From Lydia Lunch
A genuine icon gets in touch with Domestic Cherry, the delectable Lydia Lunch, star of the New York underground and high priestess of Goth.
Dear Michael, Ursula,...
Whomever...
may read this -
performers of the real alternative
alter egos...
I have finally summoned a few late summer minutes
in sunny Spain to drain my brain across your pages...
I'm about to pull something out from the depths of this infernal
machine which links my fingers to your eyes and send something
sallying forth...
But please inform...is this for the online edition, your blog, or
your yearly print release....are you looking for poems?
essays?... photo montages?
A DNA sample....(for that I'm afraid I do charge...)
And how do I muster an invite
to these wild spring affairs
of poets and raconteurs
you crazy cats seem
to gather each May
somewhere of in the wilds
of the UK?
Please inform
Lydia
Dear Mr. Daljit Nagra,
My name is Barry and I know that Ilda Sheen from Swindon, she told me you had a book out soon and that you liked a bit of dialect. As well she said that you were having some sort of buffet to drum up a bit of interest. Well the upshot is that I'm coming with her because if I don't she might never make it back, half the time she doesn't know what language she's speaking herself you know. Anyways I'm sure we'll keep her in line Mr. Daljit Nagra.I don't do a lot of poems myself but as it's you and dialects are in fashion here's my 'mash-up' (my niece Courtney told me that one) of a very famous Wiltshire tale and some of my doings. Looking forward to a Mr Whippy with you on the 7th (chocolate sauce but NO nuts).
Barry Dicks’ amazing yokel-fraud-scam pond cheese Moonraker
After Gwen Ellis – The Wiltshire Moonrakers
They think we daft them clever buggers up the smoke
but they doesn’t know the night sky twinkle in us yokel buoys blood
for some caskies of spirits the Smugglers would bring
down by Devizes on thee pond wid them ganders
when the moon were at full, shining bright.
those chaps wuz after zum smugglers dumped thay barrulls
long 'fore they heard Zizeman coming
‘an ‘ere be the rub
so they sank 'em in Crammer, right quick,
we ain’t wazzocks they dun fink
they tied on some blooming girt bricks.
them buoys laid it on all a bit fick
we be trying to rake out this dapper girt cheese,
but it dun the trick dinnit?
but whatevr 'ee do, don't ee tell".
see this there official type thunk he was smart-alick din-ee?
"you'm a right lot of Ninnies," said Zizeman,
clever bugger sed
"that's the 'flection of moon, not a cheese,
then coined us yokels a right pretty moniker
you'm a stupid girt bunch of Moonrakers," he laughed,
then he galloped away on his steed.
and we dun got the caskies an’ piss’d um up a wall
so that smart pillock from Lundun town
wurzels thought ee’d found
but what ee’d got was Wiltshire lads
and you carn’t keep us buoys down.
Yours in words,
Barry (Mr)
Barry Dicks
Visibility Specialist
Ursula's Letter to the Guardian
Dear Guardian People,
I'll be brief, I know you're manning the barricades and locking horns with the toffs and I do not want to distract you from that. I am writing to you as co-editor of a new women's poetry annual called Domestic Cherry, here's a link to our blog and a sample copy http://domesticcherry.blogspot.com/
I know that the Guardian is relatively poetry-friendly so I wondered if you would be able to give us some coverage, we have secured an enviable roster of poets so far, including Rhoda Janzen, Leela Gandhi and Myra Schneider. We are very excited, should you wish and are organising and demo's for the upcoming Summer of Discontent, we are not averse to marching on the corridors of power with poetic diatribes pasted to our placards 'Do not kettle, let asylum seekers settle' and so on. Anyway I digress, our submission guidelines and a bit more taste of cherry are at the end of this mail. One final thing though, does anyone seriously expect to be served brown bread sandwiches these days? Apologies for asking, it's just that I'm organising the launch buffet and can do without wilful diversification. I am sure with your broad readership that you will be bang on trend as regards to wholemeal, don't flim flam we with that 50/50 stuff, I just don't get it.
