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Discover and explore Leeds Poetry Events and find more events across Yorkshire and beyond! List includes poets' readings, open mics, competitions and poetry opportunities. See what is on tonight and coming up over the next few weeks. Regular event details given for Leeds: in Burley, city centre, Headingley, Horsforth, Ilkley, Morely, Otley, & Woodhouse, as well as Bradford, Halifax, Harrogate, Huddersfield, Hull, Scarborough, Sowerby Bridge, Sheffield, Wakefield. Also Manchester and Salford! Leeds Poetry Events Keep scroll downing down for more events See 33 current events listed + 48 regular event details! Please refresh this page to get latest updates! Click on the pictures or the blue buttons to go to the events' websites Writing the North How Creativity Can Help to Make a Healthier Manosphere Each month Keith Fenton, a Leeds-based performance poet, broadcaster and host of Poets Talking Bollocks podcast, explores the events, people and debates shaping literary culture in the North. This month, he reflects on a packed November of poetry events and how they revealed the vital role of vulnerability, awareness around men’s mental health, and connection for creating a healthier Manosphere. 15 Jan 2026 Click to read the article PUBLISHED Click to read the article Urban Scrawl 2nd edition call out! Send your poems / short stories / photos / art on all things urban: towns, cities, buildings, housing. regeneration etc. See how to submit at urbanscrwalmag.c.uk (click the picture) by Friday 16th January 2026. 16 Jan 2026 Click to visit the Urban Scrawl website PUBLISHED Click to visit the Urban Scrawl website Ink Spill #40 Poetry Workshop and Open Mic Ink Spill #40: Poetry Workshop and Open Mic Join us for an evening filled with creativity and poetry at The Head Of Steam, Huddersfield - with a poetry workshop and open mic event where you can showcase your own poetic talents or simply enjoy the beautiful art of spoken word. On Fri 16 January 2026, you are invited to a friendly night of poetry. Whether you're an aspiring poet or a seasoned wordsmith, this event is open to all. So grab your pen, bring your thoughts, and let your words spill onto the page. During the workshop, you'll have the opportunity to write and develop your poetry - inspired by the theme. You'll be introduced to a variety of styles and techniques that will be supported by a variety of activities. Following the workshop and a short hydration break, the stage is yours! Step up to the mic and share your creations with our supportive and enthusiastic community. Or simply sit back, relax, and enjoy the performances of other talented individuals. Whether you're seeking inspiration, looking to connect with fellow poets, or simply want to spend an evening surrounded by poetry, Ink Spill is the place to be! The Head of Steam, Saint George's Square Huddersfield HD1 1JB 16 Jan 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. Northlight Arts Centre 31 Potternewton Lane Leeds LS7 3LW 16 Jan 2026 Click to visit Northlight Arts Centre webpage PUBLISHED Click to visit Northlight Arts Centre webpage Letters to our mothers. An Exhibition 11th to 17th January, 2026 Explore a multidisciplinary exhibition exploring mothers, mother figures and ancestors – curated by Brown Kuri Productions Letters to Our Mothers gathers the voices of South Asian women, trans women, femmes and queer artists to explore their relationships with mothers, mother figures and ancestors. Through visual art, film, photography, sound, spoken word, textiles, movement and performance, Letters to Our Mothers is a powerful archive of tenderness, silence, grief, celebration and everything that lives in between. Each contribution takes the form of a “letter” written, recorded or embodied, offering an intimate response to the women or energies that shaped the artists. These letters may be direct or abstract, ancestral or contemporary, fierce or forgiving. Together, they reveal the emotional landscapes carried across generations and identities within the South Asian diaspora. (Note the photo dates the launch event, which is sold out) Aviva Studios Water Street Manchester M3 4JQ 17 Jan 2026 Click to visit Letters to our mothers webpage PUBLISHED Click to visit Letters to our mothers webpage Wordsmiths Open Mic Poetry, shorts stories & prose. Local writers and . Bring your own writing and join in or just come along and listen Craft Bar, 7 Northway Scarborough YO11 1JH 18 Jan 2026 Click to visit the Craft Bar Facebook page PUBLISHED Click to visit the Craft Bar Facebook page Apply for Roundhouse Poetry Slam 2026 Entries must be in by 19 January 2026, at 10am. Win up to £1,000 and get your work seen! The Roundhouse Poetry Slam 2026 invites UK poets aged 18-25 to perform, get filmed for our 16,000+ subscriber YouTube channel, connect with peers, and receive professional feedback. Free. Heats are taking place in London, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool and online. (No further details on location of heats, but they take place between 23 February and 4 March, 2026.) The Slam Final is at the Roundhouse in London on 9 April 2026. 19 Jan 2026 Online PUBLISHED Online 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 20 Jan 2026 Click to visit the Happy House Eventbrite page PUBLISHED Click to visit the Happy House Eventbrite page Pen Power! Creative Writing Workshops with D3 Join Pen Power for a fun live session where words come alive and creativity flows nonstop! Get ready for an awesome in-person gathering where creativity flows and ideas take flight. Pen Power is the perfect chance to connect, share stories, and unleash your inner wordsmith. Whether you love writing, doodling, or just expressing yourself, this event is all about celebrating the power of the pen. Don’t miss out on a fun, inspiring evening filled with cool people and great vibes. See you there! The focus is on self-expression and poetry, but the activities are designed to spark creativity and build confidence for all kinds of writing. £7.50 first session then £15. Age 18+ Society 14 Swinegate Leeds LS1 4AG 20 Jan 2026 Click to visit the Pen Power! Eventbrite page PUBLISHED Click to visit the Pen Power! Eventbrite page 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 (note the February date is a Wednesday!) 