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Bob's Current Reading List Self-Portrait As Othello Jason Allen-Paisant Carcanet Poetry, Manchester, 2023 Leeds Stanza March 2026 choice Poetry Book Society Book choice March 2023 Current re-reading Click to go the publisher's website the North Issue 71 Magazine subscription Current reading Click to go the publisher's website Invocation Izzy Brittain Yaffle's Nest, Horsforth, 2025 Date completed: 2026-03-11 Click to go the publisher's website Letters to a Young Poet Rainer Maria Rilke Translated by M.D. Herter Norton W.W. Norton and Company, London, 2004. (Revised edition. Originally published 1934.) Current reading Click to go the publisher's website An Uncharacteristically Lengthy Poem by Dean Wilson About Interpretive Dance Dean Wilson DeanWorld, 2025 Date completed: 25/2/2025 Click to go the publisher's website Gain Access Ian Harker Smith | Doorstop Books, Sheffield, 2025 Pamphlet Date Completed: 24/2/2026 Click to go the publisher's website House Anthems Ralph Dartford Valley Press, Scarborough, 2024 Date read: 20/2/2026 Click to go the publisher's website Wellwater Karen Solie Picador Poetry, London, 2025 Leeds Stanza choice, February 2026 Date Completed: 16/02/2026 Click to go the publisher's website My Life In Verse. A Journey Through Poetry Edited by Alexis Kirschbaum Penguin Classics, London, 2009 Current anthology read Click to go the publisher's website The Taking Part Joe Williams Maytree Press Pamphlet Re-read: 31 January 2026 Click to go the publisher's website The Iliad Homer, translated by Emily Wilson W.W.Norton and Company, London, 2023 Leeds Stanza December 2025 / January 2026 Choice Date Completed 16/ 01/2026 Click to go the publisher's website Side-eye Matt Nicholson Yaffle, Horsforth, 2025 Date Completed:18/12/2025 Click to go the publisher's website Mouth Mona Arshi Chatto & Windus, London, 2025 Poetry Book Society Autumn 2025 choice Date completed: 30/11/2025 Click to go the publisher's website Killing the Piano Joe Williams Half Moon Books, Otley, 2017 Date read: 5/10/2025 Click to go the publisher's website

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. March 2026 Quote of the Month "She wore her world in possibilities Just like Pelé's final pass . " From House Anthems by Ralph Dartford Valley Press, Scarborough, 2024 House Anthems – Valley Press (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 Happy House Masham Events - 11 Upcoming Activities and Tickets | Eventbrite 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 13 March, 2026.

Every month Bob chooses a poetry quotation based on things read over the previous month. This is a full archive of every quote since the website began. Home Leeds Poetry Events Poetry Online Poets Wordy Word Words About Bob Contact Search Please Read Items More Quote of the Month (archive) March 2026 "She wore her world in possibilities Just like Pelé's final pass . " From 'Mexico '70' by Ralph Dartford in House Anthems Valley Press, Scarborough, 2024 House Anthems – Valley Press February 2026 "Haiku # 34 Dear enthusiast, thank you for contributing . You will not be paid. " From Killing the Piano by Joe Williams Half Moon Books, Otley 2017 Killing the Piano – Joe Williams: Writer, Poet, Performer With thanks to Joe Williams for allowing the use the whole Haiku. January 2026 "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 in Side-Eye Yaffle, Leeds 2025 www.yafflepress.co.uk With thanks to Matt Nicholson for allowing the use the longer quote. December 2025 "( ... and no one wears halos due to carbon concerns) . " From 'Revelations 1:14-16 from the Book of the After Life Circus (Illustrated Parenthetical Edition)' by Airea d. Matthews in Bread and Circus Picador, London, 2023 November 2025 "He sees beyond her face another face. " From 'Hesitant' by Brian Patten Collected Love Poems Harper Perennial, London, 2007 R.I.P. Brian Patten October 2025 "He aerosolled his name. And it was mine. . " From V. by Tony Harrison Bloodaxe Books, Newcastle Upon Tyne, 2nd edition, 2nd impression 1991. R.I.P. Tony Harrison September 2025 "Girassol Rasga a tua indecisão E liberta-te." "Sunflower Renounce your indecision Free Yourself" From 'Girassol / Sunflower' by Corsino Fortes Translated by Daniel Hahn and Sean O'Brian in Poetry London Spring 2025 Issue 110, pp 24-25 August 2025 "Strike it down, that other boughs may flourish Where that perished sapling used to be; Thus, at least, its mouldering corpse will nourish That from which it sprung - Eternity. " From 'Death' by Emily Brontë No Coward Soul Is Mine Penguin Classics, London, 2025 July 2025 "A thousand people I could be for you and you hate the ****ing lot " From 'Messy' by Lola Young and Connor Dickinson, single from the album This Wasn't Meant For You Anyway Island, 2024. (I promise I won't over do lyrics, poets get little enough exposure as it is!) June 2025 "She'd rather weep all day than never weep again, and for some folk that really is a straight choice . " From 'Feeling Things' by Don Paterson in Zonal Faber and Faber Ltd, London, 2020 May 2025 "Love is to be full in all that needs filling. " From 'wicked she wicked [Benny's Ballad]' by Caleb Femi The Wickedest 4th Estate, London, 2024 April 2025 "If I eat Jesus will he want to eat me? " From 'Second Communion' by Victoria Kennefick Eat Or We Both Starve Carcanet, Manchester, Great Britain 2021 March 2025 "I must become a menace to my enemies . " From 'I Must Become a Menace to My Enemies' by June Jordan in Haruko/Love Poems Serpent's Tail, UK, 2023 February 2025 "beyond the light of memory behind your life there might be other lives, waiting - . " From 'So I step inside' by Seán Hewitt in Rapture's Road Cape Poetry, UK, 2024 January 2025 "You were not there only everything else was yours: saris in the alna, lipstick, hair clips, hairbrush on the dressing table, finger marks on the mirror... " From 'To Have My Sister Back' by Mir Mahfuz Ali Midnight, Dhaka December 2024 "That our bodies are dangerous things." From '6.' by Kim Moore in All the Men I Never Married Seren, Bridgend, Wales, 2021 November 2024 "you were a boy. i was a boy." From 'You: The Many Adams of Adam' by Gboyega Odubanjo in Adam Faber and Faber, London, 2024 October 2024 "and the wind can't unwind itself from the rose" From 'Mural' by Mahmoud Darwish Translated by John Berger and Rema Hammami in Mural Verso, London, 2024 September 2024 "We all have lives that go on without us. " From 'England' by Zaffar Kunial in England's Green Faber and Faber, London 2022 August 2024 "Everyone is writing about a country as if a country existed." From 'The Invention of America' by Katie Farris in Standing in the Forest of Being Alive Liverpool University Press, Liverpool, UK, 2023 July 2024 "I want to tell him how, minutes from here, someone else's child, made of the same material as me, was made immaterial." From 'Someone Else's Child' by Kostya Tsolakis in Greekling Nine Arches Press, Rugby, UK, 2023 June 2024 " another leaf uncomplicates" From ' I. The Infant ' by Katharine Towers in Oak Picador, London, 2021 May 2024 "At the award shows they are dancing gender." From 'Third Gender Sonnet' by Kandace Siobhan Walker in Cowboy Cheerio Poetry, Great Britain, 2023 April 2024 "On Silence: The deaf don't believe in silence. Silence is the invention of the hearing. " In the end notes of Deaf Republic by Ilya Kaminsky Faber and Faber, London, 2019 March 2024 "the way you say I enter a room: deer-like, tentative then definite." From 'Rain Twice: II. NIGHT RAIN' by Helen Mort in The Illustrated Woman Chatto Poetry, Penguin Random House UK, 2022 February 2024 "Dick's duck dived as deep as Dick's dog dug" From 'Dick's Dog' by Trevor Millum in Read Me and Laugh Poems chosen by Gaby Morgan, Macmillan Children's Books , London, 2005 January 2024 "Schnee ist gefallen, lichtlos. (Translation: Snow fell, lightless.) From the poem 'Schwarze Flocken (Black Flakes)' by Paaul Celan. See “Black Flakes / Schwarze Flocken:” Celan & Ukraine – Nomadics (pierrejoris.com) December 2023 "We can all be refugees Nobody is safe " From 'We Refugees' by Benjamin Zephaniah RIP 7 December 2023. See Three poems by Benjamin Zephaniah | Books | The Guardian November 2023 "Terror is incredibly pedantic ." From 'Utterance Shared Only with the Dishwasher She Sinks Her Hands Into' by Momtaza Mehri in The Poetry Review Volume 113:2, Summer 2023 . October 2023 ... "it is forbidden to love where we are not loved." From 'Material Ode' by Sharon Olds in Stag's Leap . Jonathan Cape, London, 2012 September 2023 " i could call a cat a meowopotamus, who would care?" From 'Day 71: Honiton' by Stephen Lightbown in The Last Custodian Burning Eye Books, Portishead, 2021 August 2023 ..."the minutes crawl the way dust gathers on its victims. " From Pepper Sed by Malika Booker Peepal Tree, 2013 July 2023 "It's easier with instructions; Moses would tell you. But he wasn't the poet." From 'If asked to write an elegy - ' Shannon Smith-Meekings in The Poetry Review Vol. 113:1, Spring 2023 June 2023 'It's not true that our shadows disappear at at night. They're released like a breath.' From 'A Shadow on the House' by Philip Gross in The Thirteenth Angel Bloodaxe Books, Hexham, 2022 Quote of the Week Archive Week Commencing 24th April 2022. 'not one of my friends was allowed to live in her body unaccompanied' 'C+nto' by Joelle Taylor in C+nto & Othered Poems The Westbourne Press, London, 2021 Week Commencing 17th April 2022. 'They're looking people at the factory,' you tell me, 'to put the crying in the crying dolls' 'Headcheese' by Scott McKendry in The Poetry Review: Volume 112:1 Spring 2022 Week Commencing 10th April 2022. 'I often regret the time that I've devoted to regret: thereby sustainably re-wasting wasted time time and again ' 'My Plans for the Past' by Sam Willetts in The Poetry Review: Volume 112:1 Spring 2022 Week Commencing 3rd April 2022. 'One fine thought makes more light than bare fire' Ramayana A Retelling by Daljit Nagra Faber and Faber, London, 2013 Week Commencing 27th March 2022. 