Search
 

Discover and explore Leeds Poetry Events and find more events across Yorkshire and beyond! List includes poets' readings, open mics, competitions and poetry opportunities. See what is on tonight and coming up over the next few weeks. Regular event details given for Leeds: in Burley, city centre, Headingley, Horsforth, Ilkley, Morely, Otley, & Woodhouse, as well as Bradford, Halifax, Harrogate, Huddersfield, Hull, Scarborough, Sowerby Bridge, Sheffield, Wakefield. Also Manchester and Salford! Leeds Poetry Events Keep scroll downing down for more events (see 24 current events listed + 44 regular event details) Click on the pictures below to go to the events' websites Writing the North How Creativity Can Help to Make a Healthier Manosphere Each month Keith Fenton, a Leeds-based performance poet, broadcaster and host of Poets Talking Bollocks podcast, explores the events, people and debates shaping literary culture in the North. This month, he reflects on a packed November of poetry events and how they revealed the vital role of vulnerability, awareness around men’s mental health, and connection for creating a healthier Manosphere. Online 24 December 2025 I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. Poets Talking Bollocks Poetry Open Mic With Keith Fenton & Aqeel Lateral G Radical Annie Rachael Hill and open mic The Chemic Tavern, Leeds 11 January 2026 I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. Letters to our mothers. An Exhibition 11th to 17th January, 2026 Explore a multidisciplinary exhibition exploring mothers, mother figures and ancestors – curated by Brown Kuri Productions Letters to Our Mothers gathers the voices of South Asian women, trans women, femmes and queer artists to explore their relationships with mothers, mother figures and ancestors. Through visual art, film, photography, sound, spoken word, textiles, movement and performance, Letters to Our Mothers is a powerful archive of tenderness, silence, grief, celebration and everything that lives in between. Each contribution takes the form of a “letter” written, recorded or embodied, offering an intimate response to the women or energies that shaped the artists. These letters may be direct or abstract, ancestral or contemporary, fierce or forgiving. Together, they reveal the emotional landscapes carried across generations and identities within the South Asian diaspora. (Note the photo dates the launch event, which is sold out) Aviva Studios, Water Street, Manchester, M3 4JQ 11 January 2026 I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. Soundbites Poetry Open Mic. Come and join us. 6.30 sign up. 4 mins max per slot. Heart Assembly Bar + Kitchen, Headingley Arts Centre, 9 Bennett Road, Leeds, LS6 3HN 12 January 2026 I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. Lobby Under the Lights Spoken Word Night. Bob Beagrie and Ian Harker + Open Mic. The Lobby 1867, Westgate, Wakefield 14 January 2026 I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. Open Mind @ Canalside Unplugged Open Mic Night. Canalside Community Music Space, 5 Canal Place, Leeds, LS12 2DU 14 January 2026 I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. Well Spoken Open mic spoken word evening. As the Brewery is closed it is taking part on the third Thursday this month. Doncaster Brewery, 7 Young Street, Doncaster, DN1 3EL 15 January 2026 I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. Urban Scrawl 2nd edition call out! Send your poems / short stories / photos / art on all things urban: towns, cities, buildings, housing. regeneration etc. See how to submit at urbanscrwalmag.c.uk (click the picture) by Friday 16th January 2026. See website 16 January 2026 I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. Ink Spill #40 Poetry Workshop and Open Mic JInk Spill #40: Poetry Workshop and Open Mic Join us for an evening filled with creativity and poetry at The Head Of Steam, Huddersfield - with a poetry workshop and open mic event where you can showcase your own poetic talents or simply enjoy the beautiful art of spoken word. On Fri 16 January 2026, you are invited to a friendly night of poetry. Whether you're an aspiring poet or a seasoned wordsmith, this event is open to all. So grab your pen, bring your thoughts, and let your words spill onto the page. During the workshop, you'll have the opportunity to write and develop your poetry - inspired by the theme. You'll be introduced to a variety of styles and techniques that will be supported by a variety of activities. Following the workshop and a short hydration break, the stage is yours! Step up to the mic and share your creations with our supportive and enthusiastic community. Or simply sit back, relax, and enjoy the performances of other talented individuals. Whether you're seeking inspiration, looking to connect with fellow poets, or simply want to spend an evening surrounded by poetry, Ink Spill is the place to be! The Head of Steam, Huddersfield 16 January 2026 I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. Write Now Discover the joy of storytelling in our friendly creative writing group Write Now. No booking is required. Just turn up and start your creative journey with us. The group meets twice a month to fuel inspiration and nurture your writing skills. With no pressure and all skill levels welcome, you'll find a supportive community where your writing voice can truly shine. PAYF donations taken on the day. Northlight Arts Centre, 31 Potternewton Lane, Leeds, LS7 3LW 16 January 2026 I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. Wordsmiths Open Mic Poetry, shorts stories & prose. Local writers and . Bring your own writing and join in or just come along and listen Craft Bar, 7 Northway, Scarborough, YO11 1JH 18 January 2026 I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. Apply for Roundhouse Poetry Slam 2026 Entries must be in by 19 January 2026, at 10am. Win up to £1,000 and get your work seen! The Roundhouse Poetry Slam 2026 invites UK poets aged 18-25 to perform, get filmed for our 16,000+ subscriber YouTube channel, connect with peers, and receive professional feedback. Free. Heats are taking place in London, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool and online. (No further details on location of heats, but they take place between 23 February and 4 March, 2026.) The Slam Final is at the Roundhouse in London on 9 April 2026. Online 19 January 2026 I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. Cloth and Coal Poetry and spoken word Crank Studios, Morley 22 January 2026 I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. The Bookish Type Join us for an evening of focused writing, experimentation, and play. Aimed at folks who want space to try new things, sow the seeds of some new writing, and develop their creative practice by connecting with queer literary traditions and one another. All profits will be donated to The Sameer Project, a Palestinian-led mutual aid group supporting people in Gaza. Date: Thursday 22nd January 2026 Time: 6.30-8.30pm (This appears to be sold out, but I have included it here to raise awareness of possible future events - Bob) The Bookish Type, 77a Great George Street, LS1 3BR 22 January 2026 I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. Jackanory A spoken word event with Clive Oseman (comedy poems), Kevin Walker (comedic monologue) and Jake EB (vocalist) (As seen on Netflix 'The Next Act') Coffeewrite, 4 Marygate, Wakefield, WF1 1NX 24 January 2026 I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. Verbose MCR Happy 2026 everyone! We are looking forward to another year of words & community. We are back on Monday 26th January and excited to introduce our headliners! Hannah Ledlie Aminah Zaman To enter the draw for a 4 minute open mic slot, please email us on verbosemanchester @ gmail.com between 1st and 6th January. Tickets are pay what you can - link to follow soon in our bio Verbose is one of Manchester's longest running spoken word events, having been born in the suburbs its current regular venue is Kings Arms, Salford. The King's Arms, 11 Bloom Street, Salford, M3 6AN 26 January 2026 I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. Chemistry 23: Izzy Brittain, Ralph Dartford and V for Vanadium Chemistry returns to the Chemic on Friday 30 January, with another night of poetry and spoken word, two brilliant headliners and our usual amazing open mic. We’re starting off the year with a brilliant pair of headliners in Ralph Dartford and Izzy Brittain. The events are themed on the elements of the periodic table, so this time it’s element number 23, which is V for Vanadium. The theme is entirely optional, but we hope you might use it as a creative prompt to come up with some new work to reveal on the night. If you want to sign up for the open mic, just ask host Joe Williams for a slot when you arrive. Open mic readers are drawn in a random order from the Box of Mystery, and we’ll keep going till the box is empty. We welcome everyone from first-timers to veteran performers, so if you want to give it a go, please do. Please stick to the time limit of 3 minutes (which includes any introductions and other waffle). Entry is on a pay-as-you-feel basis. If you don’t feel able to pay anything, that’s fine. The guest poets will also have books for sale. No need to book a ticket, just turn up. Doors at 7.15pm for a 7.45pm start. I hope you can join us! The Chemic Tavern, 9 Johnston Street, Leeds, LS6 2NG 30 January 2026 I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. Leeds Lit Fest A fundraiser for Leeds Lit Fest. It's an open mic MC 'd by Joe Williams. Tickets are £5 (including if you're putting your name down). The Lit Fest receives no funding, and everything raised will go towards the basic costs of the festival. Doors open:18-00 hours See you there. Hyde Park Book Club, 27-29 Headingley Lane, Headingley, Leeds LS6 1BL 2 February 2026 I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. WordSpace Open Mic WordSpace is a public performance platform and hub, conceived and managed by @DrAlyal of @LTUEnglish. Publishing annual anthology open to all who attend WordSpace open mics, or are connected with Leeds Trinity University, whether as students or staff, or by attending one of our writing events. Radio, podcasts, writing workshops. Monthly open mic with guest performer first Wednesday of the month at Horsforth Brewery Tap for 9 months of the year. Online open mic. THE BREWERY TAP, 143 New Side Road , Leeds, 4 February 2026 I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. Bradford Open Mic Take Part in the Timed Poetry Challenge write a poem of 30 seconds or 60 seconds and perform it on the night with a chance to win. This month's theme is ... TELEPHONE Bradford City Library 4 February 2026 I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. More Song with Kimberly Campanello, Ilisha Thiru Purcell and Roma Havers Bradford’s poetry reading series More Song is back for the first event of a full 2026 programme with readings from Kimberly Campanello, Ilisha Thiru Purcell and Roma Havers! ⛓️⛓️💥 Join us for an unforgettable night of poetry, drinks and community on Thursday February 5th 7-9pm at the 1 in 12 Club Library in Bradford City Centre. 🍻📖✨ Expect (re)versions of Dante, poetry of the body, queerness, inheritance, sleep and alternative ways of being. Poetry that lights a fire within you. The 1 in 12 Club, Library, 21-23 Albion Street, Bradford, BD1 2LY 5 February 2026 I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. Hinterland Poets Open Mic + Guest Poets Join us for a evening of open mic poetry hosted by Dominic Berry with a different Guest Poet each month! Welcome to the Hinterland Poetry Night! Join us for an evening filled with beautiful words, creative minds, and good vibes. Whether you're a seasoned poet or just looking to enjoy some spoken word, this event is for you. Our poetry nights will take place on the 2nd Thursday of each month. Come early to grab a seat, order a drink, and get ready to be inspired by the talented guest and local poets taking the stage. Don't miss out on this opportunity to connect with the local poetry community, share your own work, or simply sit back and enjoy the magic of words. Open Mic will operate on a first come, first signed up basis. Slots will be 3 minutes. Hinterland Alcohol-Free Bar and Cafe, 16-20 Turner Street, Manchester M4 1DZ 12 February 2026 I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. Bar One Poetry Open Mic In collaboration and hosted by UoS Poetry Society, join us in Raynor Lounge, Bar One on the third Tuesday of every month for Poetry Open Mic Night. Whether you want to perform, or just enjoy the words, everyone is welcome - students & the public. Free entry from 7.30pm. Sign up in advance via Poetry Soc, or sign up on the night. Bar One, Sheffield Students' Union Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TG 17 February 2026 I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. Soul Shed Soul Shed returns with a night of poetry, music and comedy. Another showcase of a variety of talent, both homegrown and nationally known. From poetry to music to comedy, there's something for everyone. Hosted by Faye Marshall (Cloth and Coal, Morley) and Tim Brookes (Under the Lobby Lights, Wakefield) this night will have you nodding, swaying, laughing and wondering when you can do it all again. Stay tuned for information about our February acts! Wakefield Exchange, Union Street, Wakefield, WF1 3AD 21 February 2026 I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. The Collaboration Collaboration is a live performance of Poets and Musicians, combined with Stop Motion Animation. The Collaboration is a live multimedia event that combines stop-motion animation, music, and spoken word. Together with projected animations, six artists share their unique experiences through live performances of their work. Artists: Jamie H. Scrutton Lence Blaze Hamlet Tom Priestley Miles and The Chain Gang Plus more Artists to be announced PLUS: 6 Open Mic slots (5 Minutes each.) Ticket: £6 Hyde Park Book Club, 27-29 Headingley Lane, Headingley, Leeds LS6 1BL 14 April 2026 I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. Regular events in the Leeds area (Scroll down for events in Bradford, Halifax, Harrogate, Huddersfield, Hull, Scarborough and Wakefield) Events in Leeds (Including Ben Rhydding, Burley, City Centre, Headingley, Horsforth, Ilkley, Morley, Otley, Woodhouse) Bone Down A literary affinity group that runs poetry open mics socials, one off events, cabaret nights, and collaborations with other Leeds based groups, communities and venues. We focus on platforming marginalised writers and facilitating artistic expression and collaboration to the highest degree. Our open