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. Online event 20 Jan 2026 Click to go to the Workshops Eventbrite page PUBLISHED Click to go to the Workshops Eventbrite page Open Mind: Unplugged Open Mic Night. The Wednesday night acoustic night, we keep an open mind so anything goes, music, poetry, comedy. Open Mind, the longest running acoustic Open Mic in Leeds. Music, spoken word, dancing, stand up, magicians and even sword swallowers, anything goes, well it is Open Mind. Totally acoustic unplugged, no amps or mics with house guitars and piano. This is in a separate room from the bar and has a very respectful audience that listens to every word or note. See ya at Canalside every Wednesday, first act at 8pm until around 11.00pm. We are only a 15 minute walk from Leeds Train Station. There’s no need to book a slot, just turn up! Canalside Community Music Space 5 Canal Place Leeds LS12 2DU 21 Jan 2026 Click to see Open Mind's Facebook page PUBLISHED Click to see Open Mind's Facebook page Cloth and Coal Poetry and spoken word Crank Studios 1 Beryl Burton Gardens Morley LS27 9FN 22 Jan 2026 Click to visit the Cloth and Coal Instagram page PUBLISHED Click to visit the Cloth and Coal Instagram page The Bookish Type Join us for an evening of focused writing, experimentation, and play. Aimed at folks who want space to try new things, sow the seeds of some new writing, and develop their creative practice by connecting with queer literary traditions and one another. All profits will be donated to The Sameer Project, a Palestinian-led mutual aid group supporting people in Gaza. Date: Thursday 22nd January 2026 Time: 6.30-8.30pm The Bookish Type 77a Great George Street Leeds LS1 3BR (This appears to be sold out, but I have included it here to raise awareness of possible future events - Bob) 22 Jan 2026 Click to visit the Bookish Type website PUBLISHED Click to visit the Bookish Type website Jackanory A spoken word event with Clive Oseman (comedy poems), Kevin Walker (comedic monologue) and Jake EB (vocalist) (As seen on Netflix 'The Next Act') CoffeeWrite 4 Marygate Wakefield WF1 1NX 24 Jan 2026 Click to visit the CoffeeWrite website PUBLISHED Click to visit the CoffeeWrite website The Poetic Off Licence Presents Burns Night with Rhiannon Hope Doors 5pm - Live Music from 5:30pm This event starts at 8:00pm The Poetic Off-Licence is a Leeds based event that showcases the best of the poetry and music from the city and beyond. They transform some of the most beloved bars and venues around Leeds into a space where poets and performers gather to share their work. For their first event of 2026 they’re hosting the first ever open-mic at The Domino Club, with haggis bites and a cocktail menu curated between The Domino Club & Johnnie Walker. Tonights featured artist is Rhiannon Hope: Weaving odes to jazz greats into tales of the working class experience and stitching gentle twangs into accordion hums, All Things, Rising and Returning marks the debut release from Leeds-based folk artist Rhiannon Hope. The EP nurtures a unique blend of traditional folk and contemporary influences, with Rhiannon looking to the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Aldous Harding for sonic guidance. The resulting sound is at once delicate and deliberate, wistful yet soulful, and, perhaps most of all, timeless. ” Join us for an unforgettable Burns Night experience. The Domino Club Unit 7 Grand Arcade Leeds LS1 6PG 25 Jan 2026 Click to visit the Burns Night Eventbrite page PUBLISHED Click to visit the Burns Night Eventbrite page Verbose MCR Happy 2026 everyone! We are looking forward to another year of words & community. We are back on Monday 26th January and excited to introduce our headliners! Hannah Ledlie Aminah Zaman To enter the draw for a 4 minute open mic slot, please email us on verbosemanchester @ gmail.com between 1st and 6th January. Tickets are pay what you can - link to follow soon in our bio Verbose is one of Manchester's longest running spoken word events, having been born in the suburbs its current regular venue is Kings Arms, Salford. The King's Arms 11 Bloom Street Salford M3 6AN 26 Jan 2026 Click to visit Verbose MCR on Instagram PUBLISHED Click to visit Verbose MCR on Instagram 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! Terrace NQ 43 Thomas Street Manchester M4 1NA 28 Jan 2026 Click to go to the Writers Club Eventbrite page PUBLISHED Click to go to the Writers Club Eventbrite 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). Terrace NQ 43 Thomas Street Manchester M4 1NA 28 Jan 2026 Click to go the Open Mic Instagram page PUBLISHED Click to go the Open Mic Instagram page Chemistry 23: Izzy Brittain, Ralph Dartford and V for Vanadium Chemistry returns to the Chemic on Friday 30 January, with another night of poetry and spoken word, two brilliant headliners and our usual amazing open mic. We’re starting off the year with a brilliant pair of headliners in Ralph Dartford and Izzy Brittain. The events are themed on the elements of the periodic table, so this time it’s element number 23, which is V for Vanadium. The theme is entirely optional, but we hope you might use it as a creative prompt to come up with some new work to reveal on the night. If you want to sign up for the open mic, just ask host Joe Williams for a slot when you arrive. Open mic readers are drawn in a random order from the Box of Mystery, and we’ll keep going till the box is empty. We welcome everyone from first-timers to veteran performers, so if you want to give it a go, please do. Please stick to the time limit of 3 minutes (which includes any introductions and other waffle). Entry is on a pay-as-you-feel basis. If you don’t feel able to pay anything, that’s fine. The guest poets will also have books for sale. No need to book a ticket, just turn up. Doors at 7.15pm for a 7.45pm start. I hope you can join us! The Chemic Tavern 9 Johnston Street Leeds LS6 2NG 30 Jan 2026 Click to visit the Chemistry webpage PUBLISHED Click to visit the Chemistry webpage Leeds Lit Fest A fundraiser for Leeds Lit Fest. It's an open mic MC 'd by Joe Williams. Tickets are £5 (including if you're putting your name down). The Lit Fest receives no funding, and everything raised will go towards the basic costs of the festival. Doors open:18-00 hours See you there. Hyde Park Book Club, 27-29 Headingley Lane Headingley Leeds LS6 1BL 2 Feb 2026 Click to visit the event's See Tickets page PUBLISHED Click to visit the event's See Tickets page WordSpace Open Mic WordSpace is a public performance platform and hub, conceived and managed by @DrAlyal of @LTUEnglish. Publishing annual anthology open to all who attend WordSpace open mics, or are connected with Leeds Trinity University, whether as students or staff, or by attending one of our writing events. Radio, podcasts, writing workshops. Monthly open mic with guest performer first Wednesday of the month at Horsforth Brewery Tap for 9 months of the year. Online open mic. THE BREWERY TAP 143 New Side Road Leeds LS18 4QD 4 Feb 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 ... TELEPHONE City Library Bradford 9 Aldermanbury The Broadway Bradford BD1 1SD 4 Feb 2026 Click to visit the Bradford Open Mic Facebook page PUBLISHED Click to visit the Bradford Open Mic Facebook page More Song with Kimberly Campanello, Ilisha Thiru Purcell and Roma Havers Bradford’s poetry reading series More Song is back for the first event of a full 2026 programme with readings from Kimberly Campanello, Ilisha Thiru Purcell and Roma Havers! ⛓️⛓️💥 Join us for an unforgettable night of poetry, drinks and community on Thursday February 5th 7-9pm at the 1 in 12 Club Library in Bradford City Centre. 