'All my favourite flowers are weeds spreading from stone slab crack to tumbling wall to road edge to bed, a long string of common names, and when they are torn at their stalks they spring back green with more cunning and wit. 'All my favourite flowers' by Mish Green in Magma Poetry 81 Winter 2021 Week Commencing 20th March 2022. 'But who would stand in hempen band Upon a scaffold high, And through a murderer's collar take His last look at the sky? It is sweet to dance to violins When Love and Life are fair: To dance to flutes, to dance to lutes Is delicate and rare: But it is not sweet with nimble feet To dance upon the air!' 'From The Ballad Of Reading Gaol' by Oscar Wilde see Poetry Foundation Week Commencing 13th March 2022. 'now literate with demolition. how sinister and reverent, the touch that builds a new bohemian amenity. raised, from the silence of your seizures. everybody singing: attrition, contrition, mass- market ambition.' 'Délire' by Fran Lock in Hyena! Jackal! Dog!' Pamenar Press, 2021 Week Commencing 6th March 2022. 'Alone with their songs and calls, birds could hear one another at greater distances. They began to chirp more softly, astonished by how loud they had become. ' 'Distancing' by Laboni Islam in Magma Poetry 81, Winter 2021 Week Commencing 27th February 2022. 'Hold your ear to the ground: you can hear the voices caught in the earth, chattering, and the rain typing on puddles and the wind wiping them clean .' 'I Sit and Eavesdrop the Trees' by Seán Hewitt in The Poetry Review Vol. 104: 2 Summer 2014 Week Commencing 20th February 2022. 'I never liked Mr Carmichael, who seemed to be made from pale grey plasticine and stretched too much. His fingers fluttered. He oozed words and always stayed too long.' 'Through the Letterbox' by Chrissy Banks in The Rialto no.97 Winter 2021 Week Commencing 13th February 2022. 'Randy Rhoads and Kurt Cobain, Patsy Cline and Ronnie Laine. Poly Styrene, Teena Marie. Timor mortis conturbat me.' (Translation: fear of death disturbs me) 'Not Fade Away' by Michael Robbins in The Poetry Review Vol. 104:1 Spring 2014 Week Commencing 6th February 2022. 'The months and the seasons just slip by. My diary's blank on every page. We follow rules; try to comply. Now Rishi pays most of each wage.' 'Pandemic Poem' by John Miles in acumen Literary Journal No. 100 May 2021 Week Commencing 30 January 2022 'And Johnson says it hasn't happened, so it hasn't. Hospitals are as safe as houses and our graves are rose gardens.' '54' by Owen Lowery The Crash Wake Carcanet 2021 Poem featured in Poetry Book Society Winter Bulletin 2021, issue 271 Week Commencing 23 January 2022 'This flat, Too small to hold both you and your anxiety. One must go.' 'Countdown' by Hibaq Osman Poetry London Autumn 2021. No.100 Week Commencing 16 January 2022 'I can't help but learn again, the dirty truth, hatred brings pleasure to multitudes .' 'Alas, My Compass' by Stanley Moss The Poetry Review Vol. 111:4, Winter 2021 Week Commencing 9 January 2022 'With tomahawk and knife we hacked the flyblown tatters of old meat, gagged at their carcass-smell, and threw the scraps and watched the hungry eat .' 'To Another Housewife' by Judith Wright 101 Poems by 101 Women edited by Germaine Greer Faber and Faber 2001 edition Week Commencing 2 January 2022 'I know not what to do: will the sound break, rending the night with rift on rift of rose and scattered light? will the sound break at last as the wave hesitant, or will the whole night pass and I lie listening awake?' Fragment Thirty-Six by H.D. see poetrynook.com Week Commencing 26 December, 2021 'The Greeks thought of language as a veil which protects us from the brightness of things. I think poetry is a tear in that veil.' Alice Oswald in an interview in Poetry Review Vol 103: 4 Winter 2013 Week Commencing 19 December, 2021 'So tired, so tired, my heart and I ! Though now none takes me on his arm To fold me close and kiss me warm Till each quick breath end in a sigh Of happy languor. Now, alone, We lean upon this graveyard stone, Uncheered, unkissed, my heart and I.' See: 'My Heart and I' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning | Poetry Foundation Week Commencing 12 December, 2021 'as now, we lie together, after making love, quiet, touching along the length of our bodies, familiar touch of the long-married, and he appears—in his baseball pyjamas.' 'After Making Love We Hear Footsteps’ by Galway Kinnell See: Poems | poets.org Week Commencing 5 December, 2021 'And anyone who begins a sentence, "As a poet I...", can't possibly be one. That's like calling yourself a saint.' Michael Longley in interview. Poetry Review Volume 103:3, Autumn 2013. Week Commencing 28 November, 2021 'Love is the boy I broke up with years ago. He lived on a grey estate in Upton Heights. He bought me tins of cider and Marlboro Lights...' 'Love' Hannah Lowe The Kids Bloodaxe Books, 2021 Week Commencing 21 November, 2021 'I want to be friends with everyone, and yet know I must have enemies too, if only in order to maintain my friendships.'.' 'Cities and Memories' Richard Gwyn in Poetry Review 103:2 Summer 2013. Week Commencing 14 November, 2021 'The clock's reached six and you know what that means it means the end of the working day. Not for us. I place my hand on the radiator - and nothing: nothing has changed.'.' 'In Memory of My Lack of Feelings' Tara Bergin in Poetry Review 103:2 Summer 2013. Week Commencing 07 November, 2021 'Let the sky rain potatoes!' Falstaff in The Merry Wives of Windsor , Act 5, Scene 5. William Shakespeare. Week Commencing 31 October, 2021 'Absorbed was righteousness As of the raging flood; Satan in his excess Sucked up the guiltless blood ' 'The Ballad which Anne Askew made and sang when she was in Newgate' Anne Askew (1546) in 101 Poems by 101 Women Edited by Germaine Greer Faber and Faber, 2001. Week Commencing 24 October, 2021 'In this pain I was a charred donkey in the office chair - stupid and unusual' 'from God Complex' Rachael Allen in The Poetry Review , Volume111:3 Autumn 2021 Week Commencing 17 October, 2021 'To walk away from poetry Is poetry, too ' 'Różewicz: A Farewell' in Invisible (Bilingual Edition) Jacek Gutorow, translated by Piotr Florczyk. Week Commencing 10 October, 2021 'When the weather comes on, we'll feel the sweet relief and sorrow at seeing all the days of snow that lie ahead.' ' Ganfer', Roseanne Watt in Poetry London, Summer 2021, Issue 99. Ganfer: the apparition of a living person thought to be a portent of that person's death... Week Commencing 3 October 2021 'but i feel i will never be fluent in bureaucracy so all i have is a tesco tortilla, spotify playlists and my name in an english accent ' 'My Name In An English Accent', by Carmina Masoliver in The Rialto , no 96. Week Commencing 26 September 2021 'and the devil said no god isn't the ice he's under the ice but you have to be very very very hot to burn your way through to him '' 'Witch and the Devil', in Witch by Rebecca Tamás Penned in the Margins, 2019. Week Commencing 19 September 2021 'I grab the fellow by his tail, but he still escapes through the gap in my throat.'' 'A Lizard by my Hospital Bed', Mir Mahfuz Ali in Poetry Review Vol 102:4 Winter 2012. Week Commencing 12 September 2021 'And then it was all over, the rain stopped, the earth drank, and the lawn steamed in the sun: all of it tut-tutting.' 'The Storm (Coleshill 2013)', Neil Rollinson in Talking Dead Cape Poetry, 2015. Week Commencing 5 September 2021 'Better than Batman's robin Rougher than Robin's bat Faster than Spiderman's spider Cooler than Catwoman's cat' 'Superman's Dog', Paul Cookson in Read Me (Collection of poems chosen by Gaby Morgan) MacMillan Children's Books, 1998. Week Commencing 29 August 2021 'The Swan hisses, hisses. Even her neck is a twisted S. She's resident, common, depressed. She was once a princess.' 'Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe', Clare Pollard in Changeling Bloodaxe Books, 2011. Week Commencing 22 August 2021 'Ponder mulled it over Wonder merely thought Whilst Maybe didn't commit And Stubborn wouldn't try.' 'One Morning', by John Linney in Huddle of Poems Amazon , 2013. Week Commencing 15 August 2021 'In my fantasy I am badly hurt but not so bad that I cannot text her, from the ambulance, "I've just been hit by a car." ' 'Filter', by Luke Kennard in Truffle Hound Verve Poetry Press, 2018. Week Commencing 8 August 2021 'and so we mark up bench or skin or book with blade or blood or ink, for good; come look.' 'Dymock vi', by Antony Dunn in Take This One To Bed Valley Press, 2016. Week Commencing 1 August 2021 ' so she brings down birds and tears from the sky mourns them, transforms them, relearns how to fly.' 'Sonnet for a twelve year old', by Sonya Smith in every robin i never quite saw tall-lighthouse, 2021. Week Commencing 25 July 2021 ' I just stopped running and my soul grew calmer as the air grew cleaner.' 'Brigaki Djilia: Sorrow Songs', by Karen Downs-Barton in the North Issue 65 January 2021. Week Commencing 18 July 2021 'Given a month of outrageous privacy what a mouthy collection of cells I am.' 'Phallus Impudicus', Tiffany Atkinson in Poetry Review Volume 102:3, Autumn 2012. Week Commencing 11 July 2021 'I am lucky not to be absent from my mind like a baldhead.' 'King David Cooks Ital in Port Antonio', by Fred D'Aguiar, in Letters to America , Carcanet, Manchester 2020 . Week Commencing 4 July 2021 'It's coming home It's coming home It's coming Football's coming home. ' 'Three Lions' Song composed by Ian Broudie; lyrics by David Baddiel and Frank Skinner. (Indulge me, poetry and football are my two passions.) Week Commencing 27 June 2021 'It's my turn Tagay! When I get home my bag will burst with Toblerone and Cadbury' 'Tagay! [Drinking Lambanog with my Filipino Colleagues]' by Romalyn Ante, in Antiemetic for Homesickness , Chatto & Windus, London, 2020. Week Commencing 20 June 2021 'Look, the flamingos have returned to Bombay. Look how this carpet of pink brightens the day.' 'Hope is the Thing' Tishani Doshi in Magma Poetry 79. Week Commencing 13 June 2021 'Maybe your too-hasty breath flustered the tea leaves' 'Everything you told me came untrue' Geraldine Clarkson in The Poetry Review Vol 111: 1 Spring 2021.) Week Commencing 6 June 2021 'They bleat and bleat and bleat as if they were men. They blather nonsense, and we believe them.' 'This is an age of goats' Barbara Cumbers in Acumen: A Literary Journal January 2021. Thank you to Barbara Cumbers for allowing the use of the whole final verse on request. Week Commencing 30 May 2021 'i love it when cows eat the floor' 'Hello' Crispin Best (the opening line) in Hello Partus Press, Oxford, 2020. Week Commencing 23 May 2021 'and weed and warm and warm and weed - ' 'Nudibranch' by Jen Hadfield in The Stone Age Picador Poetry, London, 2021. Week Commencing 16 May 2021 'One day. One day. One day. One day.' 'The One Day Plan' by Ramona Herdman in The Rialto 95 Click: Bob and Poetry.com: Short poetry clips - YouTube Updated regularly Click: Longer clips such as readings and films. Updated regularly