mics reclaim public spaces and take an informal approach to poetry and spoken word. Venues vary - includes outdoor events Quarterly Links: Facebook ; Insta ; Twitter The Bookish Type Writes Queer Indie Bookshop in Leeds with writing time events The Bookish Type, 77a Great George Street, LS1 3BR See link next event details Links: Instagram Cardigan Arms Open Mic Open mic The Cardigan Arms (Burley) Second & fourth Monday of the month Links: Cardigan Arms website Chemic Tavern open mic Open mic for music & spoken word. House guitar and piano available. Free drink for all performers The Chemic Tavern, (Woodhouse: best pub in Leeds) Weekly; Thursday nights Links: Facebook ; Insta Chemistry Featuring headline sets from established and emerging poets, plus an open mic The Chemic Tavern (Woodhouse), 9, Johnson Street, Leeds, LS6 2NG Bi-Monthly; last Friday of every other month, Links: Faceboo k ; organiser Joe Williams’ website Cloth & Coal Poetry and spoken word open mic Cranks Studios Every other month; the third Thursday. Next meeting 22nd January, 2026, see above. Links: Insta Crooner Club Open mic Bridge End Social Monthly: 3rd Thursday of the month Links: Bridge End Social , I nsta The Fenton Open Mic Open mic The Fenton (Woodhouse Lane) Weekly; Tuesdays Links: The Fenton website Leeds Stanza We are Leeds Stanza-a monthly @thepoetrysociety For details contact Becky (leedsstanza @ gmail.com) Meetings alternate between in-person and Zoom Meet last Tuesday of every month. Links: Insta Northlight Arts Centre, Café and Event Space 31 Potternewton Lane, Leeds, LS7 3LW 1st and 3rd Friday of each month there is a meet up for creative writing at 2.00pm to 4.00pm. Next meeting 9th and 16th January see above. Links: Classes in Leeds — Northlight Open Mind Unplugged open mic Canalside Community Music Space Weekly; Wednesdays from 7.30pm. Next meeting 14 January see above. Links: Facebook Other Poets Meets to read and discuss the work of published poets The Fleece, Otley + online (via Zoom) Monthly; second Thursday Links: Otley Poets website Otley Poets Open mic + occasional guest poet The Fleece, Otley Monthly; first Thursday of the month Links: Otley Poets website Otley Poetry Gym An informal group offering constructive criticism on poetry work in progress The Fleece, Otley Monthly; third Thursday of the month Links: Otley Poets website Otley Stanza Discuss all things poetical and sometimes have special events, readings etc. Otley Courthouse About every two months Links: Otley Poets Website Poetic Off Licence A space for poetry & live music in Leeds Holding Patterns Every other Thursday Links: Instagram , Holding Patterns – Leeds' listening bar Poets Talking Bollocks Live podcast recording with guest + open mic (message on Instagram for open mic slot) The Chemic Tavern, (Woodhouse), 9, Johnson Street, Leeds, LS6 2NG Monthly, usually second Sunday of the month (check Instagram for latest dates) Next meeting 11th January, 2026 Links: Instagram , Poets Talking Bollocks | Podcast on Spotify The Purple Room The Purple Room is a space for words and music in Ben Rhydding, Ilkley. Links: The Purple Room | Facebook Runcible Spoon Open mic + two guest poets The Carriers Arms (Morley) Monthly (third Tuesday) Next meetings: Currently no new date. Links: Facebook Soundbites Regular night featuring a guest poet + open mic Heart Assembly Bar + Kitchen, Headingley Arts Centre, 9 Bennett Road, Leeds, LS6 3HN 2nd Monday of the Month. Next meeting 12 January, 2026 see above. Links: Facebook Wordspace Monthly Variety Open Mic. For Prose, Poetry, Comedy, Music. all sorts. The Venue (Horsforth) Monthly; first Wednesday of the month. Next meeting 4th February, 2026 Links: Facebook Other Events in Yorkshire Events in Bradford (10.5 miles from central Leeds) Beehive Poets (Details to follow) Bradford Open Mic Share your words or just listen 7pm to 9pm First Wednesday of the Month. Next meeting 14 February see above. Links: Facebook The Comedy Café The Comedy Caf é hosts joyful comedy and poetry events in relaxing non-alcoholic spaces, with a focus on talent from BME communities. See links for next meeting. Links: Facebook , Instagram , The Comedy Cafe event tickets from TicketSource. More Song More Song is an innovative and experimental poetry reading series in Bradford. The 1 in 12 Club Library, 21-23 Albion Street, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD1 2LY Usually 1st Thursday of the month, check the links. (Small entry fee and booking recommended.) Next Meeting: 5th February 2026 Links: More Song Rhubarb Book Club Our poetry reading group meets to chat about a new pamphlet, anthology or collection recommended by one of our readers. The Triangle, Shipley Bi-monthly usually the third Wednesday of the month Links: RhubarbWriters.co.uk Rhubarb Open Mic Performers and listeners welcome. Pay as you feel open mic event with invited guest readers. The Triangle, Shipley Monthly. Last Wednesday of the month Links: RhubarbWriters.co.uk , Facebook Vision Board & Open Mic Create your vision boards while listening to local singers, poets and artists, surrounded by good energy and community. Signature Suites, Northcote Road, BD2 Next meeting: 31st December 2025, see above. Links: Instagram Events in Wakefield (11.7 miles from central Leeds) Jackanory 2 hour open mic spoken word event at Wakefield's only creative coffee shop CoffeeWrite Café, 4 Marygate, Wakefield, WF1 1NX Next meeting: 24th January 2026 Links: CoffeeWrite Wakefield – Wakefield's Only Creative Coffee Shop Soul Shed Music Poetry and comedy WX Wakefield Exchange, Union Street, Wakefield, WF1 3AD Monthly. Next meeting 21 Feb 2026, see above Links: see updates at Welcome to Wakefield Exchange Soul Shed: Music, Poetry, Comedy | Wakefield Exchange Under The Lobby Lights Poetry open mic night hosted by Tim Brooke and Faye Marshall The Lobby 1867, Westgate, Wakefield Monthly; second Wednesday of the month. Next meeting 14th January 2026, see above. Links: see updates at Instagram Events in Harrogate (16.1 miles from Central Leeds) Monthly Poetry Night Bring your poems to read and share. Bring your friends to come and listen. In the upstairs room at the Empress, 10 Church Square, Harrogate, HG1 4SP 7.30pm to 10pm. Contact Ray Black (see link). Admission free Last meeting 5th January 2026 Links: Facebook Events in Halifax (16.9 miles from central Leeds) Yea, Write Poetry, Spoken Word, Open Mic The Lydgate in Lightcliffe, HX3 8SH Next meeting: (No online details at present) Events in Huddersfield (20.1 miles from central Leeds) Ink Spill A growing poetry project which started with a monthly poetry night - half workshop, half open mic - but now hosts an annual festival and a podcast as well. Head of Steam, Huddersfield Every third Friday. Next Meeting 16th January 2026, see above. Links: Facebook , Instagram Events in Sowerby Bridge (23.2 miles from central Leeds) Soul Open Mic We welcome all ability levels - from polished performers to absolute amateurs. Bring what you've got - storytelling, poetry, comedy, music, spoken word, dance, cabaret and everything in between. Soul Awareness Hub, Burnley Road, Sowerby Bridge, HX6 2TL Next meeting 9 January, 2026. Links: EVENTS | SOUL Wellness Hub & Café Events in Doncaster (34 miles from central Leeds) Well Spoken Spoken Word Event 2nd Thursday of the month Next meeting: 15th January, 2026 (3rd Thursday this month) Links: Doncaster Brewery | Well Spoken Events in Sheffield (42 miles from central Leeds) Bar One Poetry Open Mic T wo hours of creative writing, sharing (optional) and discussion 5.30 to 7.30pm, with Valente, Lynda Harrison and Louise Beech. Bar One, Sheffield Students' Union, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TG Third Tuesday of every month, Next meeting 17 February, 2026. Links: Bar One Poetry Open Mic Night tickets | FoundrySU Events in Hull (63.4 miles from central Leeds) All Write Now Valente, Lynda Harrison and Louise Beech for two hours of creative writing, sharing (optional) and discussion 5.30 to 7.30pm Reading Room, Hull Central Library, Albion Street, Hull Last Wednesday of every month Links: Monthly Meeting at Hull Central Library Events in Scarborough (70.4 miles from central Leeds) Wordsmiths Open Mic Featuring local writers and poets Bring your own writing and join in or just come along and listen Craft Bar, 7 Northway, Scarborough, YO11 1JH 5pm to 7pm Sunday, once a month (check Facebook site for which Sunday each month) Next Meeting: 18th January 2026 Links: Facebook Other Events Outside Yorkshire Events in Salford (42.4 miles from central Leeds) Verbose MCR Verbose is one of Manchester's longest running spoken word events, having been born in the suburbs its current regular venue is Kings Arms, Salford. Typically held on the final Monday of the month (see social media for details). Open mic slots are 4 minutes and sign up is open the first week of every month here The King's Arms, 11 Bloom Street, Salford, M3 6AN Next Meeting 26th January 2026. Links: VerboseMCR Events in Manchester (43.3 miles from central Leeds) The Barking Dogs Poetry Open Mic poetry and spoken word night. Message us if you want to participate. Free entry. Full bar and food service 9A Higher Road, Urmston, Manchester Last meeting: 6 November 2025. Links: Facebook Hinterland Poets Join us for a evening of open mic poetry hosted by Dominic Berry with a different Guest Poet each month! Whether you're a seasoned poet or just looking to enjoy some spoken word, this event is for you. Hinterland Alcohol-Free Bar and Café, 16-20 Turner Street, Manchester M4 1DZ Poetry nights will take place on the 2nd Thursday of each month. 7pm. Next Meeting: 12 February 2026, see above Links: Facebook - Hinterland , Hinterland Poets + Open Mic Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite The Space Poetic Join us for some fun and focused writing before The Space Poetic open mic Terrace NQ, 43 Thomas Street, Manchester M4 1NA Typically held on the final Wednesday of the month Links: The Space Poetic Writing Club Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite The Word Central Manchester Central Library (Details following) Other useful links Other sites that offer useful links to events that are currently on in the Leeds and Yorkshire area include: Open Mic Finder This mostly covers music nights at present, but technically covers poetry nights, too Yorkshire Poetry/Spoken Word Events | Facebook Online Open Mics There is also a number of online open mics available to join. Here is the links to the ones I know about and some of which I have attended in the past. These may require an advance ticket, which may have small fee. Cheltenham Poetry Festival - Online Events and Poetry Lounges Fire&Dust Poetry | Twitter, Facebook | Linktree JournalExpressWrit - Open Mic (journalofexpressivewriting.com) (U.S.) Ó Bhéal - Fáilte go dtí Ó Bhéal (obheal.ie) (Republic of Ireland) Poetry Lit! - Online Reading Series Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite Rattlecast - Rattle: Poetry Speak the Word: online open mic night Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite Speak Your Truth ~ Spoke open mic Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite Wildfire Words Please Read If you would like to see your open mic or any poetry or spoken word event listed on this page please do get in touch. Equally if you would like me to remove the information please do get in touch. If you spot any inaccuracies, please get in touch and I will put them right. This page is run purely for the love of poetry so all listings are free with no strings attached. Please note this website has no direct link to any of the events included, so you attend at your own risk. This said you might see me at one of them, if so, please do say, 'hello'! If the event does not take place there really is nothing I can do about it (sorry!). I recommend that you attempt to contact the event via the direct link on the night if possible. Many thanks to Ian Harker and Keith Fenton for the information to get this list started. Thank you very much to every one who has offered updates and suggestions so far, especially Agnieszka Stachura, Ella, Joe, John Clifford and Keith (again). Most recent update: 10 January 2026

The internet is big, Bob has provided all the important poetry website links here in one easy place. There is links to major poetry websites, you have to visit, and smaller arts projects worth a view. Many festival sites included, too. Please do get in touch if you want Bob to add a link to your poetry website, too. Links regularly visited to clear broken links. Poetry Websites A to Z Click the underlined titles to go to the homepages. Apples and Snakes 'As England’s leading spoken word poetry organisation, we exist to support poets at all stages of their careers. Working with inspiring people and organisations, we run regular live events and artist development programmes across the country. Through our Book a Poet scheme, we can help you find the best visiting artists for your workshops and events.' artBLAB: online art lectures 'artBLAB believes in art equality, it doesn't discriminate against any type of art - we love experimental poetry as much as we adore interaction design!' Arvon - residential creative writing courses and retreats UK 'For over fifty years Arvon has been the UK’s home of creative writing. We have three centres, in Devon, Shropshire and Yorkshire. Our residential courses and retreats , led by highly acclaimed writers, span poetry to playwriting, song to screenplay, fact to fiction, starting to finishing – and we offer grants to help with course fees for those who need it.' Awards & Prizes There are many poetry awards and prizes, so these can be found on their own page . Barbican Young Poets 'Barbican Young Poets is an artist development initiative and community for those who wish to explore what’s possible for their poetry and creative expression. Through a six-month programme, you’ll generate new writing, experiment with different ways of working, and refine a selection of your new work towards a publication, performance or presentation.' The Bardic Basement The Bardic Basement was set up by Ben Hornett in July 2018, in order to fill a gap in Northamptonshire’s spoken word scene as well as giving local artists a platform to promote and discuss their work and upcoming events. A monthly podcast was set up in January 2021, with plans to continue it alongside future events organised by the Bardic Basement. Best-Poems. Net | The Famous Poems Encyclopedia A resource of poems and poets, and an opportunity to submit your own poetry if you regiuster for an account. Between The Covers Between the Covers, a literary radio show and podcast hosted by David Naimon, is brought to you by Tin House and KBOO 90.7FM community radio in Portland, Oregon. This link highlights the poetry episodes. Between the Trees Festival, Held at Merthyr Mawr Nature Reserve, South Wales - Between the Trees Festival will be held between 26th - 28th August 2022 this year. 