🍻📖✨ Expect (re)versions of Dante, poetry of the body, queerness, inheritance, sleep and alternative ways of being. Poetry that lights a fire within you. The 1 in 12 Club Library 21-23 Albion Street Bradford West Yorkshire BD1 2LY 5 Feb 2026 Click to visit the More Song website PUBLISHED Click to visit the More Song website Poets Talking Bollocks Poetry Open Mic With Keith Fenton & Aqeel Parvez Plus guests and open mic The Chemic Tavern (Woodhouse) 9 Johnson Street Leeds, LS6 2NG 8 Feb 2026 Click to visit Open Mic Instagram page PUBLISHED Click to visit Open Mic Instagram page HuddersFringe Festival - Articulate and Ales Join us on for an intimate evening of spoken word with Jackanory, a collective known for powerful storytelling, poetry, and raw, thought-provoking performances. Jackanory brings words to life through stories that are honest, engaging, and often unexpected, creating a welcoming space for both seasoned spoken word fans and first-timers alike. Set in the laid-back atmosphere of The Head of Steam, this is a relaxed hour of live performance. Grab a drink from the bar, settle in, and enjoy an evening of words, voices, and shared moments. Whether you’re there to listen, reflect, or be inspired, this is a beautifully crafted night of live spoken word not to be missed. Head of Steam Saint George's Square Huddersfield HD1 1JB 9 Feb 2026 Click to visit the event's Eventbrite page PUBLISHED Click to visit the event's Eventbrite page Soundbites Poetry Open Mic. Come and join us. 6.30 sign up. 4 mins max per slot. Guest poet Amanda Crundall Heart Assembly Bar + Kitchen, Headingley Arts Centre 9 Bennett Road Leeds LS6 3HN 9 Feb 2026 Click to visit Soundbites' Facebook page PUBLISHED Click to visit Soundbites' Facebook page Lobby Under the Lights Spoken Word Night. Open Mic. The Lobby 1867, Westgate Wakefield 11 Feb 2026 Click to visit Lobby Under the Lights website PUBLISHED Click to visit Lobby Under the Lights website 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. 12th February - Sara Shagufta 26th March - Himanshi Babra Suitable for all ages - all under 18s require a parent or guardian Chaiiwala, 854 Leeds Road Bradford BD3 9TX 12 Feb 2026 There is no website to link to PUBLISHED There is no website to link to Hinterland Poets Open Mic + Guest Poets Join us for a evening of open mic poetry hosted by Dominic Berry with a different Guest Poet each month! Welcome to the Hinterland Poetry Night! Join us for an evening filled with beautiful words, creative minds, and good vibes. Whether you're a seasoned poet or just looking to enjoy some spoken word, this event is for you. Our poetry nights will take place on the 2nd Thursday of each month. Come early to grab a seat, order a drink, and get ready to be inspired by the talented guest and local poets taking the stage. Don't miss out on this opportunity to connect with the local poetry community, share your own work, or simply sit back and enjoy the magic of words. Open Mic will operate on a first come, first signed up basis. Slots will be 3 minutes. Hinterland Alcohol-Free Bar and Café 16-20 Turner Street Manchester M4 1DZ 12 Feb 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. Doncaster Brewery 7 Young Street Doncaster DN1 3EL 12 Feb 2026 Click to visit the Well Spoken website PUBLISHED Click to visit the Well Spoken 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 Feb 2026 Click to visit Bar One Poetry's webpage PUBLISHED Click to visit Bar One Poetry's webpage Soul Shed Soul Shed returns with a night of poetry, music and comedy. Another showcase of a variety of talent, both homegrown and nationally known. From poetry to music to comedy, there's something for everyone. Hosted by Faye Marshall (Cloth and Coal, Morley) and Tim Brookes (Under the Lobby Lights, Wakefield) this night will have you nodding, swaying, laughing and wondering when you can do it all again. Stay tuned for information about our February acts! Wakefield Exchange Union Street Wakefield WF1 3AD 21 Feb 2026 Click to visit Soul Shed's webpage PUBLISHED Click to visit Soul Shed's webpage 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 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 Regular events in the Leeds area (Scroll down for events in Bradford, Halifax, Harrogate, Huddersfield, Hull, Masham, Scarborough, 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 The Bookish Type Writes Queer Indie Bookshop in Leeds with writing time events The Bookish Type, 77a Great George Street, LS1 3BR See link next event details Links: Instagram Cardigan Arms Open Mic Open mic The Cardigan Arms (Burley) Second & fourth Monday of the month Links: Cardigan Arms website Chemic Tavern open mic Open mic for music & spoken word. House guitar and piano available. Free drink for all performers The Chemic Tavern, (Woodhouse: best pub in Leeds) Weekly; Thursday nights Links: Facebook ; Insta Chemistry Featuring headline sets from established and emerging poets, plus an open mic The Chemic Tavern (Woodhouse), 9, Johnson Street, Leeds, LS6 2NG Bi-Monthly; last Friday of every other month, Links: Faceboo k ; organiser Joe Williams’ website Cloth & Coal Poetry and spoken word open mic Crank Studios, 1 Beryl Burton Gardens, Morley, LS27 9FN Every other month; the third Thursday. Next meeting 22nd January, 2026, see above. Links: Instagram Crooner Club Open mic Bridge End Social Monthly: 3rd Thursday of the month Links: Bridge End Social , I nsta Leeds Stanza We are Leeds Stanza-a monthly @thepoetrysociety For details contact Becky (leedsstanza @ gmail.com) Meetings alternate between in-person and Zoom Meet last Tuesday of every month. Links: Instagram 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. For events see the links. National Poetry Centre 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 1st and 3rd Friday of each month there is a meet up for creative writing at 2.00pm to 4.00pm. Next meeting 9th and 16th January see above. Links: Classes in Leeds — Northlight Open Mind Unplugged open mic Canalside Community Music Space Weekly; Wednesdays from 7.30pm. Next meeting 21 January see above. Links: Facebook Other Poets Meets to read and discuss the work of published poets The Fleece, Otley + online (via Zoom) Monthly; second Thursday Links: Otley Poets website Otley Poets Open mic + occasional guest poet The Fleece, Otley Monthly; first Thursday of the month Links: Otley Poets website Otley Poetry Gym An informal group offering constructive criticism on poetry work in progress The Fleece, Otley Monthly; third Thursday of the month Links: Otley Poets website Otley Stanza Discuss all things poetical and sometimes have special events, readings etc. Otley Courthouse About