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! Poetry Events in Leeds and Beyond! Keep scroll downing down for more events See 39 current events listed + 57 regular event details! Please refresh this page to get latest updates! Click on the pictures to see the poster full size Aletheia Creative Writing Group-On the concept of the word Grace With Elizabeth Taj-Radice Using our writing to explore and express spiritual reality. In this month's session our main theme will be on the concept of Grace. "Aletheia" is an ancient greek word which means "truth", "disclosure" or "reality". In our Aletheia writing group we want to use our writing to explore and express the spiritual reality that we feel in and around us. This month our main theme will be thinking about the subject of Fulfillment. Together we will look at some Spiritual writing, poetry and think about it in the context of popular culture. The format of the group will be: Start with nibbles and a drink (soft or hot). A short set of readings Discussion around themes Pick one or more "prompts" based on what speaks to you from what we have read together. Some time individually to WRITE... Sharing time! Will you join me on this next adventure? 7pm to 10pm Bradford Quaker Meeting House 9 Russell Street Bradford BD5 0JB 13 Mar 2026 Click to visit Aletheia's Eventbrite page PUBLISHED Click to visit Aletheia's Eventbrite page URM Unrehearsed Mayhem Musical Improvisation With Added Poetry (laid back and chilled) Featuring: Elliott Pelucci Graham Rhodes Bryn Andrews 7pm to 9pm 15th March at: The Cask & Keg Cambridge Terrace Scarborough YO11 2LQ 29th March at: Craft Bar 7 Northway Scarborough YO11 1JH 15 Mar 2026 Click to go to Cask and Keg Facebook page PUBLISHED Click to go to Cask and Keg Facebook page Poetic Off Licence We’re back at Holding Patterns this Monday, with our spotlight artist for this week is the otherworldly @x_tanyax_ (who you might recognise from our show at The Domino Club)! As always, join us from 6pm for prompts & poetry & music in our favourite bar in the world. Open mic sign up on arrival, get down nice and early to secure your seat! Event from 7pm Holding Patterns 2A Albion Place, Leeds, LS1 6JL 16 Mar 2026 Click to visit the Instagram page PUBLISHED Click to visit the Instagram page Brave Words - Write Club Inclusive, energetic poetry writing workshops run by Brave Words Artistic Director, Chris Singleton. Each week we take part in a quick warmup before delving into multiple creative prompts designed to get your brain firing and your pen flying. We aim for you to leave the session with multiple first drafts that you can develop later in your own time. Our workshops are open to all levels of writer, from first-time to jobbing professionals. Write Club is the perfect setting to get creative in a community dedicated to their craft, and supporting each other's work. MONDAYs 11:00 - 12.30pm Ages 18+ FREE Space2 The Old Fire Station, Gipton Approach, Leeds LS9 6NL 16 Mar 2026 Click to see Brave Words website PUBLISHED Click to see Brave Words website Happy House Poetry Night Bring a poem or two - your own or your favourites Share them with your fellow poets & poetry lovers We’re looking forward to welcoming you to the Happy House, Masham If you’d like you can bring something to drink (we’re not licensed) This is a smallish room which can only hold 10 people so this ticket only admits ONE There is also an online option. The Gallery 24 Market Place Masham HG4 4EB 17 Mar 2026 Click to visit the Happy House Eventbrite page PUBLISHED Click to visit the Happy House Eventbrite page Brave Words - Storytelling Night We're back with our next storytelling night at Hoc Loco on Tuesday 17th March! We're looking for stories on the theme of “Growth.” Stories about seeds you've planted. Ways you've grown and matured as a person (or times you've completely refused to!). From spiritual growth to the growth of skills and hobbies; from new relationships to new horizons - growth means something different to everyone, and all stories are welcome - however you interpret the theme. We’re not looking for well-honed, perfect performances. You don’t need to be a performer at all. We’re creating an atmosphere to share authentic experiences from our lives; where we can listen to each other’s experiences and laugh, cry, jump and shout through the shared empathy of telling stories. All we ask is that you open yourself up to stories that surprise you. You might want to just come and listen. We’d love you to! Why tell a story if nobody is listening? There will be spaces throughout the night to jump up and tell your own, if you’re suddenly inspired, but never any pressure. The night will be hosted by Brave Words Artistic Director Chris Singleton – a storyteller trained in Playback Theatre and Improvisation – who will create a fun, respectful, relaxed atmosphere, perfect for communal storytelling. With being at Hoc Loco, you can even have a glass of wine and a cheeseboard while you listen. Sign up to tell a 5 minute story by reserving a "Storyteller Ticket" or by emailing chris @ bravewords.co.uk. 7.30 start. Finish 9.30 latest. Hoc Loco, Horsforth, LS18 4QB 17 Mar 2026 Click to go to Brave Words website PUBLISHED Click to go to Brave Words website 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 Mar 2026 Click to visit Bar One Poetry's webpage PUBLISHED Click to visit Bar One Poetry's webpage Poetry Workshops Fun and friendly online creative writing workshops every month in 2026 These workshops are an invitation to pause and make time to play with poetry, write and connect with other writers, and nourish and expand your creative practice. Join me on the 3rd Tuesday of each month for an hour and a half of exploratory writing fun. Each workshop will be themed and we’ll look at three poems on that theme by poets we love, and have a go at some our own writing in response. These workshops aren’t sequential, so you can come to as few or as many as you like. Each one will open with a short freewrite, followed by our first poem, a short discussion, and an associated writing exercise, our second poem, discussion, and writing exercise, and our third poem, discussion, and writing exercise. I’ll be writing along with you and there’ll be an optional sharing circle at the end for us to read out anything we’ve written, or share any other thoughts. You’ll finish each workshop with three drafts to take away and work on, and some fresh ideas and inspiration. 6.30pm to 8pm Online event 17 Mar 2026 Click to go to the Workshops Eventbrite page PUBLISHED Click to go to the Workshops Eventbrite page The Big Love Show 14th February to 14th April 2026 The exhibition is only one part of the BIG LOVE project, which explores the meaning of love in an expanded form. The other part is the BIG LOVE Book, a repository and long-lasting device that captures what love is in this present moment. So, let us show you our bleeding, beating or bestill hearts: through drawings, print, photography, poetry, sculpture and prose - Works that are love letters in the broadest sense. ... and yes - Love is most frequently used for the lovers, but BIG LOVE presents sycophantic, friendship-based and inanimate object revolving loves, as well as those that live and breathe close to us. The BIG LOVE Book expands the exhibition with a further fifty contributors into two-hundred pages full of art, prose and poetry in all imaginable forms - kept and treasured in this anthology as something possibly or impossibly sexy.   10 am to 6pm Hyde Park Book Club, 27-29 Headingley Lane, Leeds, LS6 1BL 18 Mar 2026 Click to visit webpage PUBLISHED Click to visit webpage Wakey Wild Ones Lyrical Drama by Tim Brookes about five former club friends from Wakefield reflecting on love, loss and basslines. Once you have listened to Tim's play, explore lots of great events archived at Chapel FM and find new upcoming events, too! 18 Mar 2026 Click to go to Chapel FM PUBLISHED Click to go to Chapel FM Manthology - Men's Poetry Writing Group Join our free sessions with writing prompts, word games, feedback (optional), and more ... Open to anyone who identifies as make and over 18 Please can you add to call Maz prior to attending - number is 0 7 4 8 - 4 9 1 1 1 4 1 Also 3 short forms need completing but can be done on first group. Thursdays 5 to 6.30pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub 190 Dewsbury Road LS11 6PF 19 Mar 2026 Click to go to Mindwell, Leeds PUBLISHED Click to go to Mindwell, Leeds Folk & Word Acoustic Song & Spoken Word OPEN MIC EVERY THIRD THURSDAY! (not February)19 Mar - 16 Apr - 21 May - 18 June - 16 July www.york welcomes writers and wordful acoustic musicians who'd like to share their work in a warm and appreciative environment. We'll invite a writer and a musician to be co-hosts each month, and they'll bring a guest to perform as well. Then the floor is open to everyone for an open mic session (sign up from 7 pm). Bring a poem, a song, some jokes, a guitar, a voice. Try out fresh material or revive an old fave (originals preferred) - or just enjoy the others! All welcome; safe and friendly ethos. Free entry with a purchase from the bar. Upstairs at The Artful Dodger Micklegate York YO1 6LJ 19 Mar 2026 Click to visit Folk & Word website PUBLISHED Click to visit Folk & Word website Ink Spill #42 Poetry Workshop and Open Mic Ink Spill #42: 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 20 March 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! Start: 7pm to 10pm The Head of Steam, Saint George's Square Huddersfield HD1 1JB 20 Mar 2026 Click to visit Ink Spill Eventbrite page PUBLISHED Click to visit Ink Spill Eventbrite page 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. 