Poets celebrate 1000 shades of mad

CELEBRATIONS: Rotorua Mad Poets Society celebrate the launch of their new anthology, 1000 Shades of Verse, on their 21st birthday and 1000th meeting. Founding member Frank May holds the cake. PHOTO/ SUPPLIED

The Rotorua Mad Poets' Society has launched its 10th anthology of poetry to coincide with its 1000th weekly meeting and 21st birthday.

Founder Frank May led the members of the Mad Poets in celebratory toast at the Pig 'n Whistle, as they launched 1000 Shades of Verse with readings from the book.

The collection was described by current Mad Poets co-chairwoman Julia Charity as "a sweeping array of limericks, sonnets, prose and pantoums".

It covers such diverse topics as important events in New Zealand's history like the Wahine tragedy, the Christchurch earthquakes and the choosing of a new flag.

"Readers can expect to find humorous rhymes and words on laughter and friendship. Matters of the heart, beauty, passion, love and dancing butterflies flourish. Other poets reflect on significant life events or capture everyday moments. There are portraits of wondrous landscapes, moon, stars and even the intricacies of a chocolate addiction."

1000 Shades of Verse pays homage to Mad Poets dead and living, past and present, including poems from the society's youngest members, Alice Charity and Jayden Bradley-Waaka (both 9) and the late Roy Tucker, the eldest at 98.

The Mad Poets were founded by Mr May in 1994 and, apart from Christmas and New Year breaks, has not missed a single week in 21 years.

"The Mad Poets have been a rich thread in Rotorua's art fabric," said long-standing member Nan Millar.

"We've always had members writing with mystical Maori magic. The group are as warm, witty and vital as when they welcomed me over 15 years ago."

Membership is around 30 and meetings are held every Wednesday, from 4pm at Atlantis Bookshop, Eurera St. Members are involved in readings at rest homes, schools and local radio.

Copies of 1000 Shades of Verse are available at Atlantis Bookshop.