Domestic Cherry welcomes previously unpublished poetry, flash fiction and playlets by women writers. Also, black and white ink/crayon/charcoal drawings with a touch of red to celebrate cherriness.
Mrs. Watson enjoys being astonished and believes the word 'domestic' should not be a dirty word in literary magazines. She marvels at any woman who can write whilst scrambling over her kids or gasping from the bottom of a washing basket! (she's been there). She also marvels at women who write with vibrancy, energy and originality. Let's celebrate the minds of women and not marginalise them out of fiction and poetry, let's tip up the imbalance. Mrs. Watson also believes that more fun needs to be had in the publishing industry so feel free to be playful, happy, experimental, mental as well as dark and thick as treacle (Mrs. Watson loves treacle).
What else needs to be said? Mrs. Watson needs your intelligence because at times she doubts her own like lots of women numbed by too much to do. If you have anything inspirational to add to her submission guidelines then please do share. Mrs. Watson would like to celebrate sharing!
Please send to domesticcherry@rocketmail.com:
Poetry – of any length sent in the body of an email
Flash Fiction – up to 350 words sent in the body of an email
Playlets – one side of A4 in one act sent in the body of an email
Black and white line drawings – sent as good quality scanned in Jpeg attachments.
Yours ready to proof-read any article you write, in fact I insist,
Ursula Pittxx
Dear Barry,
Me and Ursula are doing the car boot at Blunsden (outside of Swindon) Any advice?
Reply:
Vultures in the car park at Blunsdon Stadium
we got there about seven
because people bogoff from eleven
when the market opens at nine
buyers throng from hurst of pine
a bit later, roundabout ten
you get the hagglers from hill of pen
keep your eyes on all your stuff
as customers go these are quite rough
you sort of have to do it to know
the oddness, strangeness that's on show
just be sure, react to them quick
this lot would steal their Grandad's stick
I suppose the most useful tip -
decide how much your price can dip
they like round pounds or 50p
but some of these punters want it for free.
Take a table. Take some sweets. Don't take a book. If you think it's worth a fiver at 7am it's worth it at 11 if you see what I mean. There's a bloke who comes round at about 7.30 to collect your pitch money. Don't look at other stalls, it's just your shit on someone else's table. Take some change and a place to put your money.
And most of all ENDURE!
Barry
Great news from the Swindon Festival of Literature, writes Ursula Pitt, Domestic Cherry family member, brilliant poet and Google Translate fanatic Hilda Sheehan beat off stiff competition from six other finalists to win the inaugural Swindon Speakers Short Story Competition at the Arts Centre tonight.
‘Back from the Moon’ is a detailed a chunk of childhood from an unforgettable reunion. Mundane sounds and sights are given vivid permanence by the power of the experience. A gas hob is lit, curtains drawn and Dad is at the door smelling of something put away for too long, back from orbit and a lonely journey.
Humour, innocence and emotion weave through Hilda’s story as a father and his little daughter re-connect, through truths, half truths and some footprints gathering dust way up there in the sky.
A fabulous, fantastic tale told in an accessible, authentic way gave the Swindon Festival of Literature an extra cherry on the cake for all of us at Domestic Cherry, so warm congratulations from myself Ursula, Mabel, Barry, Mrs Hongo, Elisabeth Yonkers and Roy.
Roy said that Hilda used Elmore Leonard’s 10th Rule of Writing perfectly,
the legendary author (Elmore not Roy) advises writers to ‘Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip’, Hilda did just that.
Letter from Burkino Faso
Ursula and I get letters from all over the world. I leave the replies to Urs as she has such a way with words and always likes to try and meet up. She's still awaiting a cheque for £1,200,101 though from Lybia to be paid directly into her account by that rebel leader. If anyone has any suggestions or experiences to share...please do!
