Members' AreaPlease join us via Zoom for the online celebration of the Autumn issue of The Poetry Review. Our exciting readers will be Fiona Benson, Luke Kennard, Valzhyna Mort and Kimberly Reyes. The event will be introduced by Review Editor Emily Berry. Space may be limited, so book your place. The Autumn 2020 issue of The […]
highlights
Places of Poetry book launch
f The Poetry Society, in association with the University of Exeter and Oneworld Publications, presents the digital book launch of the Places of Poetry anthology, a volume of selected verse from around England and Wales from last year’s hugely popular Places of Poetry project, an interactive map that poets could pin their poetry to attracting […]
The Poetry Review: autumn harvest
The latest, magnificent issue of The Poetry Review, edited by Emily Berry, is just published. It includes fiery, speculative and moving new poems by contributors Susie Campbell, Fawzia Muradali Kane, Fiona Benson, Samar Diab, Luke Kennard, Leontia Flynn, John McCullough, Hasti C., Kimberly Reyes and many, many more. In our prose section, Jane Feaver probes […]
A modern-day spell against the darkness
The Poetry Society in association with the Canal & River Trust have commissioned a new poem by Hebden Bridge poet Ian Humphreys. Ian’s poem – ‘Treading Water’ – is a tender elegy for his mum, set near where he lives alongside the Rochdale Canal. He says ‘The poem describes a walk we went on a […]
Anne Stevenson, 1933–2020
Anne Stevenson, a hugely influential poet, penetrating critic and passionate presence in British and American poetry and letters, died on 14 September 2020, at the age of 87. She had a rich life. Though born in Cambridge, England, of American parents, Stevenson’s earliest years were spent in the States where her father, a philosopher, taught […]
“Read forensically”: A National Poetry Competition interview with Karen McCarthy Woolf
The next in our series of Q&As with the National Poetry Competition 2020 judges is here, this time with poet and broadcaster Karen McCarthy Woolf. It joins our previous ice cream-themed Q&A with Jonathan Edwards. What advice would you give to entrants looking at a blank page? A blank page can be daunting. Give yourself […]
The lyric eye: National Poetry Day 2020
Now less than a month away, this year’s National Poetry Day takes place on 1 October 2020 and the theme is vision. To celebrate the occasion on the day, The Poetry Society is lining up a glittering array of activities for you to engage with, whether you’ve time that day to give poetry a fleeting […]
Poems now arriving on platform 2
Those travelling by the London Underground recently might have noticed many of the posters are advertising past attractions ‘Coming Soon – April 2020’, or that everything smells exceptionally clean. However, one feature remains just as it ever was – and that’s the Poems on the Underground posters. A new set of Poems of the […]
Masks and sea creatures: new resources accompany Poetry Review
The Poetry Society has developed new workshop resources as an accompaniment to The Poetry Review, which provide points of discussion and writing prompts inspired by poems selected from the journal. These resources can be used in the classroom, with fellow poetry enthusiasts, or for individuals to spur their creativity while exploring some intriguing new poems. […]
Sandeep Parmer and Mary Jean Chan feature in the newest Poetry Review podcast
The Poetry Review‘s new podcast is here, featuring a discussion between Review contributor Sandeep Parmar and Mary Jean Chan, guest co-editor with Will Harris of the spring 2020 issue. Sandeep reads her poem, ‘The Nineties’, and reflects on its origins – growing up in California at the time of the L.A. riots, which followed the […]
A new National Poetry Competition writing resource from Ella Frears
The next in our series of writing guides is here, this time by National Poetry Competition 2018 commended poet Ella Frears. Ella’s resource explore how poems can be made timeless, looking at poems exploring the unknowable and inexpressable – and the way the timelessness of those poems can apply to the here and now. You […]
Brand new digital content from The Poetry Society: Nick Makoha podcast and more
Indoors this weekend thanks to some long-awaited rainfall? Here’s a roundup of all our latest digital content for you to enjoy. Will Harris speaks to Nick Makoha in The Poetry Review’s latest podcast Will Harris and Nick Makoha, prizewinning poets both, talk about Nick’s poems in the spring 2020 issue of The Poetry Review and […]
Artlyst Art to Poetry Awards Night
Join us for a celebration of ekphrastic poetry as we announce the winners of the inaugural Artlyst Art to Poetry Award, run in association with The Poetry Society. The event will feature readings from winners of both the adult and youth prizes, performances of ekphrastic poetry from judges Sue Hubbard and Kelly Grovier and a […]
The Poetry Review Summer 2020 launch (Zoom)
Please join us via Zoom for the online celebration of the Summer issue of The Poetry Review. Our exciting readers will be Moniza Alvi, Rachel Long, from the US, D. Nurkse, and our Geoffrey Dearmer Prize winner, Phoebe Stuckes. The event will be introduced by Review Editor Emily Berry. Space may be limited, so book […]