2pm to 4pm Northlight Arts Centre 31 Potternewton Lane Leeds LS7 3LW 20 Mar 2026 Click to visit Northlight Arts Centre webpage PUBLISHED Click to visit Northlight Arts Centre webpage Wordsmiths Open Mic Poetry, Short Stories & Prose Featuring Local writers and poets. Bring your own writing and join in or just come along and listen No need to book in advance just us know you want to perform on arrival and you will be put on the list. Craft Bar 7 Northway Scarborough YO11 1JH 22 Mar 2026 Click to go to Craft Bar's Facebook page PUBLISHED Click to go to Craft Bar's Facebook page Spread the Word: Poetry Open Mic with Ray Hearne Join us for a captivating free poetry open-mic night in Wath with a guest poet Ray Hearne, South Yorkshire-based singer and songwriter at Wath Tap! You will be able to perform your own poetry at the Open Mic Night! This opportunity is for all abilities, we hope everyone feels comfortable enough to share in our space. If you're interested in sharing your poetry, this is on a first-come, first-served basis, so please arrive promptly. This event is part of Spread The Word, a poetry project run by Flux Rotherham, including poetry writing sessions and open mics. 8pm to 10.30pm Wath Tap Pub, Rotherham, S63 7QB 24 Mar 2026 Click to go to the Spread the Word Website PUBLISHED Click to go to the Spread the Word Website Head of Steam Open Mic Night Open Mic Night - Head of Steam, Mill Hill (Leeds) Got a song to share? A poem? A few tunes you’ve been dying to try out live? Come down to Head of Steam, Mill Hill tonight for our open mic! ✨ Sign-up from 7PM 🎶 Music starts at 8PM All abilities welcome - whether it’s your first time on stage or you’re a seasoned performer. Bring your mates, grab a drink, and let’s fill the room with some great live music. Head of Steam 6-7 Park Row, Leeds LS1 5HN 25 Mar 2026 Click to see the Head of Steam website PUBLISHED Click to see the Head of Steam website The Space Poetic Writing Club Join us for some fun and focused writing before The Space Poetic open mic :) Space Poetic Writing Club. Part of The Space Poetic's mission is building community, and what better way to do that amongst poets than spend a fun and relaxed hour writing with friends. I'll bring some poems I love, and a few prompts you can use if you need something to get you started. Your welcome to bring something you're already working on, or a fresh page waiting to be filled with new ideas. There'll be the option to chat, or to just get your head down - the room is big enough that we can split into small groups if chatty/less chatty people want. Doesn't matter if you've been writing since you could first hold a pen, or never written at all, this is a safe space to come hang out and enjoy being creative together. And if you're feeling brave you can share your piece (or any piece!) in The Space Poetic open mic afterwards! 6 to 7pm Terrace NQ 43 Thomas Street Manchester M4 1NA 25 Mar 2026 Click to go to the Writers Club Eventbrite page PUBLISHED Click to go to the Writers Club Eventbrite page Rhubarb at The Triangle Rhubarb #90 + open mic Wednesday 25th March 2026 Lauren K. Nixon + Open Mic Pay-as-you-feel Join us for our 90th Rhubarb at The Triangle. New readers are always welcome at our poetry & prose open mic, so if you've made it your new year's resolution to hear or share exciting new writing, you've come to the right place! Rhubarb is a pay-as-you feel event that welcomes poetry & prose readers on an open mic in the first half, followed by a headline set from an invited guest. If you want to read on the open mic, please book with us when you arrive. We generally offer 10 open mic slots of up to 4 minutes (squeezing in a few extras when we can). As always, listeners are also very welcome 7pm for 7.30 start to 9pm The Triangle, 47 Bradford Rd Shipley BD18 3DS 25 Mar 2026 Click to see Rhubarb's Facebook page PUBLISHED Click to see Rhubarb's Facebook page Gobsh!te Spoken Word Open Mic Guest reader: Sign up on the night 7.30 pm @ The Golden Lion Fielden Square Todmorden OL14 6LZ 25 Mar 2026 Click to to Gobsh!te's Facebook page PUBLISHED Click to to Gobsh!te's Facebook page The Space Poetic The Space Poetic is a monthly poetry gallery and open mic, held on the last Wednesday of the month at Terrace in Manchester's Northern Quarter. And there's a Space Poetic writing club that meets for an hour to write together before the event (6-7pm). 7.30pm to 9.30pm Terrace NQ 43 Thomas Street Manchester M4 1NA 25 Mar 2026 Click to go the Open Mic Instagram page PUBLISHED Click to go the Open Mic Instagram page Urdu Shurdu Share Urdu poetry with the aim of improving, vocabulary, reading and writing skills and sharing the love of Urdu poetry. Transliteration in English available for all poems shared. 26th March - Himanshi Babra Suitable for all ages - all under 18s require a parent or guardian Chaiiwala, 854 Leeds Road Bradford BD3 9TX 26 Mar 2026 There is no website to link to PUBLISHED There is no website to link to Chemistry 24: Maria Ferguson and Nabeela Ahmed and Cr for Chromium Chemistry returns to the Chemic on Friday 27 March with another night of poetry and spoken word, two brilliant headliners and our usual amazing open mic. March has a brilliant pair of headliners in Maria Ferguson and Nabeela Ahmed The events are themed on the elements of the periodic table, so this time it’s element number 24, which is Cr for Chromium. 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 27 Mar 2026 Click to visit the Chemistry webpage PUBLISHED Click to visit the Chemistry webpage Jackanory Saturday 28th March 2026 With : Paul Brookes Lesley Moore Keith Fenton Dwane Reads Mick Jenkinson 2-4 pm CoActive Maker Space The Ridings Almhouse Lane Wakefield WF1 1DS Halima Mayat Founder of Jackanory, a spoken word and story telling event. Facebook: Jackanory For Adults Email:jackanory12 @ myyahoo.com Youtube: @halimamayat6508 28 Mar 2026 Click to visit the Facebook event page PUBLISHED Click to visit the Facebook event page Becky's Writing Hour Want to set aside time for your writing? Becky’s writing hours, held online twice a month on the second Tuesday and last Sunday of the month, are designed to do just that. Write at your desk, from your sofa, tucked up in bed – whatever works. The format is simple: I’ll bring a warm up exercise and a series of poems and prompts so that you can dedicate as much of the hour to writing as possible. This is a generative workshop so you’ll leave with a notebook full of seeds that you can take away with you to water and grow. Feel free to come as often or as little as you’d like. So price isn’t a barrier I am offering three options on Eventbrite - general admission, pay what you can (including concessions for over 60s, students and those on benefits) and entry by donation. Hope to see you soon! 7pm to 8pm Online 29 Mar 2026 Click to go to the Eventbrite page PUBLISHED Click to go to the Eventbrite page Verbose MCR Verbose is Manchester's longest running spoken word night, based at the King's Arms in Salford. March Guest speakers: Amy Williams Heidi Hinda Chadwick It has a proud history of bringing together a vibrant mix of live literature from poetry, prose and everything in between. Verbose welcomes new talent to the open mic alongside established writers and performers wanting to showcase new material, giving audiences the chance to hear work that is on its way to be published or perhaps feature at festivals including Glastonbury & Edinburgh Fringe. Verbose has two headliners every month & slots for open mic-ers. It usually takes place on the last Monday of each month, from 7.30pm - 9.30pm. It's PWYC & tickets are available on the Insta bio. All funds go directly to the headliners. Sign up for the open mic is via email- verbosemanchester@gmail.com . It is usually open for sign up between the 1st & 6th of each month & your name then goes into a draw. You'll be told about a week later if you got a slot. If you don't, try again the next month. We are back on Monday 30th March' 7.30pm - 9.30pm The King's Arms 11 Bloom Street Salford M3 6AN 30 Mar 2026 Click to visit Verbose MCR on Instagram PUBLISHED Click to visit Verbose MCR on Instagram 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. Join us to hear the guest poet Moran read from their work and read your own. Slots available on the night. Monthly open mic with guest performer first Wednesday of the month at Horsforth Brewery Tap for 9 months of the year. 19.30 - 21.30 hours THE BREWERY TAP 143 New Side Road Leeds LS18 4QD 1 Apr 2026 Click to visit the WordSpace Facebook page PUBLISHED Click to visit the WordSpace Facebook page 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 Easter or Eid! 7pm to 9pm City Library Bradford 9 Aldermanbury The Broadway Bradford BD1 1SD 1 Apr 2026 Click to visit the Bradford Open Mic Facebook page PUBLISHED Click to visit the Bradford Open Mic Facebook page Brave Words: Write Club Creative prompts to get you writing in a supportive creative writing group led by a professional poet and playwright. Open to all levels of experience! First Wednesday of the month, 6pm to 7pm Online via Zoom Pay what you can Brave Words 1 Apr 2026 Click to go to Brave Words website PUBLISHED Click to go to Brave Words website Otley Poets Live We begin another year of Otley Poets Live with one of our informal read-arounds at The Fleece, on Westgate. Bring a poem or two to share with like-minded friends in convivial surroundings, or simply enjoy a drink and listen to the wonderful poetry on offer. Everyone is welcome! 