'With its unique theme of nature & science, the festival aims to reconnect people to the natural world. It features a blend of original indie folk music, art and spoken word within a community that embraces all and encourages thinking and creativity.' Bioluminescent Baby 14 original poems written and read by Fiona Benson, beautifully interwoven with snippets of interviews with entomologists, scientists and researchers from across the globe by sound artists Mair Bosworth and Eliza Lomas. Created as part of a collection of poetry sound pieces called 'In the Company of Insects'. Bitesize - Poetry The BBC revision page for GCSE is worth a visit whether or not you are a student studying the course. Bodmin Moor Poetry Festival 'A decade back, Carol Ann Duffy gave a reading with Ann Gray, her friend and fellow poet, at Sterts Theatre and Arts Centre. After the packed reading, Carol Ann announced that she loved the venue and that it would make a great place for a Poetry Festival. It wasn’t long before Ann persuaded David Woolley to help set up what became the Bodmin Moor Poetry Festival.' Books for Breakfast 'A fortnightly (Podcast) look at fiction and poetry hosted by poets and writers Peter Sirr and Enda Wyley. Also features the Toaster Challenge where guest writers are given the time it takes to make toast to talk about a book that has resonated with them.' Bradford Literature Festival '24th June – 3rd July 2022. Come and meet authors, poets, speakers, musicians and artists from Bradford, the UK and around the world. BLF is a key event in the UK cultural calendar and the most dynamic festival in the country that you will not want to miss. We have now revealed some highlights, see our news pages to find out more. ' Bradford Literature Festival 2022 Programme Brink Literacy Project 'Brink Literacy Project is devoted to utilizing the power of storytelling to positively affect the lives of people on the brink. Through our education, community, and publishing divisions, our non-profit works worldwide to foster a love of literature, increase literacy rates, and use storytelling to empower underserved communities.' Burford Literary Festival Kim Harvey Creative Director, Burford Lit Fest & owner of Madhatter Bookshop founded the festival in Oxford, England in 2020. It is holding the next festival 23 to 26 September 2022 Cafe Writers Promoting established and new writers throughout Norfolk and beyond. We usually meet on the second Monday of each month from 7.30pm upstairs at Take 5, Tombland, Norwich. Cannon Poets Cannon Poets have met monthly since 1983. We meet at The Moseley Exchange, The Post Office Building, 149-153, Alcester Road, Moseley, Birmingham B13 8JP usually on the first Sunday of each month [except August] at 2pm. (Not currently naturally.) Center for the Art of Translation 'We are dedicated to finding dazzling new, overlooked, and underrepresented voices, brought into English by the best translators, and to celebrating the art of translation. Our publications, events, and educational programming enrich the library of vital literary works, nurture and promote the work of translators, and build audiences for literature in translation' Cheltenham Poetry Festival Launched by poet Anna Saunders in 2011. 'As well as the Spring programme, the Festival celebrates the power of words throughout the year at readings, performances and workshops.' Cork International Poetry Festival In 1993 The Munster Literature Centre started presenting spring literary festivals. This year's festival ook place place from 18 May 2022 to 21 May 2022. Cúirt International Festival of Literature Cúirt International Festival of Literature is one of Europe’s oldest book festivals, and a leading voice for literature both internationally and across Ireland. Cúirt brings readers and writers together to tell stories, share new perspectives, and to celebrate writing, books and reading in all forms. Cummings Study Guides - Free Study Guides for Shakespeare and Other Authors This site is maintained as a free public service by Michael J. Cummings , of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, USA. Over the years, he has written more than 2,500 published articles on a variety of topics. Ditet e Naimit (Days of Naim) This is an annual North Macedonian and Albanian International Poetry Festival, held in Tetovo, North Macedonia, which had its 25th meeting in 2021. It awards the Naim Frashëri Laureateship. Don Yorty Explorations Don Yorty is a poet, educator, and garden activist living in New York City. On this site he explores some interesting poetry news and other things to do with poetry. A Drop of Hope at The Crick Poems inspired by the words of those who have been vaccinated within the Crick. Duotrope: Our Features for Poets 'Duotrope is the ultimate resource for writers and artists. We list over 7,550 active publishers and agents, covering the full spectrum of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction — literary, genre, and academic — as well as visual art.' This is not a free service. Eat The Storms – Stay Bloody Poetic Podcast available on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Anchor, Breaker, Player FM, Radio Public, OverCast, PocketCast, Podbean and many more platforms. Created by Damien B. Donnelly. Edinburgh International Book Festival 'It is a distinctive international showcase celebrating the written word, literature and ideas. It brings leading and emerging international, British and Scottish authors and thinkers together to inspire each other and audiences in an extensive programme of public events.' 'This year’s Book Festival will take place from Saturday 14 to Monday 30 August at our new Festival home: the University of Edinburgh’s Edinburgh College of Art.' Edinburgh Poetry Tours | Walks with poems in Edinburgh’s Old Town, led by Ken Cockburn 'These walking tours weave in and out of streets, closes, gardens and graveyards. You’ll hear works by Robert Burns, Dorothy Wordsworth, Victor Hugo, Robert Louis Stevenson, the great Anon and many others. Walks are led by Ken Cockburn, a poet and translator who has lived in Edinburgh for thirty years.' The site has some intersting articles, too. Electronic Poetry Center (upenn.edu) 'Our goal was to make available a wide range of resources centered on digital and contemporary formally innovative poetries, new media writing, and literary programming.' English PEN See also Irish PEN/PEN na hÉireann and PEN International 'English PEN is one of the world's oldest human rights organisations. With the support of our members – a community of writers, readers and activists – we protect freedom of expression whenever it is under attack and celebrate contemporary international writing with prizes, grants and events.' European Poetry Festival 'The European Poetry Festival celebrates, in the UK and beyond, the grand resurgence in avant-garde and literary poetry that has marked the 21st century in Europe. The fourth festival takes places across 2021, with summer and winter programs, working around the limitations of travel.' Evesham Festival of Words 'The object of the Evesham Festival of Words shall be to promote appreciation of words in all their forms, and of writing and literature within Evesham and surrounding area through a professionally organised and widely accessible Festival event.' Exiled Writers Ink 'Develops and promotes the creative literary expression of refugees, migrants and exiles, encourages cross-cultural dialogue and advocates human rights through literature and literary activism.' Festival Internacional de Poesía de Granada, Nicaragua Annual International Poetry Festival in Nicaragua. Every year has a theme, and attended by international poets and a very large audience. The site is in Spanish. Up to date information appears to be more easily found on the Facebook page . Fired! Irish Women Poets and the Canon - RASCAL Fired! Irish Women Poets and the Canon, was formed in the summer of 2017. Fired! is a collaborative project bringing together active poets from both the north and south of Ireland. Flight of the dragonfly 'Flight of the Dragonfly has its roots in the Masters in Creative Writing where the team met. It started in 2019 ... we enjoyed ourselves so much sharing and hearing poetry and prose that night that we wanted more.' Forest Poets events by Paul McGrane | Eventbrite Walthamstow poetry collective presents: Poems Not Bombs poetry open mic and Waltham Forest Poetry Competition and more! From the Fishouse 'Founded in 2004 by Matt O’Donnell and Camille Dungy, From the Fishouse is non-profit site that promotes the oral tradition of poetry. Our free online audio archive showcases emerging poets (defined for this purpose as poets with fewer than two published books of poetry at the time of submission) reading their own poems, as well as answering questions about poetry.' Genius.com| Poetry Not, in general, a poetry website, but it does have an interesting poetry tag, which this link will take you to. Though it may be full of contemporary music stars in the top ten, there is a good amount of poets' poetry on there too. (For instance, search for Simon Armitage, Carol Ann Duffy, Wilfred Owen, William Shakespeare.) Georgia Poetry in the Parks – putting poetry in the paths of Georgians 'Welcome to the online home of Georgia Poetry in the Parks, a celebration of Georgia poets and Georgia’s green spaces. ... On this site, you’ll find information on our featured poets as well as creative prompts to get you started on your own path to poetry or prose. We hope you’ll explore the site, then hit the trails at participating parks. ' The Gloucestershire Poetry Society 'The Gloucestershire Poetry Society (GPS) was founded in 2016 by Z.D. Dicks (Ziggy Dicks) as a way of uniting poets and spoken word performers in the Gloucestershire area. Every member of The GPS shares the attitude that everyone is welcome, wherever you are from, whether you have been writing for 10 months, 10 years or 10 days, there is a place for you.' The Guardian The Guardian is arguably the publication in the UK most committed to poetry and poetry news that is not a poetry specialist publication in the UK and it does still offer its pages free on the internet. The Guardian's Poem of the Week - with Carol Rumens Guernsey Literary Festival The Guernsey Literary Festival is one of the highlights of the island’s arts calendar bringing some of the world’s greatest writers, speakers and thinkers to Guernsey. With events for all interests and ages, the Festival is a unique opportunity to come together to celebrate the written word. In 2022 the Festival itself is from 22nd to 26th June . Hastings Literary Festival This year's Hastings Book Festival is being held between16-25 September 2022. 'The Hastings Literary Festival is a community festival, celebrating writing and the written word. We are committed to ensuring our events are safe, engaging and accessible, with a specific focus on supporting local writing talent.' Hay Festival Next year's festival is from 26 May to 5 June 2022. Over 12 days, more than 200 acclaimed writers, global policy makers, historians, poets, pioneers and innovators join us All events will be closed-captioned and available to watch for free 24 hours from their live broadcast. Hello Poetry 'The experiment we call Hello Poetry began in May 2009, what now seems a lifetime ago. I wanted an uncluttered, peaceful space to read and share poetry, so I started building one in my time after work. The site now serves over a million readers a month and is a home to hundreds of thousands sharing their poetry.' The High Window 'Alongside a lively and eclectic mix of poetry, each new issue contains a literary essay, a selection of poems in translation, poetry reviews and occasional features.' The Hippocrates Initiative for Poetry and Medicine ' Since its launch in 2009, the annual Hippocrates Prize has attracted thousands of entries from over 70 countries.' The Hive Poetry Collective – There's a Bee in Poetry Airing on KSQD 90.7 FM most Sundays at 8:00, the Hive Poetry Collective is a buzz of poets in Santa Cruz, California— a swarm of radio conversations, public readings, and writing workshops. See the list of podcasts at The Buzz – The Hive Poetry Collective HoCoPoLitSo Howard County Poetry & Literature Society (HoCoPoLitSo) is a non-profit organization designed to enlarge the audience for contemporary poetry and literature and celebrate culturally diverse literary heritages. Founded in 1974. Home Stage - Poetry The Royal British Legion Club expanded an online quiz group! 'Our mission is to use technology and research to connect enquiring and creative grown ups around the globe through shared interests to advance fellowships and relieve isolation.' There are free Poetry Groups , regular interviews with poets at Poetry Events , the Poetry Untangled Podcast and plenty more. Ilkley Literature Festival The Festival is held over 17 days at the start of October in this town at the foot of Ilkley Moor. Each year around 250 events take place in a variety of venues. The Festival events are no longer confined to October, with special events taking place across the year. IBPC (webdelsol.com) (InterBoard Poetry Community) It began in 1999. 