every two months Links: Otley Poets Website Pen Power! Creative Writing Workshops with D3 18+ Society, Leeds, 14 - 16 Swingate, Leeds LS1 4AG Links: Pen Power Tickets,Eventbrite Poetic Off Licence A space for poetry & live music in Leeds Holding Patterns Every other Thursday Links: Instagram , Holding Patterns – Leeds' listening bar Poets Talking Bollocks Live podcast recording with guest + open mic (message on Instagram for open mic slot) The Chemic Tavern, (Woodhouse), 9, Johnson Street, Leeds, LS6 2NG Monthly, usually second Sunday of the month (check Instagram for latest dates) Next meeting 11th January, 2026 Links: Instagram , Poets Talking Bollocks | Podcast on Spotify The Purple Room The Purple Room is a space for words and music in Ben Rhydding, Ilkley. Links: The Purple Room | Facebook Runcible Spoon Open mic + two guest poets The Carriers Arms (Morley) Monthly (third Tuesday) Next meetings: Currently no new date. Links: Facebook Soundbites Regular night featuring a guest poet + open mic Heart Assembly Bar + Kitchen, Headingley Arts Centre, 9 Bennett Road, Leeds, LS6 3HN 2nd Monday of the Month. Next meeting 9 February, 2026 see above. 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 4th February, 2026 Links: Facebook Other Events in Yorkshire Events in Bradford (10.52 miles from central Leeds)* Beehive Poets (Details to follow) 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 14 February see above. Links: Facebook The Comedy Café The Comedy Caf é hosts joyful comedy and poetry events in relaxing non-alcoholic spaces, with a focus on talent from BME communities. See links for next meeting. Links: Facebook , Instagram , The Comedy Cafe event tickets from TicketSource. More Song More Song is an innovative and experimental poetry reading series in Bradford. The 1 in 12 Club Library, 21-23 Albion Street, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD1 2LY Usually 1st Thursday of the month, check the links. (Small entry fee and booking recommended.) Next Meeting: 5th February 2026 Links: More Song Rhubarb Book Club Our poetry reading group meets to chat about a new pamphlet, anthology or collection recommended by one of our readers. The Triangle, Shipley Bi-monthly usually the third Wednesday of the month Links: RhubarbWriters.co.uk Rhubarb Open Mic Performers and listeners welcome. Pay as you feel open mic event with invited guest readers. The Triangle, Shipley Monthly. Last Wednesday of the month. Next meeting 28 January 2026 Links: RhubarbWriters.co.uk , Facebook Vision Board & Open Mic Create your vision boards while listening to local singers, poets and artists, surrounded by good energy and community. Signature Suites, Northcote Road, BD2 Next meeting: 31st December 2025, see above. Links: Instagram 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: 15th January 2026 Links: See poster above for contact details. Events in Wakefield (12.21 miles from central Leeds) Jackanory 2 hour open mic spoken word event at Wakefield's only creative coffee shop CoffeeWrite Café, 4 Marygate, Wakefield, WF1 1NX Next meeting: 24th January 2026 Links: CoffeeWrite Wakefield – Wakefield's Only Creative Coffee Shop Soul Shed Music Poetry and comedy WX Wakefield Exchange, Union Street, Wakefield, WF1 3AD Monthly. Next meeting 21 Feb 2026, see above Links: see updates at Welcome to Wakefield Exchange Soul Shed: Music, Poetry, Comedy | Wakefield Exchange Under The Lobby Lights Poetry open mic night hosted by Tim Brooke and Faye Marshall The Lobby 1867, Westgate, Wakefield Monthly; second Wednesday of the month. Next meeting 11th February 2026, see above. Links: see updates at 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 7.30pm to 10pm. Contact Ray Black (see link). Admission free Last meeting 5th January 2026 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 Next meeting 9th January, 2026. Links: EVENTS | SOUL Wellness Hub & Café Events in Huddersfield (20.6 miles from central Leeds) Ink Spill A growing poetry project which started with a monthly poetry night - half workshop, half open mic - but now hosts an annual festival and a podcast as well. Head of Steam, Huddersfield Every third Friday. Next Meeting 16th January 2026, see above. Links: Facebook , Instagram Events in 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. (Except February in 2026) Next meeting: 15th January, 2026. Links: EVENTS | SOUL Wellness Hub & Café Events in Doncaster (34.5 miles from central Leeds) Well Spoken Spoken Word Event 2nd Thursday of the month Next meeting: 12th February, 2026 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 5.30 to 7.30pm, with Valente, Lynda Harrison and Louise Beech. Bar One, Sheffield Students' Union, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TG Third Tuesday of every month, Next meeting 17 February, 2026. Links: Bar One Poetry Open Mic Night tickets | FoundrySU Events in 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 : 20 January 2026 Links: Happy House Poetry Night , Happy House Masham Home 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 5pm to 7pm Sunday, once a month (check Facebook site for which Sunday each month) Next Meeting: 18th January 2026 Links: Facebook Other Events Outside Yorkshire Events in Salford (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 26th January 2026. 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: 6 November 2025. Links: Facebook Hinterland Poets Join us for a evening of open mic poetry hosted by Dominic Berry with a different Guest Poet each month! Whether you're a seasoned poet or just looking to enjoy some spoken word, this event is for you. Hinterland Alcohol-Free Bar and Café, 16-20 Turner Street, Manchester M4 1DZ Poetry nights will take place on the 2nd Thursday of each month. 7pm. Next Meeting: 12 February 2026, see above Links: Facebook - Hinterland , Hinterland Poets + Open Mic Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite The Space Poetic Join us for some fun and focused writing before The Space Poetic open mic Terrace NQ, 43 Thomas Street, Manchester M4 1NA Typically held on the final Wednesday of the month Next meeting: 28th January 2026 Links: The Space Poetic Writing Club Tickets, Multiple Dates | 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 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. 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. * Milage between Leeds and other places using land transport according to the tool How Far Is It Between Most recent update: 16 January 2026