Dear friend
I am Mr.ibrahim danjuma am the manager of auditing and accounting department BANK OF AFRICA (B.O.A). in Burkina faso. I would like you to indicate your interest to receive the transfer of$10.5 Million. I will like you to stand as the next of kin to my late client whose account is presently dormant, for claims.
(1) Full names:
(2) Private phone number:
(3) Current residential address:
(4) Occupation:
(5) Age and Sex:
Yours faithful,
BILL & EXCHANGE MANAGER
FROM. mr ibrahim danjuma
Dear Ibrahim
I wonder, I wonder, I wonder if you have seen 'Charlie & the Chocolate Factory'?
No matter, I've got something for you that would give those little oompaloompa's something to fiddledeedee about. It's not my bank account details. Sorry to be so blunt but read on. Go to this address www.aldi.com, purchase some tinned peaches for delivery to Burkina Faso. When they arrive, peel off the label, on the inside will be not only my address details but a golden ticket to THE ROYAL WEDDING, you may even have won a commemorative foot spa, but I can't guarantee this. Look forward to seeing you on the 29th, meet up at Brent Cross Shopping Centre OK? Outside Wilkinsons 10am.
Regally yours
Ursulax
Ursula's Letter to Mr. Mackmin at the Rialto
Dear Mr Mackmin,
Reply:
Dear Ursula Pitt
Thank you for your letter.
There won't be an issue of The Rialto before your festival takes place - otherwise I'd offer to put your letter on the Letters page and in the hope that you'd benefit from the publicity.
I asked our media person about the 'table shots' and he says he assumes you mean do you have to ask people's permission to take photographs if you are attending an event, and if so no you don't - but he advises that you should use discretion.
Best Wishes
Michael Mackmin
Ursula's Letters to Leela Gandi
Dear Leela,
Dear Leela,
I am writing to you as a great admirer of your work and co-editor of a new women's poetry annual Domestic Cherry. The collection will be launched at the Swindon Festival of Literature in May 2011 and will feature many well published poets, including Rhoda Janzen and Hilda Sheehan. We would love you to submit a poem for publication in our precious project, we promise to take care of your words. Here is a sample http://issuu.com/mrswatson/docs/domestic_cherry_sample
We hope that you like it. We have a deadline of 31st March in order to get the annual printed in time. As I said, we admire your work, 'Copula' is a particular favourite of mine. Just one more thing, do you think it is acceptable to put cutlery & serviettes in a mug for people to select from at the business end of a buffet? Apologies for asking but I am organising the buffet launch and I don't want knives and spoons taking a poets eye out. I'm sure you'll know the best way to approach this. Hope to hear from you soon.
Yours choosing conversation over bibliography,
Ursula Pitt
Dear Ursula (if I may),
Thank you very much for this generous note and for your kind invitation. Domestic Cherry looks wonderful and I'd be delighted to submit a poem for consideration. Indeed, may I submit two I can't decide between? Both repeat a conceit each from 'Copula' for which I apologise in advance. I'll leave it to you to decide which poem is more appropriate for the project.
With regard to the buffet matter: I can see how the careful arrangement of cutlery might help encourage non-violence amongst hungry poets. I am always a little squeamish about the mug as receptacle though, as it sometimes gathers detritus from vertical objects (toothbrushes for example?) But then again that in itself might further restrain the wild rush for cutlery at launch-time and thence promote non-violence. I hope this helps.
Thank you again. This really is a lovely invitation. I look forward greatly to the publication of annual.