'It includes “IBPC Selects” featuring the editor’s choice of favourite poems, direct links to Poets & Writers, Powells and other favourite sites, direct home page access to our participating boards, the most recent winning poems, and “IBPC: Newswire” – news and announcements of the many talented poets who workshop on the net.' Indie Press Network 'The Indie Press Network is an open network that seeks to help connect independent publishers with each other, with booksellers and with readers.' Not a poetry website as such, but indie publishing and poetry go hand in hand, and this a must go to for anyone thinking of setting up their own indie press. International Poets and Writers Conclave Live reading series, a festival and a poetry resource second Tuesday of the month at 11 am EST (USA - 4pm UK time The Interpreter's House Podcast | RSS.com 'Relics of conversations between poets. Geek out with us. Hosted by Assistant Editor, Andrew Wells and occasional cats. The Interpreter's House was founded in 1996.' Only three available at presnt, but one was added recently. Irish Poetry Reading Archive - Poetry Ireland The Irish Poetry Reading Archive is a free, web-based library that holds recordings of Irish poets reading their own work. Jacket2 'Jacket2 offers commentary on modern and contemporary poetry and poetics. We publish articles, reviews, interviews, discussions and collaborative responses, archival documents, podcasts, and descriptions of poetry symposia and projects.' (See their podcast PoemTalk below.) Kalinga Literary Festival – India's Largest Celebration of Literary Spirit 'Annual Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF) held in every year at smart city Bhubaneswar . KLF founded by Odisha Media Info Service Pvt Ltd & Odisha Diary Foundation on 2013. KLF to celebrate the creative spirit of India and commemorate the literary diversity it offers, bringing it in conversation with the best minds in the world of literature within and outside India.' Keats-Shelley House Interesting information and you can visit the house virtually. Keats-Shelley Memorial Association 'Founded in 1903, we maintain and support the Keats-Shelley House at 26 Piazza di Spagna, Rome, where the English poet John Keats died in 1821. As part of our ongoing commitment to poetry lovers, we publish the scholarly Keats-Shelley Review and run the annual Keats-Shelley and Young Romantic Writing Prizes to find the most promising poets and essayists from around the world.' Kendal Poetry Festival The festival began in 2016 and ran through to 2018 under the leadership of Kim Moore and Pauline Yarwood. It is due to run from the 23rd to 26th June in 2022. Kent and Sussex Poetry Society 'The Kent & Sussex Poetry Society is a lively local group with a national reputation. We’ve been going for over 70 years in Tunbridge Wells but remain as friendly and supportive and open to newcomers as ever. Our monthly readings by well-known poets normally take place at a venue in Tunbridge Wells, but because of COVID-19 they are on-line for the time being.' KR Online Kenyon Review online. It includes a podcast Lambda Literary For over 30 years, Lambda Literary has championed LGBTQ books and authors. We believe that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer literature is fundamental to the preservation of our culture, and that LGBTQ lives are affirmed when our stories are written, published, and read. The Lambda Literature Awards given annually include individual poetry specific prizes. Lancaster Literature Festival - Litfest Litfest is a volunteer board-run organisation operating in Lancaster and the surrounding areas. We put on a full festival programme every year, and we’re also involved in a whole host of other events and projects. In 2022 it runs from 8 to 20 March. Lannan Foundation 'Lannan Foundation is a family foundation dedicated to cultural freedom, diversity and creativity through projects which support exceptional contemporary artists and writers, as well as inspired Native activists in rural indigenous communities.' The website includes podcasts. Ledbury Poetry Festival The 2022 festival will run from1st to 10th July. 'Ledbury Poetry Festival is the biggest, brightest, most superlatively international celebration of poetry and spoken word in the UK. Surrounded by woods, orchards and hills, poets from all over the world gather in this independent market town to perform, write, read and listen to poetry.' Leeds Poetry Festival From 1st to 7th August in 2022. Plenty of live events and workshops to attend in person. Library of Congress : Poetry and Literature 'The Library of Congress promotes poetry and literature year-round through our online and in-person programs, our honours and prizes, and our ambassadors.' Lighthouse Writers Workshop Courses available for writers based in Denver, which holds an annual LitFest - in 2022 this is from 10th to 19th June. Events are available online via Zoom. Limerick Writer's Centre 'Founded in in 2008 to support and promote writers from or living in Limerick through readings, workshops and publishing activities. There are regular poetry and prose workshops plus screenwriting, memoir and life writing. Our flagship monthly literary gathering On The Nail takes place in Chez le Fab, Arthur’s Quay Park on the first Tuesday of every month.' Listowel Writers' Week - Literary Festival Founded in 1970, with the first festival taking place in 1971, which aims to transform a beautiful Kerry heritage town into a literary universe. 'At the heart of our annual celebration is a commitment to developing and promoting writing talent where we showcase works through literary panel discussions, moderated talks, poetry readings, interviews, cultural tours, walks and more.' Literary Hub 'Literary Hub is an organizing principle in the service of literary culture, a single, trusted, daily source for all the news of contemporary literary life. Each day—alongside original content and exclusive excerpts—Literary Hub is proud to showcase an editorial feature from one of its many partners from across the literary spectrum: publishers big and small, journals, bookstores, and non-profits.' Little Poetrywala 'littlepoetrywala.com is an online poetry platform to inspire the new generation and budding poets, where they can submit and share their poems online. The website aims to provide a fun and an interactive online space where poets and beginners can share their poetry, connect with others and get inspired by reading poems.' Live Canon For 14 years Live Canon have been publishing, performing, promoting, celebrating and sharing poetry. We publish anthologies, debuts and collections. Our ensemble perform poetry at theatres, festivals and events, and record poetry for radio, digital projects and interdisciplinary collaborations. Lyra Bristol Poetry Festival (lyrafest.com) 'Lyra is the annual Bristol Poetry Festival. Lyra is a festival which brings together local, national and international poets and speakers, representing Bristol as a centre of world class poetry. Our aim is to showcase poetry including poetry readings, slam competitions, poetry film screenings, poetic walking tours, digital media, discussion panels, open mics, lectures and more.' Lyrikline 1491 poets, 13411 poems, 88 languages, 20979 translations. Online since 1999, 'Lyrikline is an international website for experiencing the diversity of contemporary poetry'.1491 poets Lucy Writers Platform Lucy Writers is a website devoted to showcasing the work of women and non-binary writers and creatives. Lucy Cavendish is the Cambridge College for women students aged 21+, and a unique part of the University of Cambridge. Magma 78 Collaborations - Magma Poetry 'For Magma 78, we invited poetic collaborations across disciplines and in response were delighted by multi-media poems of all varieties.' Here is their selection. MASSOLIT 'MASSOLIT was created in order to give more people access to the knowledge and insight of the world's best academics.' When I looked there was 118 very interesting looking poetry courses available, though I did not fully investigate cost. McLellen Poetry Fringe - Arran Theatre and Arts Trust 'New for 2022, we are pleased to announce a spring Poetry Fringe festival. This will run from Thursday 28th April to Sunday 1st May with a packed programme of readings and workshops' Moonstone Arts Center 'Moonstone was founded in 1981, with the motto Education Through the Arts from Cradle to Grave. While literature is at the center of Moonstone’s programing, we believe that ART, in all its forms, is more than enrichment. The Arts Center produces about 100 programs, mostly poetry readings and publishes about 30 books a year.' Moving Poems 'Our main focus here is on videopoetry, “a genre of poetry displayed on a screen, distinguished by its time-based, poetic juxtaposition of text with images and sound,” as videopoetry pioneer Tom Konyves puts it . Other names for this genre include filmpoetry, poetry-film and cinepoetry, and animated poems form an important subset.' Mslexia 'Mslexia is an award-winning magazine supported by Arts Council England. Its mission is to help women express themselves and get their writing noticed: in print, online and in performance. Mslexia was granted charitable status in 2019 in recognition of its work to fulfil this mission.' The website is worth a visit in its own right. Munster Literature Centre 'Founded in 1993, the Munster Literature Centre (Ionad Litríochta an Deiscirt) is a non-profit arts organisation dedicated to the promotion and celebration of literature, especially that of Munster. To this end, we organise festivals, workshops, readings and competitions. Our publishing section, Southword Editions, publishes a biannual journal, poetry collections and short stories.' National Association of Writers in Education (NAWE) 'NAWE's mission is to advocate for Creative Writing: enhancing knowledge and understanding of the subject and supporting writers and good practice in teaching and facilitation in all settings.' The National Poetry Library The National Poetry Library is the largest public collection of modern poetry in the world. Founded by the Arts Council in 1953 and opened by poets T.S. Eliot and Herbert Read, we have been at the heart of the nation’s poetry community ever since. Newcastle Centre For the Literary Arts Hold many interesting poetry courses and events. Newcastle Poetry Festival In 2022 it will be held on 5-7 May in Newcastle upon Tyne including online. 'This year’s theme is EMERGENCY. Join us for exclusive readings by world-class poets, workshops with award-winning writers, performances from spoken word artists, open mic events, and the Emergency Poetry Summit where poets, publishers, producers and readers will come together.' New Writing North 'New Writing North was established in 1996 to support writers in the north of England to fulfil their creative ambitions. We work with new writers and seek out talent across the North of England. We work to nurture the next generation of writers.' Northern Poetry Library 'The Northern Poetry Library is the largest collection of post-World War II poetry in England outside London.' NoSweatShakespeare Our mission is to help everyone understand Shakespeare’s language. I recommend the podcasts Nottingham Poetry Festival I n 2022 this runs from May 6 to 15. 'Nottingham Poetry Festival shines a spotlight on the city’s thriving literary scene. For five years, the Festival has presented eclectic line-ups of nationally and locally acclaimed poets and performers.' Ó Bhéal - Fáilte go dtí Ó Bhéal Cork’s monthly poetry event features poetry films, a poetry writing challenge, featured guest poets and an open-mic. The website acts as the main organisational hub, offers podcasts from most Ó Bhéal nights and over 1,000 videos of individual poems read/performed at Ó Bhéal and at other festivals across Ireland. Over 1,300 podcasts can be heard at Ó Bhéal Obsidian Foundation Obsidian is a one week retreat for black poets of African descent selected by application who want to advance their writing practice led by five black acclaimed tutors. On Being 'The On Being Project is an independent non-profit public life and media initiative with radio, podcasts, digital, poetry, and live event offerings. We pursue deep thinking and social courage, moral imagination and joy, to renew inner life, outer life, and life together.' Have a look at: Experience Poetry | The On Being Project One Plum Poem 'Jenny Swann set up One Plum Poem in 2018 to explore the possibilities of poetry in podcasts, workshops and poetry cards. She is a workshop leader, publishing mentor and poetry consultant, and a trustee of Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature.' Oulipo.net The French website for OuLiPo poetry. (You can use Google translate, though! ) French speaking writers who seek to create works using constrained writing techniques. Overhear (theoverhear.app) 'Creating a global community of poets and writers passionate about local space, location and place.' Clever idea where a poetry event can pin poems to a location which you can then find with the app. Oxford Brookes University - Poetry Centre 'The Centre is dedicated to creating research into poetry, encouraging the reading and writing of poetry within Oxford and beyond.' I recommend their Weekly poem - Oxford Brookes University. Palm Beach Poetry Festival The Palm Beach Poetry Festival is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering the writing, reading, performance, and appreciation of poetry – by presenting an annual festival and other poetry events in Palm Beach County – featuring America’s finest poets. The next festival January 10th - 15th 2022 will be virtual. Penny's poetry pages Wiki | Fandom 'Welcome to Penny's Poetry Pages, your one-stop resource for poetry and poetry information. "About poetry " gives you information about reading, studying, and writing poetry. "About poets " tells you about poets, poetry groups and schools, and the art's history. "About poems" gives you selected good and great poems to read.' Seems to have not been updated since 2015. Penteract Podcast A new podcast added monthly. There were 29 for me to catch up on when I last looked. They are publisher of Constrained, Formal, and Visual Poetry. PennSound PennSound is an ongoing project, committed to producing new audio recordings and preserving existing audio archives. See here for podcasts. Penzance Literary Festival 1st to 5th July 2025 are the dates for the next Penzance LitFest. Places of Poetry The site was open for writers to pin their poems to places in 2019. Now it remains available for readers, to explore the map and read the poems. The project was led by poet Paul Farley and the academic Andrew McRae , and is fascinating to explore. Poem Brut 'Poem Brut celebrates artistic creative writing and its relationship with neurobiology - embracing text and colour, space and time, handwriting, composition, abstraction, illustration, sound, mess and motion - affirming the possibilities of the page, the pen, the process, the performance and the voice in a computer age.' Poemhunter 'In the Poemhunter archive, esides the works of classical poets, there are also poems of amateur poets from all over the world. Any poet can create an account and share their poems here. Poets can also follow and message each other, and rate and comment on poets and poems. Right now, there are 400 thousand poets and 2 million poems in the Poemhunter archive..' Poems From My Heart 'I am a British Indian girl exploring difficult topics through poetry: miscarriage, body image, motherhood, abuse, feminism, living in the South Asian diaspora and more.' PoemTalk - Jacket2 Podcasts Jacket2 offers commentary on modern and contemporary poetry and poetics. We publish articles, reviews, interviews, discussions and collaborative responses, archival documents, podcasts, and descriptions of poetry symposia and projects. The Poet Laureate Has Gone to His Shed BBC Radio 4 series back for its second series. Poetry Analysis Explore all things Poetry. Any Poem. Any Poet. Any Term. Poetry