The more you learn about poetry, the less you realise you know! Here are some links to pages on literary devices, figures of speech and poetry terms. Please don't get in touch with Bob if you want to know more, he is too busy learning about it all himself. Please do get in touch if you feel a crucial link is missing. Wordy Word Words When I am reading poetry I come across a number of terms which extend beyond my English O' Level from 45ish years ago. This page offers links to websites that explain all things to do with words and language that interests me. Literary Devices Cummings Study Guides - Literary Terms 50+ Common (& Not So Common) Literary Devices for 2024 Literary-Devices.com literarydevices.net literarydevices.com Poetry Terms Outdoor Lessons: Writing Poetry at the Playground (thank you to Haley for this suggestion) Poetry Analysis Poetry at Harvard Poetry Foundation Poetry Out Loud Washington State University - Poetry Terms - why not do the quizzes?! National poetry - Wikipedia (I am keen to expand the list if you do have further suggestions) Arabic poetry | al-bab.com Japanese Poetry - Wiki Nabati Poetry in the UAE: Origin, Themes & More - MyBayut (many thanks to Amelia) Welsh poetry - Wikipedia Wikipedia Pages I Like To Go Back To (I accept there is some overlap between these links). Figure of Speech Glossary of Literary Terms Glossary of Poetic Terms Greek and Latin metre Linguistics Metrical foot Phonetics see The International Phonetic Alphabet Poetry - Wikipedia Rhetorical Device Sanskrit prosody - Wikipedia Syllable Traditional Welsh poetic metres - Wikipedia Vedic metre - Wikipedia Word play - List of forms of word play Also see this Venn diagram that helps to distinguish Homophone, Homograph, Homonym, Heteronym, Heterograph, and Synonym!

Some poetry websites have an excellent Soundcloud page. These links will take you there. Listen to some great poetry by read by the poets, interviews with poets, and general programmes about poetry. Please get in touch if you want a link to your poetry Soundcloud page added here. Regularly updated to clear broken links. Poetry on Soundcloud A to Z Click the underlined titles to go to the homepages. a poem a week (soundcloud.com) This series has now ended and won't be producing any new episodes. Thank you to everyone for listening!! A poetry podcast! The producers, Lizzy and David Turner, bring you a poem a week, taking you back to the simple joy of having a poem read to you. We aim to provide a mixture of new poems we're discovering, old favourites, and guest poets reading their own work. Bizarre Objects feat: (Bob & Nick's) Poetry Corner- mixtape by Magic Roundabout UK A Soundcloud mix including my contribution at around 27 minutes! Burning Eye Podcast We are a small independent publisher in the South West (U.K.) predominately specialising in promoting spoken word artists. We aim to dispel the assumption that performance poetry does not transfer well to page as well as give emerging and established artist opportunities to be published where they might be rejected from other traditional poetry publishers. Chestnut Review Many individual poets recordings from Chestnut Review. Culture Recordings Spoken word on Soundcloud. Faber Books at Soundcloud Scroll down the Faber Book page to see the specific poetry podcast. Fay Roberts on SoundCloud 'Fay has performed poetry in pubs, clubs, theatres, tents, shopping centres and stately gardens, in Open Mic, showcases, features, support, collaboration, competition and costume. Sometimes she bangs a drum, and sometimes she performs in silence, while the words flutter in front of her...' Gillian Clarke 'Here, in the order in which they were first published between 1978 and 1993, are readings of the fifteen poems featured in the Cambridge IGCSE exam syllabus. I introduce each poem with a brief introduction.' Lunar Poetry Podcasts (soundcloud.com) A series of discussions, interviews and live recordings with poets from the UK and abroad in which we examine the writing process. Now hosted by Peter deGraft-Johnson a.k.a The Repeat Beat Poet, the series was founded by David Turner in October 2014 in south east London. Modern Poetry in Translation Magazine - Free Listening on SoundCloud When Ted Hughes & Daniel Weissbort founded MPT in 1965 they had two principal ambitions: to get poetry out from behind the Iron Curtain into a wider circulation in English and to benefit writers and the reading public in Britain and America by confronting them with good work from abroad. For more than 50 years MPT has continued and widened that founding intent. Moonstone Arts Center music | SoundCloud Moonstone Arts Center podcast series, from Philadelphia, U.S. The Arts Center produces about 100 programs, mostly poetry readings and publishes about 30 books a year. NAWE (National Association of Writers in Education): SoundCloud Poetry read by the authors. See here for organisation's homepage. National Poetry Library on SoundCloud The National Poetry Library is the largest public collection of modern poetry in the world. Founded by the Arts Council in 1953 and opened by poets T.S. Eliot and Herbert Read, we have been at the heart of the nation’s poetry community ever since. New Writing North 'New Writing North is a development agency for creative writing and creative reading based in the north east of England. We specialise in the development of talent and act as a dynamic broker between writers, agents and producers across the creative industries.' There is a number of poetry podcasts here. Pamenar Press on Soundcloud Regular posts of poems by the poets by Pamenar Press. Poetry Ireland | Free Listening on SoundCloud 'Poetry Ireland connects poetry and people. We are committed to achieving excellence in the reading, writing and performance of poetry throughout the island of Ireland.' PoetryJukebox Quotidian | Free Listening on SoundCloud 'We want to create the opportunity to encounter poetry in surprising ways and unexpected places.' Poetry Non-Stop on SoundCloud Poetry Non-Stop is a poetry podcast presented by Patrick Widdess The Poetry Society Soundcloud Page Essential places to visit for plenty of poetry programmes and clips. Including, podcasts from The Poetry Review. Rattle Poetry The Soundcloud archive of the Rattlecasts made by Rattle Magazine. Small Machine Talks music The Small Machine Talks is a monthly conversation that explores the poetry scene of Central Canada and beyond. Its hosts are Ottawa poets, Amanda Earl and a.m. kozak. The podcast features The Soundscape Poetry Project (soundcloud.com) 'Pairing spoken word poetry with bespoke audio environments, The Soundscape Poetry Project showcases thirteen exhilarating new performances by five of the UK's most innovative and exciting poets. This ground-breaking album pushes the boundaries of how poetry can be experienced and sets a new standard for the future of recorded spoken word poetry.' Sugar House Review 'In an effort to avoid verbosity, we'll put it succinctly: we love poetry. Our name is based on both our location and desire to publish sticky, heart-racing, sweet, sweet addictive poetry. Sugar House is a neighborhood within Salt Lake City. It was named after the sugar beet factory of the Deseret Manufacturing Company which operated in Sugar House from 1851–1855.'