19.30 hours to 21.30 hours The Fleece, Westgate, Otley LS21 3DT 2 Apr 2026 Click to see the Otley Poets Facebook page PUBLISHED Click to see the Otley Poets Facebook page More Song It’s our 3rd birthday! We’ve brought 23 events to Bradford since March 2023. Join us on Thursday April 2nd from 7-9pm for More Song Message for an open mic slot 🎤 What: More Song ⛓️ Where: The 1 in 12 Club Library, Bradford City Centre 🔴⚫️ When: Thursday April 2nd, 7-9 pm ⏰ How: £3 tickets / PWYC Poster by @ben_brumpton 🖋️ The 1 in 12 Club Library 21-23 Albion Street Bradford West Yorkshire BD1 2LY 2 Apr 2026 Click to visit the More Song website PUBLISHED Click to visit the More Song website Beehive Poets Open mic group. With guest reader First Friday of the Month. 7pm to 9pm City Library Bradford, 9 Aldermanbury, The Broadway, Bradford, BD1 1SD 3 Apr 2026 Click to go to Beehive Poets Facebook page PUBLISHED Click to go to Beehive Poets Facebook page Under the Lobby Lights Spoken Word Night. Open Mic. plus guests: Katy Mahon Julia Deakin Susan Butler email: underthelobbylights@gmail.com to book an open mic slot From 7.30pm The Lobby 1867, Westgate Wakefield 8 Apr 2026 Click to visit Under the Lobby Lights Insta page PUBLISHED Click to visit Under the Lobby Lights Insta page 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. 7pm to 10.30pm Hinterland Alcohol-Free Bar and Café 16-20 Turner Street Manchester M4 1DZ 9 Apr 2026 Click to visit the Hinterland Eventbrite page PUBLISHED Click to visit the Hinterland Eventbrite page Well Spoken Open mic spoken word evening. As the Brewery is closed it is taking part on the third Thursday this month. With guest poet Bob Beagrie Doncaster Brewery 7 Young Street Doncaster DN1 3EL 9 Apr 2026 Click to visit the Well Spoken website PUBLISHED Click to visit the Well Spoken website Poets Talking Bollocks Poetry Open Mic With Keith Fenton & Aqeel Parvez Plus guests and open mic 2.15pm to 5.15pm The Chemic Tavern (Woodhouse) 9 Johnson Street Leeds, LS6 2NG 12 Apr 2026 Click to visit Open Mic Instagram page PUBLISHED Click to visit Open Mic Instagram page Grand Plans Event by Sarah L Dixon Special guest: Matt Nicholson form Hull and open mic 6.15pm to 8pm 139 Lane Top, Linthwaite, Huddersfield, United Kingdom, HD7 5SG 12 Apr 2026 Click to visit Grand Plans Facebook page PUBLISHED Click to visit Grand Plans Facebook page Soundbites SOUNDBITES – Monthly Poetry Open Mic Readings by a different local published poet each month and this month it’s Kev the Poet. Kev The Poet was born in Liverpool and began writing poetry in the early 90’s, after reading The Mersey Poets and a bout of unrequited love. He began again in 2022 as a response to the incipient rise of fascism. His work has been called poems of ‘angst, disdain and scorn, but also heart, honesty and humanity’ ‘passion, politics and a pen that pulls no punches’ and ‘sharp, soulful and utterly unmissable’. He has appeared on BBC Radio 2, BBC Devon/Cornwall GWS Radio, Express FM and contributes a weekly poem to Shaun Keavney’s show on Community Garden Radio. He has also been published in the US poetry magazine Shine and Manchester’s Urban Scrawl, which is devoted to poetry, stories, art and photography about cities. OPEN MIC We supply the mic – you supply the poetry Put your name down for a 4 minute slot (first come, first served) or just come along and listen. Open mic name listing from 6.30pm Event begins with guest poet at 7.00pm Everyone welcome. Free entry (donation appreciated) Heart Assembly Bar + Kitchen, Headingley Arts Centre 9 Bennett Road Leeds LS6 3HN 13 Apr 2026 Click to visit Soundbites' Facebook page PUBLISHED Click to visit Soundbites' Facebook page 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 Apr 2026 Click to visit The Collaboration's Eventbrite page PUBLISHED Click to visit The Collaboration's Eventbrite page Albert Poets The Albert Poets’ readings are back on 15th April at 7.30pm to 22.00pm. Reading are: to be confirmed Wednesday 15 April 2026 The Rat And Ratchet, 40, Chapel Hill, Huddersfield, HD1 3EB 15 Apr 2026 Click to visit Albert Poets website PUBLISHED Click to visit Albert Poets website Cloth and Coal Poetry and spoken word Crank Studios 1 Beryl Burton Gardens Morley LS27 9FN (Note the picture shows the date for the last event, this event is on 23 April 2026) 23 Apr 2026 Click to visit the Cloth and Coal Instagram page PUBLISHED Click to visit the Cloth and Coal Instagram page Monthly Poetry Night Bring your poems to read and share. Bring your friends to come and listen. 7.30pm to 10pm Admission free In the upstairs room of The Empress 10 Church Square, Harrogate. HG1 4SP (Due to Easter, there is no April meeting) (Note the picture is advertising March's event) 4 May 2026 No online page PUBLISHED No online page Regular events in the Leeds area and beyond! (Scroll down for events in Bradford, Doncaster, Halifax, Harrogate, Huddersfield, Hull, Manchester, Masham, Rotherham, Salford, Scarborough, Sheffield, Sowerby Bridge, Todmorden, Wakefield and York) 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 Brave Words Storytelling Our storytelling nights aren’t about well-honed, perfect performances. You don’t need to be a performer at all to share authentic experiences from your life. Hoc Loco, Horsforth, LS18 4QB Third Thursday of the month. Next meeting: 17th March 7,30pm, see above / link. Write Club : Creative prompts to get you writing in a supportive creative writing group led by a professional poet and playwright' Open to all levels of experience! Online Monthly; first Wednesday of the month, 6pm to 7pm. Next meeting 1st April, 2026, see above In person - Weekly on Mondays, 11 am -12.30pm. Next meeting: 16th March 2026, see above Space2, The Old Fire Station, Gipton Approach, Leeds, LS9 6NL Links: www.bravewords.co.uk The Bookish Type Writes Queer Indie Bookshop in Leeds with writing time events The Bookish Type, 77a Great George Street, LS1 3BR Next event: 26th March, 2026, 6.30pm to 8.30pm. £5 (Sold Out) Links: Instagram , The Bookish Type - Independent Queer Bookshop in Leeds Cardigan Arms Open Mic Open mic. This is mostly music based. The Cardigan Arms, 364 Kirkstall Road, Leeds, LS4 2HQ Second & fourth Monday of the month, 7.30pm for 3 hours. 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 Next Meeting: 29th March 2026, 7.15pm for a 7.45pm start. See above and links. Links: Faceboo k ; organiser Joe Williams’ website Cloth & Coal Poetry and spoken word open mic Crank Studios, 1 Beryl Burton Gardens, Morley, LS27 9FN Every other month; the third Thursday, 8pm. Next meeting 23 April, 2026, see above. Links: Instagram Crooner Club Open mic Bridge End Social Monthly: 3rd Thursday of the month Links: Bridge End Social , I nstagram Head of Steam, Mill Hill (Leeds) Open Mic Night - Got a song to share? A poem? A few tunes you’ve been dying to try out live? Come down to Head of Steam, Mill Hill tonight for our open mic! All abilities welcome - whether it’s your first time on stage or you’re a seasoned performer. (This event has more of a music bias.) Head of Steam, 6-7 Park Row, Leeds, LS1 5HN 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month, sign up 7pm for 8pm start. See above. Links: Leeds - Park Row | Head of Steam Hyde Park Book Club Lots of music, comedy and poetry events. Check the link for the latest. Open Mic for music and poetry. Last open mic meeting: 20 February 2026. Links: Hyde Park Book Club 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, from 7pm to 8pm. Next meeting: 28th April 2026 on Zoom. Book choice 'Self-Portrait as Othello' Jason Allen-Paisant Links: Instagram Manthology Join our free sessions with writing prompts, word games, feedback (optional), and more... Open to anyone who identifies as make and over 18. Thursdays 5 to 6.30pm Please can you add to call Maz prior to attending - number is 0 7 4 8 - 4 9 1 1 1 4 1 Also 3 short forms need completing but can be done on first group. Dewsbury Road Community Hub,190 Dewsbury Road, LS11 6PF Next Meeting: 19th March, 2026 Links: Dewsbury Road community hub | Leeds.gov.uk , Being You Leeds Wellbeing Fun Groups Activities Weekly timetable The National Poetry Centre The National Poetry Centre exists to provide a national home for poetry in the UK – connecting people from all backgrounds and cultures to poetry. The new centre is due to be opened in Leeds in 2029. For events see the links. National Poetry Centre address is 169B Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9JT Links: National Poetry Centre, Leed s , Facebook , Instagram Northlight Arts Centre, Café and Event Space 31 Potternewton Lane, Leeds, LS7 3LW Write Now: 1st and 3rd Friday of each month there is a meet up for creative writing at 2.00pm to 4.00pm. Next meeting: 20th March 2026, 3rd and 17th April 2026. see above. Links: Classes in Leeds — Northlight Open Mind Unplugged open mic Previously Canalside Community Music Space Weekly; Wednesdays from 7.30pm. Next meeting: Awaiting new location Links: Facebook Links: Otley Poets website Otley Poets Otley Poets run three groups: 1) Open mic + occasional guest poet The Fleece, Westgate, Otley LS21 3DT Monthly; first Thursday of the month, 19.30 hours to 21.30 hours Next meeting: 2nd April 2026, see above. 2) Other Poets Meets to read and discuss the work of published poets The Fleece, Westgate, Otley LS21 3DT + online (via Zoom) Monthly; second Thursday 3) Otley Poetry Gym An informal group offering constructive criticism on poetry work in progress The Fleece, Westgate, Otley LS21 3DT Monthly; third Thursday of the month Links: Otley Poets website , Otley Poets | Facebook Otley Stanza Discuss all things poetical and sometimes have special events, readings etc. Otley Courthouse About every two months Links: Otley Poets Website Pen Power! Creative Writing Workshops with D3 The Wardrobe, 6 Saint Peter's Square, Leeds LS9 8AH Next meeting: 26th March 18.30 hours, see above and the link. £8.83-£15. Links: Pen Power Tickets,Eventbrite Poetic Off Licence A space for poetry & live music in Leeds Holding Patterns 2A Albion Place, LS1 6JL Next meeting: 16th March, 2026, from 7pm, see above and the link. 