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Poem of the Month

Roger McGough
Man Ray, Cadeau, 1921, editioned replica 1972

Man Ray
Cadeau 1921, editioned replica 1972
© Man Ray Trust, ADAGP, Paris and DACS, London 2002
Iron and nails
17.8cm x 9.4cm x 12.6cm

Each month, TATE ETC. publishes new poetry by leading poets such as John Burnside, Moniza Alvi, Adam Thorpe, Alice Oswald and David Harsent who respond to works from the Tate Collection. Subscribe to the Poem of the Month RSS feed.
This March Roger McGough presents his poem, Cadeau, based on Man Ray’s work of the same name. This work is not currently on display in Tate galleries, but other works by Man Ray are on display in Tate Modern, and Cadeau can be viewed on the Tate Collection online.

The Poetry Society is curating this year's selection in the organisation's centenary year. Founded in 1909, the Society is now one of Britain’s most high-profile arts organisations, helping poets and poetry thrive in Britain and beyond. Membership is open to all, though members include many of the UK’s most eminent poets. It publishes the highly-respected journal Poetry Review; and also works to deliver a programme of poetry in education, supporting and developing creativity among young people and communities. Visit http://www.poetrysociety.org.uk for further information.

Cadeau

Man turned up on monday
bearing a gift
Right out of the blue

A peace offering
'Not any old iron' he said
'I made it just for you.'

We went to bed
When he'd gone, I unwrapped it
heated it on the stove

Ironed his shirts, vests,
pants. All ripped to shreds
Our love.

ROGER MCGOUGH

Roger McGough's new collection of poetry That Awkward Age will be published by Viking in June this year. He presents Poetry Please for BBC Radio 4 and is currently adapting Moliere's Le Malade Imaginaire for the Liverpool Playhouse.

Roger McGough was the first judge of the Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award when it opened back in 1998 as the Simon Elvin. The Foyle Award has a history of unearthing new generations of talent and supporting their future careers in poetry. It is a free poetry competition open to 11-17 year olds, funded by the Foyle Foundation. The top 15 poems every year are published in a winning anthology, and the young poets go on to further develop their writing at an Arvon residency course led by the judges of the competition. This year, the judges are Selima Hill and Lemn Sissay. The competition is open for entries from March 2009, with a launch at the Sage Gateshead, and will close at the end of July 2009.

http://www.foyleyoungpoets.org