David Venn’s debut poetry collection, Hell’s Angel Coffee Morning, blends surrealism, dry wit and a range of intriguing characters – from Barnsley-based cowboys to an Alan Bennett doppelgangers in biker gangs. Exposed sat down with David in Fagans, the pub that provided him with years of observational inspiration, to discuss the collection, his writing process and how he enjoys merging the anarchic with the everyday.
Can you tell us how Hell’s Angel Coffee Morning took shape?
DV: It’s years of sitting in pubs like this one, observing people. You’d get anyone walking through the door – painters, musicians, decorators, labourers, actors – and you didn’t know what kind of story you’d stumble into. I wanted to write something someone could pick up in a pub and laugh at.
There’s an anarchy at the heart of people. We’re deeply chaotic and the world’s mad, but we’ve got these things that keep us in line. The title Hell’s Angel Coffee Morning reflects that mix – something anarchic crossed with something suburban and genteel. I find that juxtaposition really funny.
That juxtaposition is something that runs through many of the poems, I thought.
DV: It’s a really important part of it. Most of the poems have symbols – something normal or suburban alongside something anarchic. That duality’s where the humour comes from. For example, Barnsley, Tennessee is about a guy who walks around dressed up in full cowboy attire… but he’s from Wombwell. And the wonderful thing is – these types of characters do exist! Those contrasts really intrigue me, and I enjoy capturing them.
There’s a strong surreal element to your writing, but also a real love of humour. How important was getting that balance right?
DV: Definitely. I think humour’s important. I wanted something light-hearted and humorous. There’s enough going on in the world without me adding to it with a heavy tone. If you look at poets like Keats, his letters were funny. Ian Dury, John Cooper Clarke – they’ve got humour in their work. I didn’t want to write poems that batter people over the head with seriousness. I love surrealism because there’s freedom in it – nothing’s off-limits.
It’s been a heavy few years for everyone and surreal humour feels like a natural response to that. Surrealism, after all, came out of the First World War. This book’s a bit of an escape, I hope.
Illustrator Helen Frank has provided some wonderful illustrations to accompany the book. How did you collaborate on those?
DV: Yes, we talked about how wanted illustrations that would pull symbols from the poems. They make the book a great visual object – something someone might want to hold and look at, not just read. I think there’s something lovely about print in that respect – people want in their hands to escape screens, I think, particularly these days. Of course, they also add an extra element to the stories themselves.
What would you like readers to take away from Hell’s Angel Coffee Morning?
DV: Honestly, if it amuses someone, I’ll be happy. I’d like the poems to feel like someone talking to you in a pub – telling you something surreal, funny or personal. Maybe an image will stick with them and pop back into their head when they’re doing something boring.
At the end of the day, it’s meant to be enjoyable. Poetry doesn’t always need to be heavy – it can make you smile. That’s enough for me.
Is there a particular poem you’re most proud of?
DV: I really like Love on the Minimum Wage. It’s inspired by a trip to Scarborough – sort of romantic, but not quite. And the Alan Bennett poem, Alan Bennett’s Hells Angel Past started everything off for me – it’s the most surreal. Helen’s illustration for that one is brilliant too.
How do you know when a piece of writing is finished?
DV: I like poems that circle back to something or deliver a kicker at the end – that’s the important bit to finish on. That sense of circularity keeps it satisfying. I’ll sometimes start with the punchline in mind and work backwards from there.
What’s next? Can we expect more poetry from you?
DV: Yeah, I’ve got another small collection in mind. I’m thinking of calling it Fist Fight in the Buddhist Centre. It’ll have a similar tone – humour, surrealism and Helen’s illustrations again. I love the small press format. It’s not about money. You do it because you love it.
Hell’s Angel Coffee Morning is out this January on Ambitious Outsiders, with a launch taking place at Fagans on 1st Feb, 4-6pm. Signed copies are available from davidvennwriter.wordpress.com.
Fagans
Where the steel hammers smote,
Like a low ‘E’ tremolo note,
Where the Sheaf cascades wildly
Through a haunted Kelham Island,
And Stan the last little Mester laid down his tools.
Where Richard sings about holding back the night,
It was there that
I spent my green afternoons,
In the corner there (left as you walk in).
Forever.
In that saloon,
Talking to Barbara and Tom,
Everything under the sun.
And what did I read sat there? Words, words, words
Which have since escaped me,
Flowing under the city,
And following
The black river
Homeward
