Belinda Jeffrey

I’m coordinating the tourning QLD poets program at the moment for Kristen Hannaford, Rob Morris and Zonobia Frost, and I’m sitting in my motel room on Little Bourke St Melbourne.

The Queensland Touring Program kicked off on Sunday afternoon in Sydney with a reading at the Brett Whitely Gallery in Surry Hills. Rob felt overwhelmed, reading amongst the work of such a renowned artist. It was windy in Sydney, but thankfully the dust had cleared before we landed. The Hotel manager was a closet poetry lover, so we discovered, and gave Zenobia a bottle of champagne for the night after they shared snippets of their favorite poetry across the front desk. It was a quick stay in Sydney and we were up early the next morning to catch the flight to Melbourne.

We arrived at the airport early, which was lucky given flights were expected to be delayed because of winds and problems with connecting routes. So they boarded us on a flight straight away that had been idling on the tarmac for an hour. We ran to security only to find the woman managing the x-ray machine declaring she wouldn’t sit down for a minute longer, determined to man the walk-through x-ray machine. This left a trainee to take the seat at the bag-check. The conveyer stopped and started. Bags went through the machine and back again as she got the hang of the equipment. Meanwhile, our names were being called over the loudspeaker. Kristen’s bag was double-checked and they decided to personally inspect the contents of Zenobia’s bag too. We ran all the way to the plane and the doors closed behind us. Just.

The first of two Melbourne gigs was at the Brunswick Hotel at ‘Passionate Tongues’. An eclectic audience turned out to read at the open-mic and listen to our poets. Rob took off one shoe for his performance and left it off for the night. It was that kind of laid-back atmosphere.

Zonobia bought herself a cane in Melbourne –complete with a gold elephant-head handle. She sported this – as well as a hat – for the gig at the Spinning Room the next evening. She was encored and brought back for one further poem that night.

Two radio interviews and poetry readings yesterday and today. 4RRR and 4CR. Networking dinner at Little Lonsdale St tonight.

There has been much talk between us, between the poets about style, form. How moments of synchronicity link ideas, people and places. There has been much rummaging through retro fashion and bric-a-brac stores. Much coffee, much laughter. Great company. And, of course, great poetry. Kristen is off researching at the State Library, poems brewing in her mind. Rob is chasing that next LP, that great 48. Zenobia is roaming the museum.

We head to Launceston today, though my iphone weather application says there’s no such place.