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

Links to all the U.K.s top magazines, and some worldwide magazines, too. The list is regularly updated to add new magazines and clear the dead links. Please get in touch if you want your magazine added. Poetry Magazines Print Magazines (Online versions of the print magazine may be available.) (Apologies for the recent blip in availability of this page, everything is working again now ... I hope) A to Z 2 Bridges Review - City Tech (New York City of Technology, U.S.) 32 Poems Magazine | Poetry for the ear, the eye, and the ego. (U.S.) 805 Lit + Art magazine | Litmag (Manatee County Public Library System, U.S.) The A3 Review (Last new magazine was in 2020) (U.K.) Able Muse Review (U.S.) Acumen Poetry (U.K.) Aesthetica Magazine (U.K.) Agenda Poetry (University of St Andrews) (Last edition was 2023, but the site is still available) (U.K.) The Alchemy Spoon (U.K.) American Poetry Review (U.S.) American Poets Magazine | Academy of American Poets (U.S.) Aneas – Munster Literature Centre (Irish language from the Republic of Ireland) The Antioch Review - Antioch College (Ohio, U.S.) A Public Space (U.S.) Archiprlago at Clutag Press (U.K.) Arc Poetry (Canada) ARTEMISpoetry - Second Light Publications, (U.K.) Artemis Journal (U.S.) The Baltimore Review (U.S.) Atlanta Review – A biannual print magazine for poetry (U.S.) (This print magazine that requires subscription seems to not be printing new magazines. Meanwhile the back copies are becoming available to download for free) Banipal (UK) Magazine of Modern Arab Literature (U.K.) Banshee (Republic of Ireland) BeatScene – This is the Beat Generation (U.K.) The Believer - The McSweeney’s Store (U.S.) Beltway Poetry Quarterly (Last edition 2023) (Washington Region, U.S.) Blue Crystal – Crystallized Dreams (This link U.K.) BOMB Magazine (U.S) Bulletins - The Poetry Book Society (U.K.) Butcher's Dog Poetry Magazine | Newcastle (On a gap year, but previous editions still available) (Newcastle, England) BWR Black Warrior Review (The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, U.S.) Cambridge Literary Review (Last edition 2021) (U.K.) Cannon Poets (Last edition December 2022) (Cannon Poets, Birmingham, England) Canthius (Canada) The Caribbean Writer (The University of the Virgin Islands) Carolina Quarterly (Last edition 2021) (U.S.) The Caterpillar (For children aged 7 to 11) (Online presence but no new magazine since Spring 2023) (Republic of Ireland) CERASUS Magazine (U.K.) Chicago Review (U.S.) Cholla Needles (U.S.) The Cincinnati Review (The University of Cincinnati, U.S.) ClairObscur Zine (Previously Obscure Quarterly) (U.K.) The Common ( U.S.) (Digital copies available for purchase) Copper Nickel | University of Colorado Denver (U.S.) The Dark Horse Magazine (No issues in 2024) (Scotland and the U.S.) Dark Mountain (U.K.) (This Project releases regular books, rather than magazines) The Dawntreader (Indigo Dreams) (U.K.) DREICH (Scotland) Driftwood Press (U.S.) E xiled Ink (U.K.) Fenland Poetry Journal currently down, see Facebook (U.K.) Finished Creatures poetry magazine (No new issue in 2024) (U.K.) fourteen poems (LGBTQ+)(U.K.) F(r)iction (U.S.) The Galway Review (The Republic of Ireland) Granta (U.K.) Gulf Coast: A Journal of Literature and Fine Arts (University of Houston's English Department, U.S.) Gutter (Scotland and international) Harvard Review (Harvard University, U.S.) The Hudson Review (Digital only subscription, and free online poetry available) (U.S.) IOTA – Templar Poetry (U.K.) The Irish Pages (Northern Ireland) The Keats-Shelley Review | Taylor & Francis Online (or Keats-Shelley Memorial Association) (U.K.) Kenyon Review (Kenyon Collage, Ohio, U.S.) The Kindling (U.K.) Kyoto Journal (English magazine from Japan) Lampblack (For the advancement of black literature) (U.S.) Landfall (Otago University Press) (New Zealand) Lighthouse Journal (U.K.) Lily Poetry Review (U.S.) Little Patuxent Review (U.S.) The London Magazine (U.K.) Long Poem Magazine (U.K.) Los Angeles Review of Books (Digital only subscription available) (U.S.) Lucent Dreaming (U.K) Magma Poetry (U.K.) Mal (No new issue since 2020) (U.K.) The Manchester Review (U.K.) Marble Poetry (U.K.) Mississippi Review (University of Southern Mississippi, U.S.) Mslexia (For women who write) (U.K.) Neon – A Literary Magazine (No new issues since 2022) (U.K.) New Walk Magazine (U.K.) New Welsh Review (Wales) The New York Review of Books (U.S.) Nimrod – International Journal (University of Tulsa, U.S.) The North Magazine - The Poetry Business (U.K.) Obsessed with Pipework (U.K.) Orbis · International Literary Journal (U.K.) The Open Ear | Seamus Heaney Centre | Queen's University Belfast (No new issue since 2020) (Northern Ireland) (This may be free, it is available in full online) Oxford Poetry (U.K.) Pain (No new issue since 2020) (U.K.) Paris Review (U.S.) Pennine Platform (U.K.) Ploughshares (Emerson College, Boston, U.S.) PN Review (Originally Poetry Nation) (U.K.) Poet Lore (U.S.) Poetry Magazine | The Poetry Foundation (U.S.) Poetry Birmingham (U.K.) The Poetry Bus - PB (Republic of Ireland) Poetry Ireland Review | Poetry Ireland (Republic of Ireland) Poetry London (U.K.) Poetry Northwest (U.S.) The Poetry Review – The Poetry Society (U.K.) Poetry Salzburg Review (University of Saltzburg) (English language magazine from Austria) Poetry