and Writers 'Founded in 1970, Poets & Writers is the nation’s largest nonprofit organization serving creative writers. Our mission? To foster the professional development of poets and writers, to promote communication throughout the literary community, and to help create an environment in which literature can be appreciated by the widest possible public.' Poetry Archive '519 Poets to explore 2194 Poems free to enjoy 8076 Poems available to members.' Poetry By Heart ' Choose a poem. Learn it by heart. Perform it out loud.' Simple! The Poetry Business We publish books, pamphlets, audio and eBooks as smith|doorstop ; edit a literary magazine; and run Writing Days, masterclasses, residential courses, and a Writing School for published poets. We also run the annual Book & Pamphlet Competition. PB Online - The Poetry Business 'A new Digital Poet-in-Residence will occupy the Poets Room each month, posting exciting and inspiring material including blog posts, audio downloads, interviews with poets, suggested reading and downloadable writing prompts. ' Poetry Daily (poems.com) Founded in 1997, Poetry Daily is a non-profit daily anthology of contemporary poetry. Our editors read journals and books of poems first published from the widest range of sources we can find, from across the US and the world. Each day we present one of those poems to you. Poetry Extra - On BBC Radio 4 Extra and BBC Sounds Hosted by Daljit Nagra, this weekly programme picks poetry highlights from the BBC archive. The most recent 4 or 5 programmes are usually available, too. Poetry Film Live Poetry Film Live: a new way with poetry is a UK based webzine which publishes poetry film, performances, readings, essays and reviews. It is also the platform for Elephant’s Footprint online poetry film training. Poetry For Social Justice – Part of Reading Amnesty International Group 'The Finale to our Poetry for Social Justice competition is a two hour extravaganza of readings and discussions from our winners, numerous performers as well as from our wonderful Judges. The event will take place on 27th May 2021 from 6 – 8pm virtually.' Poetry Foundation 'The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine, is an independent literary organization committed to a vigorous presence for poetry in our culture. It exists to discover and celebrate the best poetry and to place it before the largest possible audience.' Established in 2003, it is one of the very best poetry sites on the internet. See Poetry Foundation Podcasts Poetry in Aldeburgh 'We are 'Poetry In Aldeburgh', a not-for-profit organisation that aims to build on and continue the heritage of poetry and over 40 years of poetry festivals on the Suffolk Coast. Our first festival was in November 2016 and we hold them annually. We also work with local and national organisations in the arts & literary fields to support poetry in our area.' The site has podcasts of previous Festivals. Poetry in Motion MTA Arts & Design 'Since 1992, when it first displayed an excerpt from Whitman's "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry," MTA's Poetry in Motion program has brought more than 200 poems or excerpts before the eyes of millions of subway riders and rail commuters... (The) program displays two new poems each quarter, on "car cards" in the New York City subway cars and in digital screens at subway stations.' Poetry International - p! 'Poetry International was born out of the Poetry International Festival, which has been bringing the absolute best international poets to appreciative Rotterdam crowds since 1970. ' It has been online since 2002 and features over a thousand poets. Poetry In Voice 'Poetry In Voice/Les voix de la poésie is a registered charity that wants all Canadians to speak poetry. To achieve this, we are striving to become the essential resource for teaching and learning poetry in Canada — and beyond.' Poetry Ireland also see Opportunities for poets and writers 'Poetry Ireland connects poetry and people. We are committed to achieving excellence in the reading, writing and performance of poetry throughout the island of Ireland.' The Poetry Kit Excellent resource for competitions, regular poetry groups, poetry magazines and more. Poetry Live Many major poets offer events to support with poetry for GCSEs Poetry Non-Stop Poetry Non-Stop is a podcast featuring leading contemporary poets in conversation. In each episode a guest poet discusses their work with presenter Patrick Widdess and reads some of their poems. Anyone interested in writing poetry is sure to be inspired by these conversations and each poet offers a prompt or writing exercise to help listeners generate new ideas for poems. Poetry Nook 'Plum White Press is a literary publisher focused on poetry. Works published include The Poetry Nook Anthology, The Poetry Nook Journal, The dVerse Anthology, and poetry collections by Martin Elster, M V Fabiyas, Emanuel Kane, and Frank Watson. Plum White Press also operates PoetryNook.Com and free weekly poetry contests that attract participants from around the world.' Poetry Out Loud (U.S.) 'Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition for high school students across the country. Poetry Out Loud is a partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, Poetry Foundation, and the state and jurisdictional arts agencies.' Poetry People 'Poetry People is a Community Interest Company established in 2017 by co-directors Dean Parkin and Naomi Jaffa, with support from Michael Laskey and Jeni Smith. Poetry People brings poetry to people and people to poetry, often for the first time. Projects reach out to the wider community through competitions, poem posters, workshops and live events.' (Based in Suffolk, UK.) The Poetry Place – West Wilts Radio 'The Poetry Place is a monthly poetry magazine programme bringing you news, views, readings and interviews from today’s poetry community, both locally and further afield. Presented by Dawn Gorman and Peter O’Grady. There's a new episdode on the last Sunday of every month, with repeats from the archive on the other Sundays of the month.' Poetry Please - On BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds Hosted by Roger McGough or guest poets. This long running series has poems chosen by people who write in and the guest poet. Currently between seasons, though the site has a few highlights. The Poetry Project 'Since 1966, The Poetry Project has expanded access to literature, education, and opportunities for sharing one's creative work . We do this work through a combination of live readings, performances, lectures, events, and workshops, in addition to literary and critical publications and an emerging writers program. The Poetry Project is based at St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery.' Poetry School 'Join us in reading, writing, editing and translating poetry, in year-long courses, short courses, workshops, one-day sessions, seminars, tutorials and every variety of learning in between – in our classrooms, off site and online.' Poetry Screen Group Facebook group, which aims to inspire and showcase innovative video poetry from young artists. The Poetry Society also see The PoetrySociety Instagram Channel 'The Poetry Society was founded in 1909 to promote “a more general recognition and appreciation of poetry”. Since then, it has grown into one of Britain’s most dynamic arts organisations, representing British poetry both nationally and internationally. Today it has more than 5,000 members worldwide and publishes The Poetry Review , which has been published since 1912.' Another of the internet's great poetry websites. Poetry Society of America 'The Poetry Society of America, the nation’s oldest poetry organization, was founded in 1910. Its mission is to place poetry at the crossroads of American life. The PSA transforms public spaces into sites for imaginative encounters with poems, engages diverse and often underserved communities, amplifies the voices of poets around issues of common concern...' Poetry Society Stanzas – The Poetry Society Stanzas are groups run voluntarily by Poetry Society members, and take a variety of forms. Some Stanzas meet to give feedback on each other’s poems in progress, some are poetry reading groups, some run impromptu open mic sessions. A lot meet locally – some online. Joining an existing Stanza or setting up a new one are great ways to meet like-minded poetry lovers and to develop your own poetry communities. PoetrySoup.com - Online Poetry Community and Resource 'PoetrySoup is a worldwide poetry community and poem resource. Join our online community of poets, submit poems , and use our free educational poetry resources and tools. Read and share all types of poems organized by theme.' Poetry Super Highway 'The mission of the Poetry Super Highway is to expose as many people to as many other people’s poetry as possible. Read poems, submit your poetry for publication, enter our annual poetry contest and peruse our directory of thousands of poetry and writing websites.' Poetry Teighmouth 'To bring live poetry to Teignmouth and entice poets and potential poets to participate and to develop their skills.' Poet's Corner - InDaily For 15 years John Miles has chosen a poem for the In-Daily in Adelaide, Australia Poets Directory Does much of what this site does only much better. For poetry videos see: Video Poet Seers 'Poet Seers is a collection of spiritual and illumining poetry by poets from around the world. On this site we hope to share a diverse range of uplifting and inspirational poetry. We currently have over 150 poets including Shakespeare, Rumi, Hafiz, Sri Aurobindo, Sri Chinmoy, Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, John Keats. The site is developed by members of the Sri Chinmoy Centre.' Poets in a Lens, by David M James 'In July my father, David M James died, at the age of 85. He left behind a huge collection of photographs and papers, and it was out of dealing with this large collection that I came to see my upbringing in a new light...' Jeremy James, November 2008. Poets.org 'Poets.org is produced by the Academy of American Poets. The site was launched in 1996, becoming the original online resource for poems, poets' biographies, essays about poetry, and resources for K-12 teachers.' It is a huge resource of poems, poets and poetry. Poezi Shqip 'With over 150 authors and more than 2000 poetries, Poezishqip.com is the largest Albanian and most vibrant poetry community. Our community is built on the belief that poetry is a powerful form of creative self expression and that each person deserves to share their own personal message with the world. At PoeziShqip.com everyone can share their best poems.' (Albanian language site.) Professor of Poetry - Faculty of English (ox.ac.uk) The current Professor of Poetry at the University of Oxford is Professor Alice Oswald. She will be giving one lecture each term for the four years of her tenure. They can be seen / heard here, as can the previous lectures by Prof. Simon Armitage and Sir Geoffrey Hill. Puzzle Poets 'Puzzle Hall Poets is one of West Yorkshire’s longest running monthly spoken word events. We meet every first Monday each month (Bank Holidays - the second of each month). Entry is completely free and we have a featured guest as well as a welcoming and varied open mic. We meet at the Navigation Inn, Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire.' Quotidian - see website at Word on the Street Limited 'We want to create the opportunity to encounter poetry in surprising ways and unexpected places.' The Reader 'Today, many of us don’t have the time, concentration or inclination to read. Yet at the same time, we’re experiencing an epidemic of mental ill health, stress and depression, and despite technological advances, many of us feel disconnected from each other. We believe that literature’s unique power has the potential to connect individuals, help us feel better and to rebuild lost social bonds.' Rebecca Swift Foundation Home of the Women's Poet's Prize and Women Poets' Network Red River: Listening To A Polluted River An 18 month research project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council led by Dr John Wedgwood Clarke of the University of Exeter. It will explore how creative writing can transform our relationship to a polluted, post-industrial river. Representative Poetry Online - RPO 'Representative Poetry Online, version 3.0, includes 4,700 English poems by 723 poets from Caedmon, in the Old English period, to the work of living poets today. It is based on Representative Poetry, established by Professor W. J. Alexander of University College, University of Toronto, in 1912 (one of the first books published by the University of Toronto Press).' The Royal Literary Fund (rlf.org.uk) 'A benevolent fund for professional published authors; it is funded exclusively by bequests and donations from writers and others who wish to help writers. We give help to writers in many different situations where personal or professional setbacks have resulted in loss of income. We also provide pensions for older writers who have seen their earnings decrease.' RTÉ Radio One Poetry Programme A half hour programme on at 7.30 pm on a Sunday (Republic of Ireland time) and available at the website for a month after broadcast. The presenter is Olivia O’Leary. RTÉ Podcasts - Poetry File 'Leading Irish poets read their own work. In association with Poetry Ireland, broadcast on Evelyn Grant's Weekend Drive, Saturday (4-7pm) and Sunday (4-6pm) on RTÉ Lyric FM.' 90 poems read by their authors were available when I last looked. Ruth Awad Poetry Picks 'It is not my aim to name the spark that makes a poem a poem, but I can show you what is wild and wandering and wondering. I hope when you read these poems, your curiosity ignites. I hope they make you look up at the world around you and seek out its tenderness.' This appears on the website for the Southern Indiana Review. Sabotage Reviews 'Sabotage Reviews was founded in 2010 by Claire Trévien to provide dynamic commentary and reviews of small-scale and ephemeral literature that might not otherwise receive such critical and public attention. The focus is on independent, small-budget literature; poetry pamphlets, short stories and live performance (particularly open mic events and spoken word shows).' Samfiftyfour Podcast is available from the site of this online literary magazine. The subject is not usually exclusively poetry based though episode on 20 March 2025, is. Scottish Book Trust 'We are a national charity that believes books, reading and writing have the power to change lives.' Scottish Poetry Library 'Search from over 3,000 selected poems on this site or explore our full collection in our online catalogue.' Scottish Writers Centre I recommend