Higgins, and is now in its eleventh year of monthly readings -  Galway Advertiser

On a related note, Skylight 47 is currently open for submissions of poetry until 01st April 2014 - more details on their website