Wales (U.K.) Poets & Writers (U.S.) A magazine about writing poetry. Digital copy available. Prairie Schooner (No issue in 2024) (University of Nebraska-Lincoln, U.S.) Prole, Poetry and Prose (Last website update 2022) (U.K.) Quadrant (Australia) ( Digital only subscriptions available) Rattle Poetry (U.S.) Reach Poetry (Indigo Dreams) (U.K.) The Rialto (U.K.) ROOM Magazine (Canada) Ruminate (Closed in 2022, but archive still available) (U.S.) The Shanghai Literary Review 上海文藝評論 (English language magazine from China) Shearsman Magazine (U.K.) Shooter Literary Magazine (U.K.) SKYLIGHT 47 poetry (Republic of Ireland) Solstice Literary Magazine (U.S.) Some Roast Poet (No website updates since 2019) (Manchester, U.K.) Southeast Review (Florida State University, U.S.) (All or much of the magazine is free online) Southword – Munster Literature Centre (Republic of Ireland) Southern Indiana Review - University of Southern Indiana (U.S.) Stand Magazine (U.K.) The Stinging Fly – New Writers, New Writing (Republic of Ireland) Strix (#12 is announced as its final magazine issue) (Leeds, U.K.) Sugar House Review (Utah, U.S.) takahē (Aotearoa / New Zealand) Tampa Review (University of Tampa Press , U.S.) The Tangerine Magazine (The site is not fully functioning, so may no longer be operating) (Belfast, U.K.) Tears in the Fence (U.K.) TLS | Times Literary Supplement (U.K.) West Branch (Bucknell University, U.S.) (All or much of the magazine is free online) The White Review (No update since March 2024) (U.K.) The Windsor Review (Archive available, but no new magazine since 2023) (University of Windsor, Canada) Writers Digest Magazine - Writer's Digest (U.S.) (On how to write and be published including poetry) Online Magazines (aka webzines, e-magazines, e-journals, e-zines/ezines/eZines etc.). Free unless stated. 3:AM Magazine – Whatever it is, we're against it. (U.K.) Abridged (Northern Ireland) The Adroit Journal (U.K) Amethyst Review (U.K.) A-minor | Stories in the Chord of Am (U.S.) And Other Poems (U.K.) Anthropocene (U.K.) Asymptote (Taiwan) Bad Lilies (U.K) The Bangor Literary Journal (U.K.) bathmagg (Closed in 2024, but all 13 issues are available to read online) (Currently saying it is unsafe to go to) Barren Magazine (U.K.) Berfrois (U.K.) berlin lit (English magazine based in Berlin, Germany) The Bitchin Kitsch - The B'K Magazine (U.S.) Blackbox Manifold (U.K.) Blackmail Press (Archive all there, but no update since 2022) (New Zealand) Blue Marble Review - Literary Journal for Young Writers (U.S.) B O D Y (Prague, Czech Republic) Cagibi - /kä'jēbē/ ▸n. a literary space. (Online free quarterly, with occasional print annual reviews, that can be purchased) (U.S.) Chestnut Review (Features some audio, U.S.) (Physical print annually) Compass Rose (U.S.) Datableed Zine ( U.K.) Dusie (Archive available, but no new posts since 2019) (U.S.) Dust Poetry Magazine (U.K.) Edinburgh Poetry Magazine (Canada) Equatorial (U.S) experiment-o (Angel House Press) (Archive available, but no new posts since 2023) (Canada) The Fig Tree | Tim Fellows | Substack (U.K.) Flights e-Journal – Flight of the dragonfly (U.K.) Five Dials (Closed in 2023, but its 66 issues are all available in its free archive) (U.K.) Goldfish (Goldsmiths, University of London, UK) Guernica – A Magazine of Global Arts & Politics (U.S. / Global) harana poetry (U.K.) The High Window (U.K.) iamb ~ poetry seen and heard (U.K.) (Includes poets reading their poems) Ink Sweat and Tears (U.K.) The Interpreter's House (U.K.) Jacket2 (U.K.) Journal of Expressive Writing (U.S.) THE LAKE (U.K) Landfall Review Online (Online site of print magazine, Aotearoa / New Zealand) La Piccioletta Barca (English magazine based in Greece) Liminal Transit Review (U.K.) Literary Hub - Poem (More of a online poem-news finding algorithm really, U.S.) Litter (U.K.) Lolwe (U.K.) Lunate (U.K.) Mascara Literary Review (Paid subscription required. Based in Australia) Misfit Magazine (U.S.) MOLLY BLOOM (No new issue since 2022, but there is a 25 magazine archive available) (U.K.) Moving-Poems.com – A Video Poetry Blog by HAM (U.K.) (The site highlights a number of poetry films) A New Ulster - this link has issues, so visit Facebook - A New Ulster (Northern Ireland) (Print copies can be ordered) North of Oxford (U.S.) One Hand Clapping (U.K.) (Print copy also available) ORAL.pub (U.S. originally Mexico) otoliths (No new magazine in 2024) (Australia) (Print copies also available to purchase) Palette Poetry (U.K.) Pamenar Press - Online Magazine (U.K., Canada, Iran) PEN Transmissions – English PEN's magazine for international writing (U.K.) perverse (U.K.) Poetry Space (Dorset, U.K.) Plume (U.S.) Propel Magazine (U.K.) (Print anthology available to buy) Recours au poeme (A French magazine in French) Quaranzine | Shabby Doll House (U.K.) Queen Mob's Tea House (Closed in 2022, but the archive is still available) (Unable to connect on the most recent update) (U.K.) Quince Magazine (No new issue since 2021) (U.K.) Quirk (The English Department of the University of the Incarnate Word) (U.S.) Riggwelter (Last issue January 2024) (U.K.) The Rumpus (U.S.) Samfiftyfour (U.S) (Purchase required for pdf) Santa Ana River Review (No new issue in 2024) (University of California, U.S.) The Scores (Last issue is 2021, and some links don't work, but the archive is still there) (University of St Andrews) (U.K.) Sein