their podcasts. Seamus Heaney Centre - Queen's University Belfast 'The Seamus Heaney Centre is a focal point for creativity in Ireland and is recognised as an international centre of creative and research excellence in the field of literature. Attached to the School of Arts, English and Languages at Queen’s, it is based on University Street, by Queen’s iconic Lanyon Building.' The website includes a magazine and podcasts. Second Light Live 'Second Light is a network of women poets, aged 40 and upwards (but see Associate Membership), who are published or beginning to get published and who are serious about developing their work. The network was founded by Dilys Wood in 1994. We aim to promote the work of all women poets, and to develop and promote the work of members, through publications, readings, one-day courses, residential workshops and festivals.' Sentinel Poetry Movement 'The popular home of World poetry, fiction, drama, interviews, reviews, essays and writing competitions.' The Shakespeare Study Guide 'Summaries and Analyses of Every Shakespeare Work | Essays, Glossaries, Quotations, Annotated Texts. A Free Resource for Students and Teachers Posted by Michael J. Cummings Recommended as a Shakespeare Resource by The New York Times and the British Library.' She Grrrowls Feminist arts night based in London @poetrycafelondon hosted by @carminamasoliver . SkyLines festival of poetry and spoken word, Coventry 'A new festival for Coventry: 15-17 July 2022. Join us for three glorious days in July as the city of Coventry plays host to a celebration of poetry and spoken word. With household names, established writers, new poets, workshops and poetry walks, words and performance will fill the streets of the current UK City of Culture. The programme is now live.' The Slowdown Show 'Host Ada Limón delivers a different way to see the world – through poetry. In just one turn of phrase, poetry can anchor us, or shift a moment, a day, or even a whole life. Join us for a poem and a moment of reflection in one short episode, every weekday. Produced by American Public Media in partnership with The Poetry Foundation.' Small Press Distribution (spdbooks.org) 'In an increasingly corporatized book industry, Small Press Distribution (SPD) brings readers independently published literature, emphasizing small press values. We connect underrepresented literary communities to the marketplace and to each other via book distribution, events, and public advocacy. SPD’s nearly 400 presses publish a full diversity of writers.' Southwark Park Galleries - A Fine Day for Seeing ‘A Fine Day for Seeing’ takes its title from the New York School poet and curator Frank O’Hara, who bridged literary and artistic worlds in the late 1950s. In this spirit of collaboration between word and image, the exhibition presents ten pairs of internationally acclaimed contemporary poets and artists who have been invited to work together in dialogue. ( 28 July to 29 August 2021) Speak the Word Events - Eventbrite or Speak the Word poetry workshop | Linktree 'Free weekly online poetry group that PJ Samuels and nudi co-run. We have free-access writing and peer review workshops, and open mics. We're welcoming, queer-led, and queer and trans-affirming. The sessions are popular but low-key, relaxed, run as a safer space, and close-captioned and working towards better accessibility.' Split This Rock 'It calls poets to a greater role in public life and fosters a national network of socially engaged poets. Building the audience for poetry of provocation and witness from our home in the nation’s capital, we celebrate poetic diversity and the transformative power of the imagination.' Also see Poetry Database - Split This Rock Spoken, Not Stirred — Studio 3 Arts Studio 3 Arts’ monthly open mic based in Barking, hosted by our poet-in-residence Dauda Ladejobi. Past nights available as podcasts. Presently still available to attend by Zoom, also. Spoke (spoke poetry hub) 'We host poetry and spoken word events throughout the year, some in keeping with national and local literary festivals.' StAnza - Scotland's International Poetry Festival 'StAnza is Scotland’s annual international poetry festival, bringing poetry to Scottish audiences and worldwide. Since the festival was founded1998, StAnza has gained a truly international reputation. In 2021 our achievements were recognised when we won the Saboteur Award for Best Literary Festival in the UK. Next year’s festival will be our 25th anniversary!' Stay-At-Home! Literary Festival The Stay-at-Home! Festival is a celebration of books and writing, preventing loneliness and championing connectivity and community. It initially ran from 26th April -9 May 2021. St Mungo's Mirror Ball 'Our aims are to support the development of poetry and poets in Glasgow and to raise the profile of poetry in Glasgow and Glasgow poetry.' Strokestown International Poetry Festival (strokestownpoetry.org) The Strokestown International Poetry Festival was founded in 1999. It takes place annually on the first weekend of May, in Strokestown, Co. Roscommon. TOAST poetry TOAST makes live poetry events and workshops with the best poets in the UK. Founded in 2016, we find the strongest voices in poetry and support their careers. Based in Norwich, our goal is to make entertaining, engaging events that bring new audiences and new poets together. Towards A World Unknown Towards a World Unknown is OCR’s poetry anthology. There are three themed poetry clusters to choose from in the anthology, each comprising 15 literary heritage and modern poems as well as poems from around the world. The poems have been carefully selected to provide a balanced and diverse collection for study. Tumblewords Project A grassroots, not-for-profit weekly series of free writing workshops founded in 1995 with seed money from the New Mexico Arts Division. We currently meet Saturdays from 1:00 to 3:00 pm Mountain Standard Time via ZOOM (meeting room url TBA week of workshop) —Donna J. Snyder, Founder Tunbridge Wells Poetry Festival '...burst forth like water from a chalybeate spring in June 2018. Combining a wide variety of reading events and workshops from local and not-so-local writers, the event proved popular with poets and public alike. Originally conceived and ministered by Sarah Miles of Paperswans Press the baton was passed to the current committee in 2020, only for their plans to be scuppered by Covid-19 and lockdown.' There is a plan for a 20022 festival. UbuWeb - Visual Poetry Began as an online repository for visual poetry scanned from aging anthologies and re-imagined as back-lit transmissions from a potential future. As it has progressed, visual poetry has waned in favour of an reconnoitring of diverse avant-gardes. University of Leeds Poetry Centre The Poetry Centre brings together our strength and heritage in creative writing, fostering a unique environment for research, teaching and public engagement. Our varied activities share a common goal of celebrating and facilitating excellence in poetry, both within and outside of the University. The Verb - on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Sounds So many great programmes always available, and a new one every week. Hosted by Ian McMillan. Ver Poets 'Ver Poets was founded in 1966 by May Badman. ‘Ver’ refers to the river flowing through St Albans, where the group meets. The group has a local, national and international membership. Current President, John Mole, is a well-known poet. John is currently Poet in Residence for the City of London, critic and jazz clarinettist.' VerseFirst VerseFirst productions is a media project, dedicated to creating media enhancing and celebrating the written word. Verse Ottawa One of VERSe Ottawa’s main activities is to stage VERSeFest, Ottawa’s annual International Festival of Poetry. VERSe Ottawa’s other major activity is to administer the City of Ottawa’s new Poet Laureate Program. See Videos of Past Events for 2021 VERSeFest events. Verve Poetry Festival | 15-19 Feb 2023 'From an idea floated on Twitter to a whirlwind force in the poetry world, Verve Poetry Festival (and our sister press) are proud to be a home for brilliant poets and lovers. The four day festival in Birmingham city centre, now getting ready for year four, welcomes award-winning poets from the Midlands, the UK and the world.' For open mic events see Verve Poetry Festival Events | Eventbrite WakaPoetry.net 'A site devoted to the many types of classical Japanese poetry. This site started life as the Japan 2001 Waka, as part of the Japan 2001 Festival marking the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Great Britain. I continued translating and adding poems, including some complete collections, with the result that there are now 6000 translated poems here' Wells Festival of Literature 'Set up in 1992 to promote the love of books and of reading throughout the community. In 2002 we expanded to a week; we now operate over nine days every October and will celebrate our 30th anniversary in 2022. Our Festival takes place in Cedars Hall, a state-of-the-art performance venue situated in the grounds of Wells Cathedral School.' Winchester Poetry Festival The next festival takes place in October. Wolverhampton Literature Festival We are excited to be back from 31st January to 2nd February, (2025) bringing together literature, poetry, music, and dance for a vibrant festival celebrating arts and culture across Wolverhampton! Words Lightly Spoken A new podcast of poetry from Ireland - Poetry Ireland. Over 120 available. Word of Mouth - BBC Radio 4 Series exploring the world of words and the ways in which we use them with presenter Michael Rosen Wordsworth Grasmere 'The Wordsworth Trust has been keeping Wordsworth’s memory alive at Dove Cottage since it was created for this purpose in 1890. We are still an independent charity, and our activities today include putting on exhibitions, talks and other events, introducing children to poetry, and leading activities in local communities.' Worth a visit in Grasmere, and worth a visit online. World Poetry Slam Organization – we are Poetry Slam Established in 2022 to create a slam network. Write Better Poetry 'Are you passionate about writing poetry? This is where you’ll find poetry prompts, solid tips on writing poetry, interviews with poets, and blog posts highlighting various poetic forms. Sit back, relax, and learn more about the craft of poetry!' (Their words not mine btw, I have only visited the site.) Writers' Kingston 'Writers’ Kingston is Kingston University's literary cultural institute dedicated to creative writing in all its forms, with an annual programme of events from talks to workshops and festivals.' Write Out Loud 'Write Out Loud is a national (indeed, international) hub for participation in poetry, encouraging everyone who writes poetry – from still-too-nervous-to-do-open-mic to Nobel Prize winner – to share their words with others. The Write Out Loud website has been around since 2005. It's unique in what it brings together, and what it offers to our members. Writing.ie The site for the Irish 'Writing' magazine, has poetry resourses. The Writing Squad 'The Writing Squad provides workshops, 1-1 support and investment for young writers. Our free 2 year programme is for w'riters aged 16-21 who live, work or study in the North of England.' York Literature Festival The Festival began in 2007. 'The Festival prides itself on having a diverse range of events including talks, lectures, panels, debates, performances, storytelling pieces and workshops. It features both fiction (literary, contemporary and genre-based), non-fiction and poetry.' The 2022 Festival will run from 18 to 27 March. Young Poets Network Young Poets Network is The Poetry Society’ s online platform for young poets up to the age of 25. Here you’ll find features about poets and poetry, challenges and competitions to inspire your own writing, new writing from young poets, and advice and guidance from the rising and established stars of the poetry scene. Disclaimer: I have absolutely no connection with any of the sites reported above and only pass them on because they sounded interesting to me. I do not gain financially or in any other way from any of the sites I have offered links to. If the sites fail to deliver in some way, this will need to be taken up with that site. I cannot guarantee the safety of the sites I link to, though I do test every site out prior to listing it here; if you do follow the link you do so entirely at your own risk. So what I am saying is please don't sue me, or shoot me as the messenger, though I absolutely would love to hear any positive or negative feedback about any of the sites I link to. If you are the owner of a site that I have linked to and object to me including a link here please do let me know and I will remove it as soon as possible. Equally if you want to be linked then just ask and I will be very happy to do so. A full update is overdue and on its way soon. Last minor update 6 January 2026

