3rd London Poetry Festival 2007 Poets In Residence

Tricia Peak  Briony Dennis  Inua Ellams  Juli Jeana  Tom Chivers

Juli Jeana was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and has lived in many places in South Africa, England and the United States. After studying at the University of South Africa she opted to live in a small village where she learned to milk cows and plant vegetables. In the  quiet of the countryside she wrote poetry, painted, held exhibitions and also raised a family. Always open to new experiences she and her husband spent three years on a mission in the Transkei after which they became apple farmers.

Being a many talented person she  decided to become a musician in midlife, joined a band and travelled for the next ten years.  She now has a house next to the sea in Cape Town but works and lives in London.

Her poetry reflects her various approaches and experiences of life.

She works as a visual poet with words in abstract cubistic images and paints finely cut words in primary and secondary colours.  

She is a London based poet who also exhibits her art work in London and surrounds.   She co-presents More Poetry monthly in Borough, London Bridge.    She has been writing poetry for a number of years and has been published in various magazines here and abroad.

Presently she teaches Art and English in an inner London city school.

Juli Jaena is a London based artist/poet. Exhibitions during August 2006 Rhythm Factory opening 27 Nov 2006 - paintings in Abstract (solo) Carey Faye Group Exhibition of Graphics - Kentish Town Bun Gallery, Cape Town (solo)

Also exhibited at Sobo Gallery, Tower Bridge 2006

Between 2004 -2006 exhibited at Art House, Brighton (group) Synergy, Brighton (solo) Terra a terra, Brighton (solo) Brighton Fair (group) St. Brides, London ( group) Morley College (group) Bermondsey Artists (group)

Has held a number of solo and group exhibitions. Has been a professional musician Is presently enrolled at Metropolitan university for MFA

Little Lamb

little Lamb who made you
when flying fishes walked
the Holy Ghost bent over the world
brooding with warm breast
and the softest clothing -
for He clothed you

and so to God of all that's gentle
woolly, bright and all that's
dappled with spots  light
and shade and all that's farm
trade with gear and tackle -
for He covered you

yet for some moment when the moon was
like the ooze of oil crushed
all things became seared with work
figs upon thorn, toil, deceit, pride
having trod the underdog, having trod
there had been palms before his feet

to the darkest hill He went
with blood upon the whitest wool
He took it all
He gave you life
and bid you feed
by stream and field

for nature is never spent
though the last lights off the black West went
silver shook lay spread before dawn
harvest ripe shaken
for He charged the world
it will flame out

little lamb it will set your coat alight

(With reference to Gerald Manley Hopkins and William Blake)

white men can't jump

I went on foot tramping past
bushes   sparse trees
on dry sand following the riverbed
   Twisted  indented
searching for the tribe

I was warned not to come
You'll be certified dead
they kill strangers with assegai
define borders by hunting
cut ankles to maim and drink blood

   would I( be an enemy
   if I came with desire
   wearing sandals and cloth
   to meet you in the open
   look into your face

so I went without a gun
on foot along an unseen path
circled a quiet village with a stick fence
- eyes scouting between branches

children came peering
laughted at a skin bleached white
hair like grass   the sky caught
in the round of my eyes
quiet waters  not muddied

women silently beckoned
cooked me soup with bones
old men hung a blanket
on me to shelter my body
from the heat and insects
gave me wide mouths with teeth

then the warriors came muttering
carrying machine guns upright
looked me up and down
saw the covering on me
asked me to tackle and jump

   he jumps like a woman they laughed
   being a white man he has no sinews
   he won't be able to see over high grass
   we will teach him to use his toes

I sat with them in a circle afterwards
drinking blood from pierced cows
given only to warriors


mission school

the lamp burned yellow
my bed felt lumpy
I had a dream
Jesus fell off the wall
the picture smashed

when the sun came up
I ran like a shadow between trees
to the tall building
the one painted white
the grasses stopped singing

you were in the bus
splashing puddles
you would be late
I was telling you to get off
the exams were starting
I kept the gate open
the caretaker closed it as you came in

Jesus smiled

the cupboard

choices like coats hang in the cupboard
each hanger neatly positioned
behind a half open door

something to wear today
nothing that suits me
fits my mood

shifting my frame of mind
I rub my hands pacing the floor
when it falls on my shoulders
my skin
fitting like a cloth
Ghandi-like
smooth and brown
bare toes find stones
in a riverbed
step for step

I cross the day
fully clothed

walking  the line

yellow next to white
white next to yellow
gives light
yellow next to blue
changes hue
makes green
each lends itself
not to walk independent
but blended
from a distance
is perceived new
convinces the senses
gives coloured lenses
till again on its own
walking straight
it blazes forth bright
primary
singly
true

Items of Interest

The largest Poetry Competition in the UK and probably in the world is launched with prizes totalling £17,000. Judges of Poet's Letter Beowulf Poetry Prize are: David Morley, George Wallace and Munayem Mayenin. To Enter or to know more

Book Ad

Buy Munayem Mayenin's  collections, available on most online bookshops

Fourth Collection: Poetica Rainbow Ryder

Third Collection: The Geography of Time

Second Collection:  The Son of Eternity