und Werden (U.K.) The Sewanee Review (U.S.) The Skinny Poetry Nation (U.S.) Silver Birch Press | Poetry & Prose…from Prompts (This is a blog, that works very much like an online magazine, U.S.) Solstice Literary Magazine - a Magazine of Diverse Voices (U.S.) SPAM zine & Press (U.K) Steel Jackdaw (Purchase required as pdf. There were plans for a print edition in 2024, though these do not appear to have happened yet) (U.K.) STREETCAKE MAGAZINE - home (U.K.) SWWIM Every Day — SWWIM (Supporting Women Writers in Miami, U.S.) Tampa Review - Online (Physical print see above, U.S.) Tenth Muse Literary Magazine (Clarke University, U.S.) (I believe this is a free print magazine made fully available in the net.) Tentacular (U.K.) TriQuarterly (Northwestern University) (U.S.) Urban Scrawl (U.K.) Wildfire Words (Cheltenham Poetry Festival, U.K.) wildness (U.K.) Writing.ie (Republic of Ireland) (A magazine about writing, including poetry writing) Magazine and Journal Lists And if that was not enough ... here is the List of Listers, for a nother slant. Beltway Poetry Quarterly - Journals Duotrope: Find publishers and agents. Track submissions. Get published. A subscription based professional service with 7588 magazines of all types listed. Definitely NOT a freebie site like this one. Every Writers Resource - The Big List of Literary Magazines a U.S. site that aims to list every literary magazine including 397 poetry magazines National Poetry Library - Comprehensive list of all U.K. magazines Neon Magazine The Big List of UK Literary Magazines – Neon Poetry Society: Magazines – Young Poets Network Online Poetry Resources - Poetry Super Highway 1933 magazines listed, wow! Tears in the Fence - Links List of literary magazines - Wikipedia 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. Last complete page update 19 May 2025. Last minor update 11 January 20.

What about Bob? Read the biography of Bob Dunning, who created and has run the site since April 2021. This includes links to some of his poetry, too. About Bob & Poetry I am Bob Dunning and I read and write poetry almost everyday. I find the internet very big, and this site aims to make it smaller, like a bookshelf that exclusively holds poetry, and poetry related books. I am very much learning as I go, and my approach to websites is to get it started and see what happens. It is more free form beat poetry than meticulous cynghanedd; and that is the first time I have ever used the word 'cynghanedd' (closely followed by the second). The website idea was first conceived on 1 April 2021, and launched on to the internet with minimal research on 8 April 2021 to an audience of one (me)! Though regular updating has been an issue (ahem), on 3 December 2025, I uploaded the first 'Leeds Events' page, which I hope will make the site much more alive and interactive, and maybe there is a bright future ahead. Plans are afoot to expand this to a World Map of poetry -wouldn't that be good? Please do get in touch to let me know ways in which you feel the site could be improved. I am also keen to report any websites, or links to poets, or online poetry news you may know about. The website has no ulterior motives, everything that appears here is purely presented for the love of poetry, and does not profit me in any way. Neither am I aiming to sell you anything. I should add that I have absolutely no control over the contents of any of the links, so though I do try to do my best to ensure the links are good and healthy ones, people click to them and purchase anything available from them at their own risk. Biography: I have been reading and writing poetry on and off, since I was ten. I grew up in Maidenhead, and went to Desborough School there, though I have lived all my adult life in Leeds. I gained two different professional degrees, including a first, at (the now named) Leeds Beckett University. My first great poetry achievement was writing the nightly prayer for a Junior 3 class at St Joseph's School in Maidenhead (now called St. Edmond Campion). In the 1980s I also co-write lyrics for a single by the radio talk show host, James Whale, which reached about 120 in the charts - adjustment for local purchasing bias preventing an actual chart entry. Cruelly, or maybe thankfully, this achievement was uncredited on the single itself. One of my poems got into an Ilkley Festival online poetry magazine - alongside Simon Armitage no less, for which I can now find no evidence online, so for this and all the above previous 'achievements', you will just have to trust me, it is all true! More recently a number of my poems have been recorded and are available to hear on Bandcamp thanks to the wonderful collaboration with Nick Davidson's Thee Objects. Some of these poems were written for the project and others date back a number of years. Please follow the link on the foot of every page, and give the tracks a listen. I have been married 33 years, have two grown up children, and two grandchildren. I am a retired mental health nurse still living in Leeds. Most recent review of this page 13th December 2025. See Bob's Poetry Online The Poetry Archive 2021

The blog pages of Bob Dunning, poetry reviews and random thoughts from over the years.

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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 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