Yours with all best wishes,
Leela
Ursulaxx
To the Telegraph (For The Queen)
Dear Leela,
Thank you for your email, I was buzzing with excitement by the time I got to the end of it, your words have come as pure joy and nectar to me because I hadn't thought about the toothbrush mug until you mentioned it. How can I thank you for this laser accurate piece of buffet knowledge. I am now erring towards pre-wrapped cutlery, this would at least delay any armed combat between our ladies.Anyway, there is another albeit less important reason for my mail to you, we like to think of Domestic Cherry as a torch carrier for globalisation of consumer poetry and as such are keen to offer our readers a 'READ ONE, GET ONE FREE' offer on our absolute favourite poets (a hairs breadth thick elite group of which you are a member). In poetry parlance we would like to publish both of your poems because we liked them so much, I will also send you a free copy of the annual when it is published and also pre-launch priority information for my exciting 2014 part-work project 'Ursula Pitt - A Poem A Week for 80 weeks (with free lavender drawer liner)'. Anyway I digress, if you could let us know if you are happy for us to publish both I'll get on with it. Just one other thing, would you put a Black Forest Gateau out overnight on the worktop to thaw or inside the fridge? Apologies for another buffet question, but it is vital that our poets don't get half frozen cherries, sub-standard cherries are not what we need at the launch Oh no!
Once again thank you for your lovely email.
Yours drowning not waving under a deluge of SUPW,
To the Telegraph (For The Queen)
.From: Ursula Pitt <ursulapitt@rocketmail.com>
To: dtnews@telegraph.co.uk
Cc: Mabel Watson <domesticcherry@rocketmail.com>
Sent: Mon, 7 March, 2011 18:15:31
Subject: A favour
To: dtnews@telegraph.co.uk
Cc: Mabel Watson <domesticcherry@rocketmail.com>
Sent: Mon, 7 March, 2011 18:15:31
Subject: A favour
Hi Guys,
Sorry to be a bit impertinent but as you're in Buckingham Palace Road, do you reckon you could slip this email to one of those chaps in bearskins to pass on to HM The Queen? She's not got email so far as I can see, all her social networking looks like window dressing to me (actually, don't hand them the whole of this email just the bit that starts Dear The Queen, don't want any problems, I bet she'd get the chopper out of Big Yellow Storage and drag me into the tower given half the chance).
Anyway, here goes (and I'm sure your paper is the first that Prince Phillip looks at in the morning, it just is isn't it? So you've got the inside track).
Dear The Queen (this is the bit you can print out from)
Greetings your holiness.
I am writing to you as co-editor of a new women's poetry magazine, specifically written and launched to coincide with the forthcoming Royal Honeymoon. Here is a sample of the magazine http://domesticcherry.blogspot.com to show I'm not making it up, why would I? If your poet laureates have given you a bit of a strange view of poets, fear not, we write from the stance of poets who believe in proper white dress, nice church, afterwards in the Ferndale Club type of nuptials, unlike your laureates: one of whom saw off two wives c/o the kitchen, one who sounded like a visit to the bathroom, and the most recent who certainly won't be getting measured for any white taffeta any time soon. Anyway, I digress Your Majesty, Domestic Cherry is a magazine that aims to write the wrongs of public poetry perception (that's called alliteration if you didn't know, you may know of it as consecutive words starting with the same letter, it's all just jargon. I'm sure as a pensioner like myself, all this Txt, Tweet & OK gets a bit tiresome. I am writing to enquire if we would be able to put one of those shields of yours on the back of our annual when it's published in May. I know that Kellogg's have one on their Cornflakes and Heinz on their Ketchup, to signify that they supply to you and all the gravitas that goes with it. Well I'm going to put Issue 1 of Domestic Cherry in the post to you as soon as the ink dries, that makes me a supplier right? And if I'm a supplier .... you got it, that Brain Training on your gold plated DS is paying off ma'm. I hope that you are able to help us in some way with our project, we have famous poets involved. Perhaps you would be able to record my poem 'The Three Tena's' into my answering machine to play at the launch? If you can, get in touch and I'll give you the number, I live in Box, Wiltshire. The Windsor of the West they call it, there's that much blue blood down here. Thanks in anticipation. Good Skills Liz, that was just to remind you of Harry, or do you always think of him in that Nazi outfit, I know I do. Just one more thing, my colleague Mabel was helping me tie my corset today and I noticed her hands were filthy, how would you approach a person close to you with a personal hygiene issue? It's just that I'm running the buffet at the launch and if she sticks her grimy thumbnail into one of my vol-au-vents I won't know what to do with myself. I'm sure with your vast Garden Party experience you'll know, surely your Andrew has put his fingers somewhere he shouldn't from time to time, pray tell.
