Review
Rommi Smith is a rising star of the Contemporary Poetry Scene - Vort-X Magazine Hard hitting, political, sometimes genial in her wry delivery of acutely observed cultural mores..yours truly had perceptions opened with the power of birthing forceps. - Diva Magazine
Product Description
The Rommi Smith band work to dismantle constructed boundaries between artistic forms; they combine many eclectic musical styles to create an excellent backdrop for Rommi's words. The CD is a funky fusion of words, sound and rhythm. Moveable Type and its accompanying CD offer the reader the opportunity to listen or read, read and listen. Either way they are witnessing a sound that is uniquely Rommi Smith.
From the Publisher
The book’s title has meaning which is three-fold. Firstly it is a reference to the theme of journeying and travel which underpins the book. Secondly to the political and at times emotional nature of the subject matter. Thirdly, it refers to the type of mechanical printing that emerged, initially in China in the eleventh century. The credit for manufacturing Moveable Type is given to Johann Gutenberg in the fifteenth century. The process involved the creation of a system of metal reliefs of letters organised on to a frame. The development of Moveable Type is associated with freedom of speech and opportunity for greater democratic thought. . The mass production of books and the ability to produce them quicker meant ideas could be disseminated to a larger, wider audience.
About the Author
Born in 1973 in London, Leeds based poet, performer and teacher; Rommi has been writing and performing since the age of 14. Rommi has collaborated with, and performed alongside some of the finest contemporary poets and singers including, Lemn Sissay, Jean 'Binta' Breeze, Labi Siffre, John Cooper Clarke, Benjamin Zephaniah and Dana Bryant. Rommi received best actress award in 1990 from Bath Theatre Royal for a play she co-wrote. Rommi was a guest on Woman's Hour and her work has been broadcast on BBC television, ITV and Channel Four. In 1999 she was asked to chair for the first ever people's jury for the Booker Prize. In 2000 Rommi was commissioned by Paines Plough Theatre Company to write a play - Angie Baby.
Excerpted from Moveable Type by Rommi Smith. Copyright © 2000. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Moveable Type
Her father threw
a cast-iron typewriter
at her mother’s head, and
missed.
That day
her mother left.
It’s unmistakable
the imprint on the wall
the impact sent the coiled ribbons reeling.
Stewn blues and reds
carriage lop sided, arse-over-tit
in a messed up muddled heap in the hallway
as her mother, so easily could have been.
The stark space bar - a statement,
an empty back row
whose kissers walked out in the interval.
The dent
of a new sentance
a bruised cheek of metal-
teeth of alphabet keys
spelling it out on the lino.
The noise of indentation
surely earmarked for discussion, yet
the zipped mouths of neighbours
remained knowingly clueless as to
the source.
Last impressions last.
Torn Vymura, the silt of anger -
the shattered, powdered plaster
beneath unfulfilled prayers
seemed only marked
‘Return to Sender.’
The light may have been on
but no-one was home.
The light may have been on
but no-one was home.