“the task of being real”: Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award and National Poetry Competition Ledbury Poetry Festival showcase (Zoom)
Each year at Ledbury Poetry Festival, The Poetry Society traditionally showcases a selection of the finest new voices to have emerged from its flagship poetry competitions, the Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award and the National Poetry Competition. This year, The Poetry Society is pleased to bring these celebratory readings to the comfort of […]
Matt Abbott and Theresa Lola announced as Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award Patrons
We are delighted to announce that this year’s Patrons of the Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award are Matt Abbott and Theresa Lola! Matt is a poet, educator, and activist from Wakefield. His debut collection for children, A Hurricane in my Head, was published by Bloomsbury in summer 2019. In April 2020, he released […]
Into the Water: canal poetry readings and screenings (Zoom)
As Canal Laureate, Nancy Campbell studied fish migration, learnt about locks, and paddled her kayak 100 miles during a drought. Poems bubbling out of these Laureate experiences have just been published in a handsome Happenstance pamphlet, Navigations, which Nancy will read from and discuss. Joining Nancy will be Jo Bell, Canal Laureate 2013-15, reading new […]
Peggy Poole Award / National Poetry Competition launch readings
Left to right: Rosie Shepperd, Louisa Adjoa Parker (photo: Robert Golden), Michael Symmons Roberts (photo: Andrew Crowley), Mark Pajak (photo: Robert Peet) The Poetry Society presents a special event celebrating the Peggy Poole Award featuring readings from the 2018 Peggy Poole Award winner Mark Pajak, alongside his mentor through the Award, acclaimed poet, novelist and librettist […]
Peggy Poole Award readings at Ev
The Poetry Society presents a special event featuring readings from poet Mark Pajak, the winner of the 2018 Peggy Poole Award – a new talent development award recognising emerging writers in the North West of England – alongside the judge of this year’s competition, celebrated poet, novelist and librettist Michael Symmons Roberts. Mark Pajak has […]
[UPDATED] The Poetry Review Spring issue launch
Programme change: Owing to the current situation related to coronavirus, all our in-person live events are on hold. We are currently looking at ways we can turn as many of these events as we can into accessible, online, digital versions. If you were planning on attending this event, please keep the date in your diary, […]
[UPDATED] Stanza Bonanza: featuring poets from Oxford and Reading
Programme change: Owing to the current situation related to coronavirus, all our in-person live events are on hold. We are currently looking at ways we can turn as many of these events as we can into accessible, online, digital versions. If you were planning on attending this event, please keep the date in your diary, […]
[UPDATED] Poetry @ 3
Programme change: Owing to the current situation related to coronavirus, all our in-person live events are on hold. We are currently looking at ways we can turn as many of these events as we can into accessible, online, digital versions. If you were planning on attending this event, please keep the date in your […]
Workshop: a mini editing masterclass with Will Harris
A practical afternoon workshop as part of Free Verse, the Poetry Book and Magazine Fair. Poet, essayist and editor Will Harris is one of the guest editors for the forthcoming issue of The Poetry Review. He’ll look at edits of poems by others and share his most successful strategies for getting your work noticed, whether […]
Workshop: A Small Press Publishing How-to with Bad Betty Press
A practical morning workshop as part of Free Verse, the Poetry Book and Magazine Fair. If you’ve ever dreamed of setting up a small press, new indie poetry publisher, Bad Betty Press, is here to help you with ideas, top tips and case studies. Join Bad Betty Press editor Amy Acre for a conversation about […]
Free Verse Poetry Book & Magazine Fair
Free Verse is an all-day market, celebrating the vitality of contemporary poetry in the UK, publishers and organisations both large and small, both experimental and traditional, who display and sell their work direct to the public. Free Verse is managed by The Poetry Society. The 2020 fair will feature over 70 poetry stalls to browse […]
Poetry @ 3
Poetry @ 3 is (usually) the first Thursday of each month at the Poetry Cafe – an open mic for poets who like to come out and play during the day. Hosted by the Poetry Society’s Paul McGrane. No booking required, just turn up. Sign up between 2.30 and 3 to read. FREE. NOTE: Due […]
The Poetry Review Winter issue launch
The Poetry Society celebrates the publication of the Winter 2019 issue of The Poetry Review with an exciting line-up of readers featuring Don Paterson, Victoria Kennefick and Amy Acre, who will be introduced by the Guest Editor of the issue, Colette Bryce. Doors open at 7pm, readings begin at 7.30pm. The event is FREE but […]