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, 2.15pm to 5.15pm Next meeting 12th April, 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. Open mic list begins at 6.30pm for a 7pm start. Next meeting 13th April, see above and link. Links: Facebook Wordspace Monthly Variety Open Mic. For Prose, Poetry, Comedy, Music. all sorts. THE BREWERY TAP 143 NEW ROAD SIDE LS18 4QD Monthly; first Wednesday of the month. Next meeting 1st April, 2026, 7.30pm - 9.30pm see above Links: Facebook Other Events in Yorkshire Events in Bradford (10.52 miles from central Leeds)* Aletheia Creative Writing Group with Elizabeth Taj-Radice Bradford Quaker Meeting House, 9 Russell Street, Bradford BD5 0JB Next meeting: 13th March, 2026, 7pm to 10pm. see above/link. Links: Aletheia Creative Writing Group-On | Eventbrite Beehive Poets Open mic group. City Library Bradford, 9 Aldermanbury, The Broadway, Bradford, BD1 1SD First Friday of the Month. Next meeting: 3rd April 2026, 7pm to 9pm, see above and link. Links: Beehive Poets | Facebook Bradford Open Mic Share your words or just listen. And if you're feeling brave take part in the Timed Poetry Challenge! Write a poem of 60sec or 30sec to take part in the Timed Poetry Challenge. 7pm to 9pm City Library Bradford, 9 Aldermanbury, The Broadway, Bradford, BD1 1SD First Wednesday of the Month. Next meeting 1st April, 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 details. Last meeting: 13th February 2026 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: 2nd April 2026, 7pm to 9pm, see above. 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, 47 Bradford Rd, Shipley, BD18 3DS 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, 47 Bradford Rd, Shipley, BD18 3DS Monthly. Last Wednesday of the month. Next meeting 25th March 2026, see above Links: RhubarbWriters.co.uk , Facebook Urdu Shurdu Share Urdu poetry with the aim of improving, vocabulary, reading and writing skills and sharing the love of Urdu poetry. Transliteration in English available for all poems shared. Chaiiwala, 854 Leeds Road, Bradford, BD3 9TX Next meeting: 26th March 2026, see above Links: See poster above for contact details. Events in Wakefield (12.21 miles from central Leeds) CoffeeWrite Your Local Creative Coffee Shop 4 Marygate, Wakefield, WF1 1NX Check the link poetry events held including a Women's Poetry Group Links: CoffeeWrite Wakefield – Wakefield's Only Creative Coffee Shop Jackanory 2 hour open mic spoken word event CoActive Maker Space, The Ridings, Almhouse Lane, Wakefield, WF1 1DS Contact: jackanory12 @ my.yahoo.com Next meeting: 28th March 2026 Links: Facebook , Jackanory (in the merrie city) - YouTube Soul Shed Music Poetry and comedy WX Wakefield Exchange, Union Street, Wakefield, WF1 3AD Monthly. Last meeting 21 Feb 2026 Links: see updates at Welcome to 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 8th April, 2026, from 7.30pm, see above and the link. Links: Instagram Events in Harrogate (15.74 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 . Contact Ray Black (see link). Admission free. First Monday of the month, 7.30pm to 10pm Last meeting 4 May 2026, see above and link. . Links: Facebook Events in Halifax (17.05 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 Sowerby Bridge (19.85 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 Last meeting: 9th January, 2026. Links: EVENTS | SOUL Wellness Hub & Café Events in Huddersfield (20.6 miles from central Leeds) Albert Poets The Albert Poets’ readings are back. More events planned. The Rat And Ratchet,40, Chapel Hill,Huddersfield,HD1 3EB Next Meeting: 15th April 2026, 7.30pm to 10pm, see above and the link. Links: Facebook Grand Plans Open mic spoken word - poetry, prose, creative non-fiction, travel & music writing, plays , comedy etc. 5 minute spots. The Sair Inn, 139 Lane Top, Linthwaite, Huddersfield, United Kingdom, HD7 5SG Every second Sunday. 6.15 pm to 8pm. Next Meeting 12th April 2026, see above and the link. Links: Facebook 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, 7pm to 10pm. Next Meeting 20th March 2026, see above and the link. Links: Facebook , Instagram Events in York (24.91 miles from central Leeds) Folk and Word Welcomes writers and wordful acoustic musicians who'd like to share their work in a warm and appreciative environment. We'll invite a writer and a musician to be co-hosts each month, and they'll bring a guest to perform as well. Then the floor is open to everyone for an open mic session (sign up from 7 pm). Upstairs at The Artful Dodger, York, YO1 6LJ Every third Thursday, sign up for 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Next meeting: 19th March, 2026, see above, and the link. Links: EVENTS | SOUL Wellness Hub & Café Events in Todmorden (28.5 miles from central Leeds) GobSh!te A literary community and monthly spoken word open mic at the iconic Golden Lion, Todmorden. Golden Lion, Fielden Square, Todmorden, West Yorkshire, OL14 6LZ Last Wednesday of the month, 7.30pm start. Next meeting: 25th March, 2026 Links: Facebook Events in Rotherham (34.3 miles from central Leeds) Spread the Word Spread the Word is about creating a safe space to share stories and begin to express those stories through talking, listening and writing. No prior experience is needed, and if you are thinking “I can’t write” then this space might be just for you. Writing sessions and Open Mic Wath Tap Pub, Rotherham, S63 7QB Next open mic meeting: 24th March, 2026, 8pm to 10.30pm. See above and the link. Links: Spread the Word - Flux Rotherham Events in Doncaster (34.5 miles from central Leeds) Well Spoken Spoken Word Event 2nd Thursday of the month Next meeting: 9th April, 2026, see above and the link. Links: Doncaster Brewery | Well Spoken Events in Sheffield (36.9 miles from central Leeds) Bar One Poetry Open Mic T wo hours of creative writing, sharing (optional) and discussion with Valente, Lynda Harrison and Louise Beech. Bar One, Sheffield Students' Union, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TG Third Tuesday of every month,5.30 to 7.30pm, Next meeting 17 March, 2026. Links: Bar One Poetry Open Mic Night tickets | FoundrySU Events in Masham (45.33 miles from central Leeds) Happy House Poetry Night Bring a poem or two - your own or your favourites Share them with your fellow poets & poetry lovers. If you’d like you can bring something to drink (we’re not licensed). The Gallery, 24 Market Place, Masham HG4 4EB Next Meeting : 17 March 2026,7.30pm to 9pm, see above and the link. Links: Happy House Poetry Night - In Person Ticket Tickets, Tuesday, Mar 17 from 7:30 pm to 9 pm | Eventbrite Events in Hull (61.66 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 (66.15 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 Third Sunday in the month, 5pm to 7.30pm. Next Meeting: 22nd March, 2026 (A bit later to avoid Mother's Day.) Links: Facebook Other Events Outside Yorkshire Events in Salford (44.72 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 30th March 2026, 7.30pm to 9.30pm, see above and the link. Links: VerboseMCR Events in Manchester (45.38 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: 12th March 2026. 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: 19th April 2026, see above and the link. Links: Facebook - Hinterland , Hinterland Poe and the linkets + 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, 7.30pm to 9.30pm. Writing Group 6pm to 7pm. Next meeting: 25 March 2026, see above and the link. Links: The Space Poetic Writing Club Tickets, Wed 25 Feb 2026 at 18:00 | Eventbrite , Instagram Also see: New Year: New Poetry Workshops - by Rachael Hill 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: Eventbrite | Discover Poetry Events & Activities in Leeds This links to a search for poetry events in Leeds, but you can use the search button for wherever you like Open Mic Finder This mostly covers music nights at present, but technically covers poetry nights, too Open Mics in Sheffield | Facebook Again mostly music events 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 Happy House Masham Events - 11 Upcoming Activities and Tickets | Eventbrite 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 Online Poetry Workshops Again, there are online poetry workshops, I will add to this list as I find them. Here is the links to the ones I know about. These will require an advance ticket, and have small fee. Becky's Writing Hour Tickets, Multiple dates | Eventbrite BRAVE WORDS Poetry Workshop Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite 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). Very many thanks to all the event organisers who have trusted me with their information and allowed me to post it on this page. * Mileage between Leeds and other places using land transport according to the tool How Far Is It Between Most recent update: 13th March 2026