Look forward to hearing from you. I'll ask the chap from the Telegraph to call in couple of days to pick up your reply.
Your solemn subject for better or verse,
Ursula Pitt
Dear Rhoda,
I'm co-editor of a brand new women's poetry magazine about to launch in Swindon, UK. We've already got some great work by some great poets but would love some sort of contribution from yourself, our favourite influence. Even if it's a simple good luck that's fine but a poem would be fantastic, I guarantee we would look after it.
Just one more thing, what do you think about condiments for a launch buffet, should we have salt, pepper etc. already on the food or should our guests do it? I know that you've probably got lots of experience of these sort of events and can probably help me. One things for sure we won't have a pot of that Raz El Hanout on the buffet bar, sounds like powerful stuff and some of our ladies are quite elderly.
Yours from the tip of the bone,
Ursula Pitt
Hi Ursula,
What a nice invitation. I'm all for cherriness, as a general principle. Is Domestic Cherry a virtual zine, or is there a hardcopy counterpart?
I'm traveling all week. Perhaps I can look through my files when I get home on Saturday--I'll send you something then.
I would salt and pepper the food according to your own taste, and leave extra out for the salt fiends who walk among us, like the undead.
Be well and more later,
Rhoda
|
Ursula's Letter to AF Harold
Dear Af,
I am writing to you as co-editor of a new poetry annual for women called Domestic Cherry which will be launched at the Swindon Festival of Literature in May. I realise that you are a man but let me continue. We were wondering if there would be space at one of your open-mic evenings in Reading for myself and Editor Mabel Watson to appear, read our poems (one each, we know the score Af) and generally raise awareness of Domestic Cherry. Here is a sample for your perusal http://issuu.com/mrswatson/docs/domestic_cherry_sample we hope you like it. We are planning quite a splash for the launch and wondered if you would consider appearing yourself, well not exactly yourself because you'd have to be a woman otherwise we'll have POCOM the poetry watchdog onto us won't we and that Carol Ann Duffy looks like a bit of a bruiser to me. Anyway, I note that you are hirsute of chin (beard) and maybe you consider that to be an insurmountable problem, fear not, we are skilled facial hair concealers, I am sure you would blend in just right with our ladies. Hope you can help up with your wisdom, bonhomie and poeting Af. Just one more thing, Do you think British people like olives or do they just eat them to be polite/superior? It's just that I'm organising the nibbles for the launch and I don't want to waste my time with foreign food that no-one will want to eat, I remember the Yam sandwiches that Ted Hughes left when he was down here, crows would have eaten them I'm sure, miserable Yorkshireman. Anyway by for now AF and I look forward to hearing from you even if it's just a good luck note.
Yours Af expecting you not to reply,
Ursula Pittxx
PS Mabel loves you and she's cultivating the same sort of chops hair in tribute.
Dear Ursula,
Of course, you’re more than welcome to come over for the open mic. There’s no need to book that in advance, just turn up on the night and make yourself known to me. And I will wave the thing around and raise awareness as well and we’ll make it ever so popular.
As for appearing at launch, I think my days of drag are beyond me these days, so we might give that a miss. And I think you’ll find the appropriate ombudsman is OFFPO, not POCOM.
I don’t eat olives, but I believe I’m untypical. in that regard. People I know seem to like them.
