My First Book Review.

My book has received it's first review, from a magazine called, 'Books Ireland'

The review, seen below, is mainly complimentary and I am pleased with it.

Poetry Off by Heart

One of my proudest Verse-based moments of my life, occurred in Blackrock, Co Dublin. During a reading to children, I was approached by three young girls and told very proudly that the class had learned to read together, ‘Christmas In July’ a poem of mine.

When it came time for me to read this verse I decided to turn it over to them, and get them to read it. To hear my own words read back to me from 30, or so, loud, but young, voices was a wonderful experience and it might have brought a tear to my eye if it wasn’t for this macho image I insist on maintaining and portraying to the world. I was even willing to allow the class to falter on the last two lines, which most seemed to, I was that impressed and pleased, but this was more than one of the young girls, who had told me originally about their learning of the poem, was going to allow them to do. She seemed quite appalled at her faltering fellow classmates and, hands on hips, said the last two lines with more conviction because of it.

I was reminded of this event when viewing the following article: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/5369739/More-poetry---please.html

This article deals with the importance of learning verse from heart, and I will be honest it is something I have never thought of before.

I know that my own schooling on poetry was exceptionally weak, the only thing I remember was seeing a television programme that contained Roger McGough and Michael Rosen, two men who I am still in awe of today and after this programme we were told that poetry can rhyme but it doesn’t have to and being asked to write two poems one that did rhyme and one that didn’t. That was the extent of my poetic schooling. Stephen Fry dedicates ‘The Ode Less Travelled’ to a teacher who helped awake his mind to the wonderfulness of poesy… I can honestly say that not one of my teachers will ever get a book dedicated to them.

We were certainly never told, or taught, to learn verse off by heart and it appears that this is still true, according to this article.

I’m not sure how this can be, when there are more organisations, festivals that include young people and push from the media these days then when I was young, but I agree with this article, something still needs to be done.

I travel up and down the Ireland, reading my poems and singing my songs, but only at certain times of the year, ‘Poetry Ireland’ The organisation who are there, apparently, to promote poetry in Ireland does not want me to be part of their ‘writers in schools’ initiative, so roll on the various festivals I’m involved in.

Learn poetry by heart, a wonderful idea, in fact…

Buy my book, learn all the poems so you can read them by heart and as the book is no longer is needed as a book, it can be used as a fan to keep you cool in the, hopefully, upcoming hot weather.

Hear is a video of me reading the poem mentioned above off by heart.

Thank you.

Who on Earth am I going to vote For??????

Who on Earth am I going to vote for in tomorrows Local and European Elections?

First, here is who I’ve eliminated.

The Greens – I voted them No1 in the General Election and they have disappointed me in Government.
Fine Gael – How dare they insult the voters by choosing Sinead Sheppard as one of their candidates. She had to Google the party when she was asked to stand. Do they seriously believe that voters are so obsessed with the vile celebrity culture that they will choose a reality television star to represent them?
Fianna Fail – The Country is in trouble, Brian Cowen’s Waffling will not save anyone.

So I still have many choices, but I have no firm favourite in mind…

Only one potential candidate has visited our house and this candidate is getting a vote from me, but if this is like the general election where you number many, then that leaves the rest with all to play for so to speak…

Who will I vote for?

Performance of my Poetry

My Dentist

Competition Open to All Schools in Dublin

Are you in to win?



Poet, Paul H Tubb, is offering one lucky school the opportunity to win a signed copy of his new collection of poetry, ‘Please Do Not Encourage This Nonsense by Purchasing This Book’, and a free visit from Paul to their school to perform his poems & songs and to discuss life as a poet with the Children.The Competition is open to all schools in Dublin that meet the criteria set out in the rules
below. To Enter the Competition simply answer the following question, and also in no more that 30 words, explain why your school will benefit from a visit from Paul.

The Question is:
Who wrote ‘Revolting Rhymes’?
Was it:
a) Roger McGough
b) Hilaire Belloc
c) Roald Dahl
e) Dr Seuss
f) Michael Rosen

E-mail your answer and explanation to PDNETNBPTB@Hotmail.com,; no later than midnight, Friday, 29th May 2009. The result will be announced on Wednesday 3rd June 2009.

Your Prize: Paul will Visit your school during the week of the 8th of June 2009.

Rules:
Competition is only open to schools in County Dublin
Competition only open to schools which contain Children aged 7 to 10.
Answers to be submitted to Paul ONLY by Teachers, Administration staff, Librarians or
Parents. Students please ask your Parent, Librarian, Teacher or other school Staff to help.
All entries to be received no later than midnight, Friday 29th May 2009.

Official Launch of My Poetry Collection

Press Release for Book Launch
Saturday 16th May 2009
Baldoyle Library, Fingal






Poet/Humorist/Singer-Songwriter Paul H. Tubb has recently put together a collection of his most Ridiculous Rhymes and illustrations, and decided to call it, ‘Please Do Not Encourage This Nonsense by Purchasing This Book: Poems by Paul H. Tubb’.

The Book, a delightfully funny collection that will make even the most disheartened person forget about the state of the world today, is being launched officially on 16th May 2009 at Baldoyle Libraries, Baldoyle, Fingal between the hours of 1400hrs and1500hrs.

It would mean a lot to the poet for you to attend, there will be readings from the book, Refreshments, Copies of the book there for purchasing and signing and Paul may even bring his Guitar and play a song or more.

For further information contact the poet himself @ pttheumrst@hotmail.com or by phone at 085-1407298.

Congratulations Carol Ann Duffy

Although I said (In my last post) that I wanted the Post to go to Roger McGough, I am pleased that it has gone to Carol Ann Duffy.

She is a great poet and a fine ambassodor, she will, I am sure, do the role well.

So Congratu;ations to our new Poet Laureate.