Bob reads a number of current poetry magazines, poetry books, and poetry pamphlets / chapbooks. This page show's Bob's current reading list, which will include some archive magazines and books, too. Home Leeds Poetry Events Poetry Online Poets Wordy Word Words About Bob Contact Search Please Read Items More Current Reading Please click on the book or magazine to get your own copy from the publisher's site (unless stated) These are the books and magazines I am currently reading: Current book: ''Dragons! Nick Toczek This link you to worldofbooks.com Next book: "An Arbitrary Light Bulb" Ian Duhig Leeds Stanza choice August 2025 Collection: "Poems 2016-2024" J.H. Prynne Plus the usual regular subscriptions: Acumen Poetry Book Society Magma Poetry Poetry London the North The Poetry Review Pennine Platform The Rialto And the other current poetry reads: To help me focus, and get started with my poetry reading I like to start with a couple of daily read books. The Daily Read: "Shakespeare For Every Day of the Year" Edited by Allie Esiri This link you to worldofbooks.com The Anthology Read: "Poets of the English Language Vol. 1 Langland to Spenser" Ed. W. H. Auden and Norman Holmes Pearson. Links to Abe Books The Book About Poetry/Poets Read: "Life Saving. Why We Need Poetry" Josephine Hart Borrowed from Leeds Library The Shakespeare Read: ''1599 A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare' James Shapiro These are the last dozen poetry books I have most recently completed: "Me and My Poems" Nick Toczek ''No Coward Soul Is Mine" Emily Brontë Leeds Stanza choice July 2025 "All the Good Things You Deserve" Elaine Feeney Audio eBook read by the author borrowed from Leeds Library "Zonal Don Paterson Leeds Stanza Choice May 2025 Re-read ''The Carrying' Ada Limón Leeds Stanza choice June 2025 "Signs, Music" Raymond Antrobus "The Owl and the Nightingale" Simon Armitage (Re-read) Audio eBook read by the author borrowed from Leeds Library "egg/shell" Victoria Kennefick "Midden Witch" Fiona Benson "The Wickedest" Caleb Femi Leeds Stanza choice April 2025 'Love is Stronger than Death: Mary Magdalene and the Insurrection of Jesus' Fran Lock "Hansel & Gretel" Simon Armitage And the last dozen pamphlets / chapbooks: (Well eight so far) "Computer Dreams" Anna Cathenka "Ariadne" Poetry by Fiona Benson Illustrated by Judith Eyal "Takeaway" Georgie Woodhead' "Heartwood" Mary Thomson "Bad Sermons" Luke Kennard "Ten Poems from Scotland" Selected by Don Paterson "Forever Alive" Fran Lock "Ten Poems from the Countryside" Selected by and introduced by Seán Hewitt Last complete update 7 August 2025

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www.bobandpoetry.com is site which brings together links to poetry sites all around the world, and well as news of live poets, open mic, and spoken word events and opportunities available in Leeds and the surrounding area. It lists links to poetry news, poets, poetry podcasts, poetry magazines, poetry publishers, poetry competitions, and poetry and literature festivals, and offers 20 poetry things that you could do today! Welcome to Bob's Poetry Page For ONLINE poetry links please Click Here Click Here For LIVE poetry events happening in the LEEDS area please See twenty poetry things that you could do TODAY! Enjoy your visit and do get in touch! Click Here

Poetry Podcasts List Poets Talking Bollocks Keith Fenton and Acqueel Parvez discuss poetry, performance, and the open mic scene. Click here to visit podcast webpage Gobsh!te A Mostly Poetry Podcast Interviewing poets and writers who have previously read at the Gobshite Spoken Word Open Mic held at the Golden Lion in Todmorden Click here to visit podcast webpage Demystifying Poetry Join poetry prof Tara Stubbs (Oxford) as she talks all things poetry with poets, educators, anthologists and even ‘poetry pharmacists’. In each podcast, Tara asks her guests about their relationships with poetry, their favourite poets, and the ways they use poetry to think about wider issues that relate to the world we live in. The conversations are informal and wide-ranging, but they all try to ‘demystify’ poetry – challenging and removing some of the barriers to poetry that we often find in education, community and society. Click here to visit podcast webpage Of Poetry Podcast Kitchen conversations with poets Click here to visit podcast webpage Between the Covers Between the Covers, 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. Click here to visit podcast webpage This is a coming feature, which is under construction. Please do contact me if you would like me to add your podcast. Equally do inform me if you would like me to remove your podcast from this page. I have used my photographs that I have taken of the countryside in Yorkshire. This is to get around copyright. I would be happy to replace this with a picture you believe represents your podcast more accurately. Most recent update 27/02/2026

Some poetry websites have a great YouTube page. Follow these links to see some great poetry being read by the poets themselves, book launches, open mics, book readings, poetry films, and programmes about poetry. Please get in touch if you want Bob to add your poetry YouTube page. Regularly checked for broken links. Poetry on YouTube Click: Bob and Poetry.com: Short poetry clips - YouTube Updated regularly Click: Longer clips such as readings and films. Updated regularly The YouTube Channels Here are some the YouTube Channels worth visiting: Once you go to the Channel's page choose the 'Videos' option to see the upload archive. A-Z Putting poets under their surnames looked wrong, so the alphabetisation begins with the Channel's name, not the poet's. Alchemy Spoon 'A new poetry magazine for 2021.' Presently shows the magazine's four launches. A Love In Verse 'Every day for 25 years Peter wrote Alison a poem and put it under her pillow. Alison died in 2016 Peter spent six months sorting through more than 8500 poems and made a selection. These can be found at aloveinverse.com. He continues to write for her.' Anurag Jain Anurag Jain: My channel is to help students revise GCSE and A-Level English. Bamboo Dart Press Bamboo Dart Press is a collaboration between independent publishing company Pelekinesis and independent record company Shrimper. This collaboration will publish a series of unique chapbooks starting in 2021, each accompanied by a short video. Batsirai E Chigama 'Batsirai E Chigama is a name largely associated with spoken word is Zimbabwe. Her work is featured in several poetry anthologies in USA, England and New Zealand.' Bloodaxe Books Bloodaxe Books YouTube channel. Button Poetry 'Button Poetry is a Minnesota-based organization dedicated to developing a coherent and effective system of production, distribution, promotion and fundraising for performance poetry.' Cambridge Literary Review 'The CLR is a UK-based magazine, publishing poetry, stories, essays, and criticism since 2009, with a focus on the avant-garde.' Carcanet Press 'Videos from an award-winning independent literary publisher of modern and classic poetry in English and in translation for over fifty years.' Caroline Hardaker Poet. Chill Pill Shorts A collection of poems from Chill Pill, one of London's finest spoken word collectives. Featuring: Mr Gee (host of Radio 4's Bespoken Word and Rhyme and Reason), Raymond Antrobus, Deanna Rodger, Simon Mole and Adam Kammerling, Chuck the Poet Chuck the Poet is a purveyor of short snappy, some times snippy, sharp witted poems. Themes include bodily fluids, insects and cheese! Most poems end in a punchline. Chuck has circumnavigated the planet, has twenty five years of broadcasting experience. He watches local football, wears socks and prefers the music that no one else likes. Clare's Poetry Circle (Clare Pollard poet) 'Join #ClaresPoetryCircle every Monday 11am GMT for a free, short poetry workshop and exercise. Clare Pollard is a poet, reader and teacher. Latest poetry collection: Incarnation (Bloodaxe).' Coarsemarvelous Videos of poetry being read by the authors. Darren J Beaney 'Me reading some of my poems. I am part of a collective that host a bi-monthly spoken word night in Brighton - Flight of the Dragonfly. I have had poems published by The Hedgehog Poetry Press, Indigo Dreams Publishing, Parthian Books, Dempsey & Windle, Poetry NI, Four Parts Press & The Angry Manifesto.' He has a hamster called Hamirez. Doctor G 'Adventures in the arts.' DREICH VID CHANNEL The visual arm of the Driech universe Edward Thomas Literary Festival Petersfield Museum's YouTube page has a number of videos from the Edward Thomas Felloiwship including the Literary Festival in 2021 Faber and Faber 'Faber and Faber is one of the great independent publishing houses in London. We were established in 1929 by Geoffrey Faber and our first editor was T. S. Eliot. We are proud to publish prize-winning fiction and non-fiction, as well as an unrivalled list of modern poets and playwrights.' Fay Roberts 'Mostly poetry, music, and stuff I find interesting.' Fly On The Wall Press The YouTube channel of Fly On The Wall Press. Fowler Poetry (SJ Fowler poet) Over 2000 videos of contemporary literary and experimental poetry, based around the curatorial and performance work of SJ Fowler www.stevenjfowler.com . This channel has been running for over a decade, documenting the great energy of 21st century live poetries, based in London.' Get Fresh Books - Roberto Garcia 'Get Fresh Books LLC is a cooperative press, where our authors, editors, and the publisher create and pursue a vision for the writer's work. I'm frustrated by the poetry book contest system, the near impossibility of landing a literary agent, and the constant fees for submitting. My goal is to run a publishing press where the publisher and the author work together to edit, publish, promote, and contribute to the literary conversation.' The Gloucestershire Poetry Society 'This is the official brand channel for The Gloucestershire Poetry Society. We provide an all-inclusive space for poets, writers and spoken word performers to share their work, learn through peer support, general and critical workshop and take part in online and offline event and festivals.' The Greek Neek A channel intended to help all Greek to GCSE students out there doing the OCR course. Particular focus on grammar and language past paper walkthroughs. More recently, Ted Hughes poetry analysis! Griffin Poetry Prize 'The Griffin Poetry Prize is Canada's most generous poetry award. It was founded in 2000 by businessman and philanthropist Scott Griffin. The awards go to one Canadian and one international poet who writes in the English language. Each winner receives $65,000 (Cdn).' Hay Festival 'Hay Festival brings readers and writers together to share stories and ideas in sustainable events around the world. The festivals inspire, examine and entertain, inviting participants to imagine the world as it is and as it might be.' Home Stage - YouTube 'Our mission is to bring folk music and poetry to a new generation, making it accessible to all. With support from well-known names in the folk and poetry worlds we showcase talented, undiscovered artists through regular streamed programmes, live events, podcasts, festivals and tours. Using