Yesterday evening saw the sensational launch of poet Stephen James Smith’s debut poetry book, Fear Not. Hosted by Poetry Ireland, the event took place in an airy Georgian house on Parnell Square. While the venue provided a fresh and modern ambience, the audience was initially perplexed by the lack of seating and many hovered nervously with a glass of wine in hand. There were a small number of cushioned benches, but the vast majority of guests ended up sitting on the floor. This may have been by design, however, as it was a great leveller and placed casually dressed students alongside business people, forcing them to adjust to the new space and each other. The friendly, living-room atmosphere and the simple set-up seemed in keeping with Smith’s inclusive and honest poetry.
Singer-songwriter Glen Hansard was called on to introduce Smith to the audience. The pair have been fast friends since the singer was lauded in Smith’s iconic poem, “Dublin You Are”. Hansard described the poet as both immensely talented and kind – somebody who would “drive your mother home” after a night out. He spoke of Smith’s kindness and his belief in poetry’s ability to help disadvantaged children and teenagers. At the end of this introduction, both men were teary and exchanged a sincere hug. Smith then began the evening’s performance.
Smith began by thanking his parents, publisher and many friends who were in attendance. It was extremely easy to warm to the poet as he spoke gratefully and emotionally about his creative journey. He claimed that poetry had “saved his life” and had driven him to save others. He offered his help and support to every audience member – perhaps giving an insight into the title of his book.
Throughout his speech, the poet alluded to the importance of community, the ongoing housing crisis and the recent eviction that occurred just 100m away on North Frederick St. Smith also spoke of his dyslexia as both a “hindrance” and an aid to his work. He became emotional when talking of a friend who had recently taken his own life. This provoked his first performance of the evening: “We Must Create”.
By audience request, Smith went on to perform “Gardener”, a piece about his mother and her psychological struggles. The atmosphere had grown quite solemn by this stage, with many in the audience overcome by the emotion of the performance. At times, Smith’s soft, lyrical voice sounded like singing, and his musicality shone through. Glen Hansard followed with a rendition of “The Rocky Road to Dublin” to lighten the mood. Smith accompanied him on the bodhrán and it was evident that the pair shared a love for rhythm and the art of making the voice skip and fall over words.