Jolly good,
Ashley
Ursula's Letter to Melinda Messenger 2011
Ursula's Letter to Melinda Messenger 2011
Hi Melinda,
Greetings from Swindon! My name is Ursula and I am co-editor of a new magazine by Mum's and Women from Swindon and beyond. It's a poetry magazine called Domestic Cherry, do you like/write poetry? Could we persuade you to pen a line or two for our launch or send us a message of support? You can see a sample here - http://issuu.com/mrswatson/docs/domestic_cherry_sample Domestic Cherry will launch at the Swindon Festival of Literature in May. I can be contacted at ursulapitt@gmail.com. We're still really proud of you in Swindon Melinda. One more thing, which sort of disposable tableware and cups is best, paper or plastic, you see I'm organising the launch party and am terrified that it will all go tits up, I bet with the swish events you been to you'll know how to help.
Yours from the Paris of the M4 Corridor
Ursula Pitt
Ursula's Letter to Pam Ayres 2011
Yours from the Paris of the M4 Corridor
Ursula Pitt
Ursula's Letter to Pam Ayres 2011
Dear Pam,
I'm Ursula, co-editor of a new magazine for women poets 'Domestic Cherry', based in Swindon, just up the road from you. We were wondering if you had a couplet or some poetry off-cuts you could send our way to give us some gravitas. The magazine will be launched in May at the Swindon Festival of Literature and we are very excited. Maybe even a nice quote of encouragement would be good, in fact, don't send us a poem, send us your support, that's what gravitas is all about isn't it. So, no poem, nice quote, there we are. Here's a sample for you to look at http://issuu.com/mrswatson/docs/domestic_cherry_sample I can be contacted at ursulapitt@rocketmail.com. Just one more thing, if you were organising a buffet launch for a book of poetry how thinly would you slice the cheese or would you just put a knife out? It's just that you've probably got stacks of experience around that sort of thing so maybe you can help.
Yours Steradently (I wish I'd looked after me teeth)
Ursula Pitt
Ursula's Letter to Sharon Olds 2011
Dear Ms. Olds,
Hold it just there, I'm sure you're busy but I'm writing from England with news of an exciting new Women's Poetry Magazine called Domestic Cherry launching in May this year. I won't take much of your time but we would like some help, We are huge admirers of yourself and wondered if you could contribute something to our project (not money), I'm sure you get requests all the time but rarely from your cousins over here eh? We are based near the beautiful Roman city of Bath in the South of England much favoured by your countrymen for their holidays (sorry VACATION). I won't insult you by sending our submission guidelines as you can send anything at all and we would be ecstatic, a poem maybe (uncrumple one from your waste bin if you like), a haiku, a line, a word, a piece of useful punctuation or just a sentence of encouragement. Thank you for your valuable time and we hope to hear from you soon. Excuse me for asking but do you know how long a small parcel would take to reach you from Europe? I would love to send you some of our Celebratory Launch Cake. Just one more question - sponge or fruit?
Yours, Ursula Pitt
Reply: Sharon Olds is unavailable via e-mail. Please fax her, care of the Creative Writing Program, at 212-995-4864. Thank you.
Ursula's Letter to Sharon Olds 2011
Dear Ms. Olds,
Hold it just there, I'm sure you're busy but I'm writing from England with news of an exciting new Women's Poetry Magazine called Domestic Cherry launching in May this year. I won't take much of your time but we would like some help, We are huge admirers of yourself and wondered if you could contribute something to our project (not money), I'm sure you get requests all the time but rarely from your cousins over here eh? We are based near the beautiful Roman city of Bath in the South of England much favoured by your countrymen for their holidays (sorry VACATION). I won't insult you by sending our submission guidelines as you can send anything at all and we would be ecstatic, a poem maybe (uncrumple one from your waste bin if you like), a haiku, a line, a word, a piece of useful punctuation or just a sentence of encouragement. Thank you for your valuable time and we hope to hear from you soon. Excuse me for asking but do you know how long a small parcel would take to reach you from Europe? I would love to send you some of our Celebratory Launch Cake. Just one more question - sponge or fruit?
Yours, Ursula Pitt
Reply: Sharon Olds is unavailable via e-mail. Please fax her, care of the Creative Writing Program, at 212-995-4864. Thank you.