Poetry Archive launch Foyle Young Poets collection
Poetry Archive has launched a very special collection of poems from winners of the Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award. Run by The Poetry Society and generously supported by The Foyle Foundation, the Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award has been discovering, celebrating and supporting the very best young poets from around the […]
Lorna Goodison recipient of Her Majesty’s 2019 Gold Medal of Poetry
Jamaica’s Poet Laureate Lorna Goodison has been announced as the recipient of Her Majesty’s 2019 Gold Medal for Poetry, on the basis of the body of her work, which includes thirteen collections of poetry, as well as a selection of short stories. The Gold Medal for Poetry was established by King George V in 1933 […]
The Trafalgar Square Christmas tree lighting up ceremony 2019
Christmas is on its way once more – and in one of London’s favourite traditions, the famous Norwegian Christmas Tree will soon begin its journey to Trafalgar Square. The Poetry Society and the Royal Norwegian Embassy are once again encircling the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree in poetry, to celebrate the City of Oslo’s annual gift […]
Poetry @ 3
Poetry @ 3 is (usually) the first Thursday of each month at the Poetry Cafe – an open mic for poets who like to come out and play during the day. Hosted by the Poetry Society’s Paul McGrane. No booking required, just turn up. Sign up between 2.30 and 3 to read. FREE. NOTE: Due […]
The Poetry Society 2019 AGM and readings
All Poetry Society Members are welcome at the 2019 Annual General Meeting of The Poetry Society. Following the formal business of the AGM starting at 7pm there will be a celebratory reading (due to start around 7.30-7.45pm) featuring Jo Shapcott, Carole Bromley, winner of the Hamish Canham Prize 2019, Penny Boxall (2019 Stanza Poetry Competition […]
Blue Black Permanent screening with an introduction by So Mayer
The Poetry Society is delighted to present a screening of Margaret Tait‘s haunting film Blue Black Permanent (1992). Tait’s only feature-length film, from her own screenplay, was produced by the BFI and is the first Scottish feature film directed by a woman.. The screening will be introduced by So Mayer, to tie in with their […]
Where Light Falls: Coventry
Over the last year, The Poetry Society has been working on Historic England’s project Where Light Falls – a spectacular combination of light, history and poetry. A poem written by Jane Commane, exploring the war time history of Coventry Cathedral, and written with participants from local schools and community groups, will be projected on to the […]
Where Light Falls: London
Over the last year, The Poetry Society has been working on Historic England’s project Where Light Falls – a spectacular combination of light, history and poetry. A poem written by Keith Jarrett, exploring the war time history of St Paul’s Cathedral, and written with participants from local schools and community groups, will be projected on […]
The Poetry Review Autumn issue launch
NOTE: This event is now fully booked. Returns on the door only. The Poetry Society will be launching the Autumn issue of The Poetry Review, at the Poetry Café, London, on 9 October. Our exciting line-up includes Aria Aber, Colette Bryce and Greta Stoddart. We will also have a filmed recording by the acclaimed US […]
Annie Yim – The Poet Speaks: From Debussy to Pärt
MusicArt, in association with The Poetry Society, presents a poetry-inspired concert for National Poetry Day, featuring pianist Annie Yim, the poet Zaffar Kunial and composers Cheryl Frances-Hoad and Raymond Yiu. ‘The Poet Speaks’, a MusicArt conceptual concert, combines the recorded voices of composers and writers with live piano, juxtaposing poems from two centuries with musical responses to […]
National Poetry Day 2019: Time Line calligraphy workshop
This National Poetry Day join master calligrapher Paul Antonio at a free drop-in session at the Poetry Café, during which he will demonstrate how to interpret lines of poetry into beautiful pages of script. Should you feel inspired, you can join in and create some calligraphy of your own to take home! Relax before or […]
Schools National Poetry Day Live 2019 at Southbank Centre
Join us this National Poetry Day on the Clore Ballroom at Southbank Centre, London, for an unmissable free poetry event hosted by the incredible Joelle Taylor. We’ll be hearing from prize-winning poets Daljit Nagra, Raymond Antrobus, Dzifa Benson, Young People’s Laureate for London Theresa Lola, and former Foyle Young Poet Jasmine Simms – all thinking […]
National Poetry Day 2019: poems on the tannoy
To celebrate this year’s National Poetry Day, The Poetry Society has teamed up with London Underground to record some poets reading selected verse from the Poems on the Underground initiative. Poems will also be available to hear online on the day. Head to Covent Garden tube station on National Poetry Day to hear poems read […]