regular Zoom discussion groups we engage the growing creative community.' Ilkley Literature Festival 'Typically, Ilkley Literature Festival is held over 17 days at the start of October in this miniature Victorian spa town at the foot of Ilkley Moor – surrounded by beautiful countryside. The Festival is supported by Arts Council England and Bradford Metropolitan Council and is proud to have University of Leeds Cultural Institute as our Higher Education Partner.' Jackanory (in the merrie city) - YouTube Host of Jackanory. Facilitator of Women's poetry group. Jerwood Compton Poetry Takeover For Autumn 2020 we invited the Jerwood Compton Poetry Fellows to take over the Jerwood Arts channels. The Fellows for this edition Hafsah Aneela Bashir , Anthony Joseph and Yomi Sode , celebrated the end of a year of mentorship, reflection and development through the Fellowship programme with a new digital programme of online events, content and social media takeovers. Kae Tempest 'This is Kae Tempest's channel, where you can see performances and videos.' The Keats and Shelly House 'The museum, located at the foot of the Spanish Steps in Rome, Italy, was the last home of John Keats and contains the rooms in which he lived and died in the winter of 1820-1821.' Kelsay Books 'Kelsay Books publishing chapbooks and full-length poetry collections.' Kids’ Poems and Stories With Michael Rosen 'This is the official Michael Rosen video channel. All videos and playlists on this channel have been approved by Michael Rosen and are safe to watch.' 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. Lannan hosts a series of love events each year in Santa Fe, New Mexico.' Lighthouse Writers Workshop 'A nonprofit literary center and beacon for readers and writers in Colorado and beyond.' Live Canon Poetry For fourteen 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. Magma Poetry Magma Poetry's YouTube channel. Michelle Moloney King Experimental poet and visual poet. Editor of Beir Bua Journal. Likes to ask questions with poets, editors, readers, and maybe share some of my own work. Co. Tipperary, Ireland. Mr Tobin Leaving Cert English 'I am an English teacher making revision videos and materials for the Leaving and Junior Cert exams.' MPT Magazine MPT Magazine's YouTube channel National Poetry Day 'National Poetry Day is a mass annual celebration that brings people together to enjoy, share and discover poetry on the first Thursday in October.' New Writing North Video content by New Writing North, the literature development agency for the north of England Ó Bhéal - YouTube Festival reviews and videos from 2007 to the present can be found here. (Also See Welcome to Ó Bhéal - Fáilte go dtí Ó Bhéal) The On Being Project - YouTube 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. OrangeApple Press - YouTube OrangeApple is a small press run between Scotland and Canada, founded and edited by T.Person and Meredith Grace Thompson. Pat Boran 'Pat Boran is an Irish poet, living and working in Dublin. He is the author of more than a dozen books of poetry and prose, many of them translated into other languages. He has worked as a presenter of poetry programmes on radio, as a creative writing tutor and as a literary editor.' The YouTube page has his poetry films. Poem Analysis 'Are you a fan of poetry or just curious and drawn to learn more? Well, you’re at the right place. Here are ten cool, fun and interesting facts about poetry that will intrigue and ignite your interest.' Poet in the City 'Poet in the City exists to explore how poetry can develop understandings of complex socio-political issues. We do this through producing an ambitious programme of multi-disciplinary events and commissioning projects that bring poets and communities closer together.' Poetry Archive 'The Poetry Archive is a not-for-profit organisation that makes and acquires recordings of poets from around the English-speaking world and makes substantial excerpts from them freely available online.' Poetry Book Society 'Set up by T S Eliot and friends in 1953 ‘to propagate the art of poetry’, the Poetry Book Society is a unique poetry society, providing information, reviews and discounts on the best contemporary poetry for an international community of readers.' Poetry London 'Poetry London is an arts charity and leading international poetry magazine where acclaimed contemporary poets share pages with exciting new names. Published three times a year in February, May and September, each issue contains new poetry, incisive reviews and features.' The Poetry Society (vimeo.com) '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. It publishes the leading poetry magazine, Poetry Review.' Poetry Translate The Poetry Translation Centre gives the best poems from Africa, Asia and Latin America a new life in the English language, working with diaspora communities for whom poetry is of great importance. Poets & Players Poets & Players was started in 2004 by poet Linda Chase (who died in 2011) with Musical Director Chris Davies and is run by volunteers. It is known for its programming of complementary arts — poetry with music, dance and visual art, in Manchester, UK. All the events are free to attend. Poets and Writers International Studio - Don Krieger See videos for recordings of the past Poets and Writers International Conclave. Poets.org (Academy of American Poets) 'The Academy of American Poets is a non-profit organization with a mission to support American poets at all stages of their careers and to foster the appreciation of contemporary poetry. Our membership is nearly 9,000 strong and growing.' Pop Up Poet 'Meet The Voices After Dark Interviewing poetry night hosts and the poets themselves. Finding out what they feel and why they write?' Puzzle Poetry Puzzle Hall Poets is one of West Yorkshire’s longest running monthly spoken word events. We meet every first Monday each month (with the exception of Bank Holidays in which case it’s 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 Rattle Poetry 'Rattle is a publication of the Rattle Foundation, an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the practice of poetry, and is not affiliated with any other organization.' Sign up to join in the Rattlecasts, which are all later archived on this page. The Reader 'We are the pioneers of Shared Reading – a simple idea that changes lives. By bringing people together to read great literature aloud we are improving well-being, reducing social isolation and building stronger communities across the UK and beyond. We want to make Shared Reading so widespread that everyone, can access one of our groups.' Royal Society For Arts 'We are RSA. The royal society for arts, manufactures and commerce. We unite people and ideas to resolve the challenges of our time.' Salmon Poetry (Fergus Tighe's channel) Look at the videos to see the Salmon Poetry Garden, Ennisymon, County Clare Saqi Books 'Saqi Books are a publishing house based in Bayswater, West London where they've been creating international fiction and non-fiction titles across three imprints - Saqi, Telegram and the Westbourne Press - since 1983. Championing minority voices and progressive thinkers from the start, Saqi means 'waterseller' in Arabic.' Sandra Rennie Re-purposing, Re-imagining and Reviving with Art SarahJamespoet The poet, Sarah James Sasha Volokh (See his playlist Sasha Reads) Every Monday Sasha reads a classic poem which is added to his playlist. Seamus Heaney HomePlace 'Seamus Heaney HomePlace, Bellaghy. A home for inspiration, echoing the life, literature and legacy of Seamus Heaney, poet, Nobel Laureate and one of Ireland's literary greats.' Sheaf Poetry 'Sheaf Poetry Festival is an annual poetry festival based in Sheffield, UK. We bring exciting poetry events to Sheffield as well as celebrating the city's brilliant & vibrant poetry scene.' Stay-At-Home! Literary Festival 'A digital event that brings together writers and readers to celebrate their love of books, without judgement or criticism. Now in its second year, the festival hosts workshops, panels, readings and talks. Here you can watch recordings of #SAHLF2021 events.' Steve Pottinger (poet) 'Here is where you'll find videos of some of (his) poems. I hope you enjoy them. If you do, please, share them with your friends.' Studio 3 Arts Barking 'Studio 3 Arts is a non-profit organisation that puts local people at the centre of everything that we do. Our mission is to be ambitious and create brilliant, challenging, relevant work that acknowledges and responds to the barriers that prevent arts participation.' S ee the open mic poetry podcasts. Sue Finch Sue Finch is a poet. She loves all kinds of coasts, peculiar things and the scent of ice-cream freezers. Tom Priestley - YouTube Poet based in Leeds. T.S. Eliot Prize Check out the videos and playlists of the many poets who have been shortlisted for the prize, reading their own poetry. UCD Press 'Publishers of the best contemporary non-fiction writing. Peer-reviewed for academic excellence. North American sales, marketing and distribution representation with University of Chicago Press' VerseCycle (Ecopoetry) 'Caroline Burrows @VerseCycle is a writer of poetry, prose: fiction and non-fiction, thematically ranging from cycling; trying to be environmentally friendly; comedy, fairy tales, love and heartbreak; and mental health.' VerseFirst VerseFirst is a Media project, dedicated to showing the world the best of what West Midlands Poetry has to offer. Via our YouTube Channel, VF Poetry Podcast and The Brand New Poetry Birmingham Literary Journal. Wet Grain Poetry 'Wet Grain is a new journal interested in the lyric grooves that channel and redirect our apprehension of the world and the ideas implacably fankling themselves within it' Writers' Kingston Writer’s 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. YourShelf The official YouTube channel for YourShelf, The YourShelf Podcast and The YourShelf Press. P.S. Not a YouTube site, but for many links to poetry in film - see Moving Poems | The best poetry videos on the web Last minor update 5 March 2026