www.bobandpoetry.com. Details of online poetry events, poetry podcasts, literary festivals, book readings, open-mics, poetry competitions from around the net. News of live poetry events, book launches and open mics in the Leeds area, including Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Ilkley, Otley, Saltaire, Wakefield, York, West Yorkshire. Find links to poets, poetry publishers and poetry magazines. Hosted by Bob Dunning. January 2026 Quote of the Month "I asked a sea-gull on a see-saw what's it all for?, what's it all about? He said nowt and flew away. " From 'An unkindness' by Matt Nicholson Yaffle, Leeds 2025 www.yafflepress.co.uk (Clicking the image will take you to the book's website and this will have different cookies to this site) 20 + Poetry Things You Could Do Today 1) From this site - check out poets reading their poems ... See: Bob and Poetry.com: Short poetry clips - YouTube For longer readings and films see: Bob and Poetry.com : Readings On YouTube - YouTube I add to these playlists all the time so do keep checking. 2) ... And visit the Poetry Magazine's Page There links to dozens of sites on poetry. Blue Marble Review - Literary Journal for Young Writers , for instance, regularly has a free, new, online magazine to read and posted new poems in December 2025. Or, The Lake - contemporary poetry webzine - POETRY , showcases new poetry nearly every month, the most recent being January 2026. 3. (From How to Go Home | Eleanor Robins | Substack ) The Imagining Realm If you are having a day in which you are wanting to write poetry, or perhaps would like to be having one of those days, I would like to recommend you spend a few minutes watching this video on Eleanor Robin's Substack page. To watch click this link: My top practice for creating from the imaginal real 4. (From Writer's Digest ) Wednesday Poetry Prompts - Writer's Digest Following a month of daily prompts in April 2025, Robert Lee Brewer is now offering weekly Wednesday Poetry Prompts, which may contrast a little with my preferred approach from Eleanor Robins, but it is important we all find our own way ahead, and they are by no means mutually exclusive. The archive of these prompts extends over 110 pages. 'Are you passionate about writing poetry? This is where you’ll find poetry prompts, solid tips on writing poetry, interviews with poets, and blog posts highlighting various poetic forms. Sit back, relax, and learn more about the craft of poetry!' To see, click the link Write Better Poetry | Poetic Forms | Poetry Prompts - Writer's Digest 5) (From Plume | Online Poetry Magazine ) Plume Issue #168 August 2025 Archives - Plume "In brief, Plume is a magazine dedicated to publishing the very best of contemporary poetry. To that end, we will be highly selective, offering twelve poems per monthly issue." There is an extensive archive to enjoy, too For this edition see: Plume Issue #168 August 2025 Archives - Plume 6) (From Of Poetry Podcast – Kitchen table conversations with poets ) Episode 77: Jameela F. Dallis (Of Oysters, Ekphrasis, and Filtering Emotion through The Beasts of the Sea) " Jameela F. Dallis lives in Durham, NC. Her publications include poems, interviews, arts journalism, and literary scholarship in Feminist Studies..." All the episodes are available from the site's homepage. See Episode 77: Jameela F. Dallis (Of Oysters, Ekphrasis, and Filtering Emotion through The Beasts of the Sea) 7) (From Carol Rumens's poem of the week | Books | The Guardian website page ) Carol Rumens' Poem of the Week A faultlessly consistent article in a national newspaper, and always available online, too. See Poem of the week: Carol Rumens's poem of the week | The Guardian 8) (From The Fig Tree | Tim Fellows | Substack ) The Fig Tree Issue 8 'Welcome to the eighth issue of The Fig Tree, sandwiched between parts one and two of the Coal Mining Special ... This issue’s Featured Poet, Joe Williams ... Once again I hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as I did collating it. You are joining over 500 people who are reading the webzine on a regular basis.' Read this issue at The Fig Tree - Issue 8 - by Tim Fellows - The Fig Tree All Back issues and the two Coal Mining Anthologies are available at : The Fig Tree | Tim Fellows | Substack 9) (From Dust Poetry Magazine ) Issue 14 is now available. The new June 2025 edition of this has just been posted. See: Issue 14 All 14 editions are available on the website. 10) (From Top Writing Contests website) Enter Your Poem Into a Competition Wrting Competitons .Net list all the current competitions that you can enter. If you subscribe to their email they will keep you posted on new ones as they come out. Its brilliant. See Top Writing Contests 11 ) (From Tin House website) Between The Covers Between the covers is a literary radio show and podcast hosted by David Naimon, is brought to you by Tin House. These long-form in-depth conversations have been singled out by the Guardian, Book Riot, the Financial Times, and BuzzFeed as one of the most notable book podcasts for writers and readers around. For Between the Covers Podcasts visit Between the Covers Podcast - Tin House For the most recent poetry book based podcast see: Laynie Browne : Apprentice to a Breathing Hand - Tin House 12) (From Poetry Extra webpage ) William Sieghart’s Poetry Pharmacy Daljit Nagra revisits the BBC's poetry archive. "William Sieghart welcomes you into his Poetry Pharmacy where he serves up poetic prescriptions to soothe the soul. He is the founder of the Forward Prize for Poetry and National Poetry Day. For William, poetry has never been the distant, lofty pursuit that it's sometimes portrayed as." From 2020. See: Poetry Extra - William Sieghart’s Poetry Pharmacy - BBC Sounds 13) (From The Buzz – The Hive Poetry Collective Website) S7: E28 Waking Up: New Book from Santa Cruz Teen Poets (Posted 23 August 2025) "Airing on KSQD 90.7 FM most Sundays at 8:00, the Hive Poetry Collective is a buzz of poets in Santa Cruz, California— a swarm of radio conversations, public readings, and writing workshops. " All episodes are available at the website. Hear the most recent podcast and all the archive at: The Hive Poetry Collective • A podcast on Spotify for Creators 14) (From West Wilts Radio ) The Poetry Place – West Wilts Radio (Click for archive) "The Poetry Place is a monthly poetry magazine programme bringing you news, views, readings and interviews from today’s poetry community, both locally and further afield. Presented by Dawn Gorman and Peter O’Grady, it brings inspiration and food for thought for everyone, from those who enjoy listening to the occasional poem, to people writing and publishing their own work. There's a new episode on the last Sunday of every month, with repeats from the archive on the other Sundays of the month." Hear the most recent new edition first broadcast on 27 July 2025 at : The Poetry Place with Lucy Heuschen & Julia Webb #67 15) (From Rattle Poetry ) Critique of the Week: A Live Video Workshop "It’s hard to find honest feedback about your work, but knowing how your poems are actually landing is more useful than any other advice a poet can get ... so we’d like to extend that experience to anyone who is interested. With Critique of the Week, we’ll workshop several poems publicly each week, via Facebook and YouTube. Participants will get a chance to hear how the Rattle editors would encounter a poem if it were a submission and offer suggestions for improvement. Everyone is then welcome to join in the discussion in the video’s comments section, providing their own thoughts and feedback. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel so that you don’t miss any of the critiques." For more information see: Critique of the Week - Rattle: Poetry Or see the latest live streamed event at : Rattlecast - Rattle: Poetry Or read the latest daily poem at: Rattle: Poetry (I sign up to the email daily post and strongly recommend it.) 16) (From E at The Storms website) May Storm, An all-county showcase for Poetry Day Ireland, 1 May 2025 Eat the Storms, the poetry podcast, will host its annual Poetry Day Ireland episode, featuring 32 poets, each reading a single poem to represent one of the 32 counties on the island of Ireland, our most popular episode each year. Hosted and produced by Damien B Donnelly, the podcast will go out at 8am on Thursday 1 May, on 12+ platforms including Spotify, Apple, Castbox, Podbean, Amazon Podcasts and YouTube. Visit: May Storm, an all-county showcase for Poetry Day Ireland 2025 – Storm Shelter Hear the podcast archive at: Listen to the Podcast – Storm Shelter 17) (From BBC Radio 4 - The Verb ) Forrest Gander, Laurie Bolger, SJ Fowler, Rachel Segal Hamilton Presented by Ian McMillan. First broadcast on 29 June, 2025. See The Verb - Forrest Gander, Laurie Bolger, SJ Fowler, Rachel Segal Hamilton - BBC Sounds Though this has slipped quite far down my list for no particular reason , The Verb is one of my favourite shows on radio and is available in podcast form. There is an archive of 258 episodes available at: BBC Radio 4 - The Verb - Available now 18) (From Moving Poems website) Watch the Best Poetry Videos on the Web The latest when I looked: Lost Stream by Fiona Tinwei Lam – Moving Poems " A poetry video based on a poem about the city’s hidden and lost streams. Animation by Quinn Kelly. Narration by the poet Fiona Tinwei Lam. Audio-recording by Lileth Charlet. Recorded at CEDaR sound studio at the University of British Columbia. Sound design by Bill Hardman. Part of the Vancouver Poet Laureate’s City Poems Project 2022-2024." Regularly updated there's 2453 videos (and counting) to see at Videopoems | Moving Poems 19 ) (From Spotify - Web Player: Music for everyone) Frank Skinner's Poetry Podcast 'Frank Skinner loves poetry and thinks you might like it too.' If you are able to use Spotify, I strongly recommend this podcast, which is free and has the complete archive available. Frank offers wonderful insights into poems and poets that have certainly broadened my understanding. As you would expect, from Frank Skinner his presentation style is highly engaging and entertaining. See Frank Skinner's Poetry Podcast | Podcast on Spotify 20) (From T.S. Eliot website) T.S. Eliot Prize The T.S. Eliot Prize winner for 2024 has now been announced, and videos of all the nominees can be seen. Every year of the prize I have enjoyed watching the poets read from their book, and say a little about themselves. See: Videos – The T. S. Eliot Prize See the whole amazing archive at T. S. Eliot Prize - YouTube 21) (From Apples and Snakes ) Read, Watch, Listen : Apples and Snakes Get the latest updates from the Apples and Snakes website at Read, Watch, Listen : Apples and Snakes Maybe hear the most recent podcast at: S3 EP20 | Amen Noir - Maintaining Presence | Apples and Snakes: The Podcast The archive of 38 podcasts is available at Apples and Snakes: The Podcast | Apples and Snakes . 22) (From London Review Bookshop website) New Faber Poetry "Isabelle Baafi, winner of the Somerset Maugham Award for her pamphlet Ripe, constructs her debut collection Chaotic Good (Faber) around the story of an escape from a toxic marriage. ‘Chaotic Good is a debut of amazing endurance,’ writes poet Will Harris. ‘Its formal pressures create a kind of kaleidoscopic intensity that – with each turn of the chamber – brings newly beautiful and painful shapes into focus.’ Isabelle Baafi was reading from her work in the company of Lavinia Greenlaw, whose most recent book is the essay collection The Vast Extent ." From 9 April 2025. Hear this podcast at: Isabelle Baafi & Lavinia Greenlaw: Chaotic Good | London Review Bookshop For lots of past videos and podcasts (not exclusively poetry) see: Podcasts & video | London Review Bookshop 23 ) (From The Poetry Programme - RTÉ Radio 1 (rte.ie) website) The Poetry Programme Though the show is sadly off-air now, the immense archive, from 2017 to 2022, is still available to listen to and is recommended. See The Poetry Programme - RTÉ Radio 1 (rte.ie) Also see Poetry File - RTÉ Podcasts (rte.ie) 24) (From Bad Lilies ) February 2025 Issue 20 "Bad Lilies is published six times a year and is edited by Kathryn Gray and Andrew Neilson . We aim to showcase the finest poetry, ranging in technique and subject matter." See the new issue here: Issue twenty — Bad Lilies 25) (From Granta website) Podcast | Alan Hollinghurst 'We discuss his new novel, writing from the outsider’s perspective and cataloguing the chapters of queer life from the mid-century to now.' Alan Hollinghurst has a close connection with the poetry world, and is an interesting person to listen to See Podcast | Alan Hollinghurst | Granta For the Granta podcast archive see: Granta | The Home of New Writing 26) Look around this site and follow some of the links you have not heard of before... 'Super. Keep looking down that long road.' 'Better Now Or Better Now Or Better Never?' by Julian Stannard. The Poetry Review Vol 111:2 Summer 2021 Top Twelve Poetry Headlines from the Web (Click to go to the online article) 1. 'I never saw writing as a viable career', says Wales' national poet - BBC News 2. Alice Notley (1945-2025) - The Allen Ginsberg Project 3. ‘What remains / are the poems, the songs / that mortality sings’: Griffin Poetry Prize winning poems 4. Bloomsbury wins eight-way auction for TS Eliot Prize-winner Joelle Taylor's new collection 5. Taking a stanza: The relationship between photography and poetry - 1854 Photography 6. Cultural hub for Leeds as poetry centre funding confirmed | University of Leeds 7. Dylan Thomas: Unseen photos show the poet in a fit of rage - BBC News 8. 80th anniversary of the death of renowned Polish poet Maria Pawlikowska-Jasnorzewska – A literary legacy linked to Blackpool 9. Ukraine in World Poetry Slam Championship for first time 10. First poet laureate appointed for Rochdale | Rochdale Borough Council 11. Poetry in motion: walking the new Wordsworth Way in the Lake District | Lake District holidays | The Guardian 12. Music, poetry, joy and laughter: the first Benjamin Zephaniah Day, in pictures | Brunel University of London All year in 2026 The following sites are worth checking regularly to look out for online and in-person poetry events . Cheltenham Poetry Festival Eventbrite Online Poetry Events | Eventbrite Eventbrite Online Poetry Readings Events | Eventbrite Evesham Festival of Words Griffin Poetry Prize - Upcoming Events Opportunities and services for poets and writers | Poetry Ireland What's On - Ledbury Poetry London Review Bookshop Milkweed Editions (U.S. Central time) National Poetry Library (For all currently open poetry competitions) Newcastle Centre for the Literary Arts - Newcastle University (ncl.ac.uk) Nottingham Writer's Block: What's on Nottingham's writing world (mynottz.com) The Poetry Business - Digital Workshops Poetry Events in UK & Ireland | Facebook The Poetry Society - Events Top writing contests. (writingcompetitions.net) The following Groups offer regular online Open-Mics: Cheltenham Poetry Festival - Online Events and Poetry Lounges Fire&Dust Poetry | Twitter, Facebook | Linktree JournalExpressWrit - Open Mic (journalofexpressivewriting.com) (U.S.) Ó Bhéal - Fáilte go dtí Ó Bhéal (obheal.ie) (Republic of Ireland) Poetry Lit! - Online Reading Series Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite Rattlecast - Rattle: Poetry Speak the Word: online open mic night Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite Speak Your Truth ~ Spoke open mic Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite Wildfire Words Disclaimer: I have absolutely no connection with any of the sites reported above and only pass them on because they sounded interesting to me. I do not gain financially or in any other way from any of the sites I have offered links to. If the sites fail to deliver in some way, this will need to be taken up with that site. I cannot guarantee the safety of the sites I link to, though I do test every site out prior to listing it here; if you do follow the link you do so entirely at your own risk. So what I am saying is please don't sue me, or shoot me as the messenger, though I absolutely would love to hear any positive or negative feedback about any of the sites I link to. If you are the owner of a site that I have linked to and object to me including a link here please do let me know and I will remove it as soon as possible. Equally if you want to be linked then just ask and I will be very happy to do so. Most recent full update 8 June 2025. Last minor update 6 January 2026.

