THE WORD

The story we tell ourselves

The story we tell ourselves can be a chain or a key. A bread crumb can be a feast or a famine. Our glass can be half full or half empty. The story we tell ourselves is the reality by which we live our lives. Deep winter thoughts for sure. But what a season for reflection, contemplation and taking stock of who we are and who we want to be.

It will be a little quieter on the open microphone scene over the next couple of months as our weekly Dangerous Microphone takes a break (last one, featuring Kabra Kadrabra on Wednesday 1 July). The Dangerous Kitchen will be closed from 5 July to 19 August 2026. The Dangerous Microphone will resume for its 5^th season on Wednesday 26 August.

But of course, we will continue with our monthly events at the Mussel Inn (where myself and Leigh Strange will be the featured guests at Acid on the Microphone) and NgAng’s Gallery. Details further on.

Let’s tell ourselves a good story and live our lives accordingly.
See you somewhere!

Peace
Mark Raffills
Golden Bay Live Poets Society

Winter's bed of stone

The dawn is slow to wake,
To stir from the bed of darkness,
To crack the sky
With a ray of light
That knows the sun’s caress

The thin covers of cold
Lie frozen on the ground,
The morning dew,
A sea of white
That whispers a silent sound

Thin, spindle orchard arms,
Nothing left to hold,
This is the season
Of slumber,
Of the naked vine I am told

Above, the hollow moon
Hangs high and alone,
Long are the nights
We lie waiting
On winter’s bed of stone

Mark Raffills