Leeds Stanza February 2025 choice : June Jordan 'Haruko/Love Poems' 'Haruko/Love Poems' by June Jordan The story of this book begins with me ordering a copy that was almost full price and sold as 'very good' but the condition was awful. I wrote to the company that I bought it from and demanded a rebate. In the mean time I thought I'd better get on and read it, or I wouldn't get it read in time for February's feedback. Truth is, I did not enjoy it at first. I found the poems so personal, but not universal. I mean fine if this poem had be written for me, as I would get the references and would love the attention. so, I began to consider the poems solipsistic, and only available in the book because of the reputation of the author, whom I have no doubt deserves her reputation, but her love poetry, really? There is nothing complicated about the language, there were no words to look up, but truthfully I just didn't get it. In the mean time the company who mis-sold me the book, were bartering with me saying they would return 30%, and I was thinking but my book is tatty, I'm not enjoying it, give me all the money back so I can get a new copy! It was water damaged, stained and had dints in the cover. I was hating the experience. Then, I read 'Poem For Mark' with its reference to the UK and its quaint 1950s Cockney language, and I smiled and I had a reference point. It occurred to me that I was not really getting into the mind of the author, and I needed to work harder at doing this. When 'Free Flight' came along she gives us the very workings of her mind at the moment the thoughts occurred to her. Then I understood all the poems more. I believe what we have is very raw poetry, not overly filtered and highly emotional, which on the one hand is the reason that, as a bloke, I'm not immediately going to get it, and I'm always going to have to work harder at love poetry. Then something else twigged. I love writing this sort of poetry myself, was I a little jealous that someone else had got there first, was getting published writing in a style that in fact I utterly relate to? I believe the poetry is much better read out aloud, it makes much more sense of the immediate simple rhymes, the illogical line breaks, and the easy language. She is in the poetry moment, somewhere closer to slam than Tennyson. It reads better out loud than read on the page. For me, anyway. I haven't tested this with watching videos of June Jordan reading her poetry, it just made sense to me as I progressed though the book. Then I got to my favourite poem, 'I Must Become a Menace to My Enemies', which uses powerful repetition and challenges you to not accept the horrors going on around you without letting others know that you do not accept it. This message is never irrelevant, but with the wars of Russia/Ukraine and Palestine/Israel so large in the news, and Donald Trump lording himself over the lot of it, I realise how little I dare to take sides in case I upset one or other of my friends at the expense of my own ideals. So by the time I got to the final epic poem 'Roman Poem Number Five' I was starting to feel the vibe. June Jordan is turning her inner experience into tangible poetry expression, and my biggest mistake is that I'm not doing the same. I went round the Cathedral of Barcelona recently, how come I didn't write a poem about my experience of it? In fact I will answer that. 1) I'm intrinsically lazy, and 2) I didn't know how. Read the book in front of you, Bob, this is how. Enter the moment and express it. This is what June Jordan is doing and I love her for it. So once I got to the final page, she had converted me. I was I love with her honesty and emotion and the whole book felt real. Then I thought, how can I get rid of this copy? How could I send it back? This very print, paper and glue got me right into the mind of another human being, and I want to savour that. I love my copy. Why exchange a lived-in book with damages that must have stories I need to invent and tell, with a starchy, dull, soulless brand new copy? I wrote to the sellers, and thanked them for the offer which had now been upped to a full refund, and said I was scared they would throw my copy away, and we should never throw anything away for simply not being perfect, after all, who of us is perfect? So I have kept my copy, and I will treasure the imperfect scruffy friend that helped me understand the wonderful June Jordan a little better.

'Read Me A Poem a Day' 9th April 2021 'Read Me A Poem a Day for the National Year of Reading.' Chosen by Gaby Morgan, pp 278-283. OK so why is a serious reader of poetry like me reading what looks like a children's book of daily poems. Well the answer is simple and quite clever. It is my doorway into starting reading. Some days, like today, I am just itching to read my next fill of Fran Lock poetry, but often I don't know where to begin, so I have my starter daily books. I began reading this book (and the Shakespeare) on 1 November 2020, which represents the first day of my retirement (two years earlier) . Every year I task myself with doing a certain number of hours of reading and I start the clock on this day. This book has been wonderful. In today's batch there was poems by Carol Ann Duffy, Grace Nichols, Robert Louis Stevenson, Jackie Kay, Langston Hughes, sat alongside a regular Anon. I had 6 days to catch up, as I had concentrated so much on writing the brand new website! That said, it only took a few minutes. I did a lot of poetry reading and listening from 2010 to 2014 (-ish), before deciding to knock it on the head to complete my pension. I have returned to reading now I am retired. Lockdown was awful, obviously. My father died from Covid-19 in March 2020 right at the beginning of it all. On the other hand, it helped me to concentrate my mind. As there was nowhere to go, I have found a place to be by reading poetry again. During that last poetry phase (there have been many but 2010-2014 was especially enjoyable) I got to see both Carol Ann Duffy and Jackie Kay. That's the wonderful thing about poetry compared with say, football or rock music, it is still relatively easy to not only see your heroes but also to go up and have a few words of chat with them afterwards! Jackie Kay's poem here is called 'Divorce' and in the wrong hands reads as a very dark tale of divorcing your parents. I am fairly certain Jackie Kay loved her adoptive parents, so perhaps this is intended as a cathartic tale where children can agree in their anger when reading the poem before bed at night only to wake up in the morning refreshed! 'Father, your breath smells like a camel's and it gives me the hump!' Seeing the Anons in this collection I always grieve for the lost name. How sad for the person that their immortalised words have become mortally detached. Here Anon is talking about an apple... 'It's nice to think, though many an eye Has seen the ruddy skin, Mine is the very first to spy The five brown pips within.'

The commission is an unusual beast, someone asks for a poem on a subject, the poet goes away and thinks about it and comes up with the goods. Today I heard Ian McMillan's poem for 'The Front Page' BBC Radio 4 programme. Asked to write about a poem for the Euro 2020 final the week before England played Italy, and lost on penalties, then delivering it week after. The poem is never going to T.S. Eliot's The Wasteland , but it did its job. I also understood it, and got it in one, unlike T.S. Eliot's The Wasteland , which I have heard many times, but in truth need academics to point out to me why it is good. In the poem, McMillan refers to Eliot, and as a reader it would enhance the experience if I knew the reference. (I didn't.). McMillan is a decent chap, he is not going to condemn me for not picking it up, but I should I condemn myself? There is so much poetry about, how can I know it all? As it so goes I have read a good deal of it, but when I am sat in a reading, am I supposed to bring my poetry history with me or simply enjoy the moment, are there two opposites, or have I constructed this myself? If I don't know my poetry history then I am freed from the challenge of acknowledging it? I know my music better, so in my world I would say - should a young rapper know the songs of Elvis and the Beatles, should they even know the history of the song the rapper may have sampled, or is it enough to know your own genre well, or even, then just live in the moment and enjoy the song? I find, a little like Classical music, there is an inbuilt elitism in poetry that is hard to shake off, even if the poet themselves tells you to shake it off. (And by Classical music I mean Mozart, Beethoven and that crowd, not Led Zep and Black Sabbath, which is how I hear the word being used now! Though, actually that has its elitism, too!) In spite of all this I can tell that McMillan's poem is no The Wasteland , so there is a difference, and getting back to the beginning commissions make for a very different, more accessible poetry. I guess this is because in this circumstance the poet is writing for the audience and not themselves. When I read Simon Armitage's Sandettie Light Vessel Automatic, a book filled with commissioned poetry I enjoyed it greatly, but ultimately it did leave me a little bit hollow by the end. What Armitage is so good at is writing in a poetic voice that is both authentic, and poetic, it feels like if you had sat down long enough thinking about it with a pen in your hand, you could have written it, too. This is a wonderful deception. As Poet Laurette, suddenly everything he writes feels like it is a commission, almost by the nature of the job. I have read his Lockdown Poem and watched the Lockdown film on television, both wonderful pieces of works, that describe explain Lockdown better than any documentary ever could. Poetry gets behind the mere facts and emphases the emotional, and though we believe we are a religion-less society, it speak in the language of our spiritual being, too. I notice, though that when presented to the World on the internet, the Lockdown poem is presented with a backbeat, and acted out images, and I wonder at the reason for this. Am I being elitist for noticing it, am I rejecting it? Or am I pleased that Armitage is doing his bit to bring poetry to the World in a populist way, surely another of the possible unwritten role of the Laureate's job. The film which intermingles poetry with talking heads, is perfect time capsule for the future. The individual stories of people affected by Covid-19, are emotional in themselves, woven into the overall arc of a poem provided by Armitage, they become a part of the poetic piece, and the emotion is turned up to 11 (a cultural reference I expect you to get, but if you don't it feels like I thought of the joke!). To help the watcher along two ethereal dancers interpret the parts where Armitage is talking as if to emphasise we are talking in poetry language now. A good trick, but once I spotted it I started to laugh at the thought that every time Armitage gives a reading in the real world two dancers would suddenly appear in the wings. Today I watched a poem which came to me via Facebook I believe, and I notice that the poet has put a backdrop of old film footage to enhance the film. I always wonder at this, it is almost as if the poet is concerned that the poem will not be entertaining enough in its own right, that there is an alternative show going on in case you don't want to listen to what's being said enough. It's a tremendous piece, as authentic as you get written by person from Glasgow, about what that experience is like. Such a great feat. Sadly no BBC4 commissions await for the poet, so we create our own film to be in. The commission as income, that's what it is there for and quite right. There is so much poetry about yet so few professional poets, it seems all wrong to the likes of me that love poetry, but look at me I prefer the free readings to the paid for ones, and I am a generous person.