Pre Christmas Poetry on Demand with Brenda Read Brown - 21st December 2023
Brenda Read Brown paid a visit to Southwater Library to create Poetry on Demand for the people of Telford. Getting 10 out of 10 for her work, Brenda delighted those who attended, including some of the library volunteers, with specially created poetry just for them on a topic of their chosing. As well as an amazing poem those who attended got a mince pie and a coffee!
What the library staff said:
Brenda was amazing and wrote poems on demand back to back for over 4 hours! Each poem was top standard and so well received by its recipient.
Gabriella Gay Runs a Supportive Poetry Session with Home Educated Young People and their Parents - 12th December 2023
What the library staff said:
The workshop went really well. Gabriella was really well organised and very flexible. Some of the young people had extra needs and some were very shy and not keen to get involved straight away. However, with the relaxed nature of the session everyone joined in a shared by the end.
What the participants said:
"It was very special for those who attended."
"Lovely relaxed group thank you, made us feel totally at ease. Lots of progress was made today"
National Poetry Day 2023 with Gracey Bee and Jane Seabourne at Southwater Library
What the library staff said:
"The event was brilliant. Jane and Gracey had both got a selection of poems to share- some general ones but also a few Eco themed ones that tied into Green Libraries Week as this was the same week.
We had a great attendance and the audience was varied in ages and all appreciated as much as the other. Gracie even altered her set a little bit to accommodate for the children who came along to the event and made it a bit more interactive with some dancing! Everyone enjoyed this though not just the kids!"
Post Card Poets Visit Wellington Library - 11th July 2023
Poetry on Loan sent not one but two Postcard Poets over to Wellington Library for an afternoon of poetry. Steve Pottinger and Jane Seabourne both performed a set of their own work, and audience members joined in sharing their poems too. The event was given a 10 out of 10.
What the library staff said:
"The activity was a huge success and all of the participants gave positive feedback saying how much they had enjoyed the poet’s performances. All of the participants had poetry of their own to share so the open mic element was definitely the right decision for the event. Steve and Jane were both brilliant and it was a pleasure to have them join us for the afternoon!"
Pride in Wellington
The current Poet Laureate for Staffordshire hopped over the border into Shropshire to pay a visit to Welllington Library. Dawn ran a workshop on 22nd June 2023 and received a 10 out of 10 for the session that she delivered.
What the library staff said:
"Dawn was great again and the workshop went really well."
"It was great to get some ideas of writing exercises that I will definitely use in future poetry sessions that I run in Libraries."
Roy McFarlane Visits Southwater Library to Commemorate Stephen Lawrence Day - 22nd April 2023
This was the first of two performances in the same day for Roy who was offering poetry of 'Love and Witness' to his audiences. First Roy visited Southwater Library for Telford and Wrekin Libraries before heading over to Handsworth Library to share work for Birmingham Libraries in the afternoon. The event in Telford was described as 'thought provoking' and was well received by the audience and library staff alike.
Through The Lens Poetry Workshop with Dawn Jutton
Dawn Jutton (Poet Laureate for Staffordshire) visited Southwater Library on Wednesday 22nd February 2023 to run a workshop as part of LGBTQ+ history month.
After giving the event a 10 out of 10, here's what the library staff went on to say:
"The workshop went really well. Dawn was well prepared and engaging and made everyone feel at ease and also included everyone.
We had two people come who said they had never been to anything like this before and felt it had really pushed them out of their comfort zone but in a good way."
Jean Atkin and Collaborative Poetry
On the 9th September 2022, Jean Atkin visited a shared reading group in a care home in Telford to read some poems and create collaborative poetry with the people taking part. We asked Jean to tell us how the session went:
"I opened the session by introducing myself, and asking everyone for their names. Then I read them some Shropshire-orientated poems, including some of my own about the dialect words of Shropshire, which created some conversation and exchange particularly of placenames and their associations. There was a lot of laughter and good humour.
I introduced some props to talk about (a carthorse bridle and a horseshoe), and took quick notes of what was said in the ensuing conversation. The group was very engaged and had a lot to say – I ended up with 3 pages of closely written scribbles. I did an on-the-spot edit and read the poem back to the group
We finished by reading aloud some other poems, some ‘classic’ and likely to be recognised by the group, but also some newer and less culturally familiar work, including ‘Fairy Tale’ by Miroslav Holub and ‘A Portable Paradise’ by Roger Robinson. The group seemed to really enjoy the session and one asked if I’d be back ‘next week’!"
IRON ON HORN
The rods going into the open furnace
come out red hot, and he hammers
then claps the shoe on the horse’s hoof
and the smell is vile, iron on horn.
I never could believe the horses
never flinched, the noise, the nails
hammered in. And when they’d gone
us kids went in to pick up the manure.
You daren’t leave any. It was precious.
RED RIBBONS
I liked the old Shire horses – what
you might call a Shrops-shire!
I’d see them at the shows. I loved
their feet, the feather on their legs
their manes and tails all plaited up
with red ribbons. Such gentle creatures.
Good-natured said the greengrocer
except if you don’t get the round done
by 5pm. They’d just go home.
FAME
I was a jockey once. I won a race
in Weston-Super-Mare.
I was on a donkey and I won
the Donkey Derby.
I TOLD YOU
My family were greengrocers and till the early sixties
my uncle delivered round the estates with horse and cart.
You know, that horse went through the traffic
without so much as a blink.
But one day I was standing behind him
and he kicked me. And my uncle said I told you
not to stand behind that horse.
HIGH ON A SHIRE
Shires just a half mile away and I used to take
my daughter. Oh, she loved them.
And now we’ve got a photo of my grandson
sitting up there on high, only three years old.
DOBBIN
I went on a horse in a country lane in Ludlow.
Dobbin was a chestnut. I spoke to him softly.
I wore a proper riding hat, with a peak
and she helped me get up on the horse.
And I spoke to him softly and he must
have liked me because he didn’t gallop off.
And she said, Joyce, he likes you. We just
walked down the lane and I was in my glory.
RUNAWAY
Five kids, ham sandwiches, and my mum
all on the coach to Morecambe.
Ma, can I go on the donkey?
And then the donkey bolted.
I was running after it.
The donkey-man was running
after me.
And the donkey’s heading straight
for the sea and my daughter’s
still hanging on.
But then he stopped. We grabbed his head.
And we lifted her off the donkey.
Never again, she said.
Poetry walk
Social distancing has led to the cancellation of many events, but not all! In September 2020 Simon Fletcher led a poetry walk from Madeley Library to Bedlam Furnaces. On the way Simon shared poetry from Edward Thomas, Marilyn Gunn, Keith Chandler and Roger Garfitt, and Nick Pearson read an 'extinction' themed poem - all pieces related to the walk. Everyone enjoyed it, as these comments show:
The walk was leisurely and relaxed and took in some interesting local landmarks. Along the way Simon read walkers some poems by both contemporary and historical writers that reflected the natural environment and the industrial heritage of the area. It was a lovely way to spend a few hours in the early autumn sunshine, and I discovered some new places to ramble. I will recommend the poetry walk to people for next year’s festival.
Very well organised. Each poem shared suited the location perfectly, enhancing the whole experience. I would love to join similar walks in the future.
9th December 2016
Emma Purshouse performed twice at Southwater Library with a seasonal theme tied into Telford’s first Christmas European market. In this she created a poem called Telford at Christmas is… Overall 55 people contributed to the poem; we received contributions from people visiting the library and those working on and visiting the market.
Here is the poem Emma created.
Christmas in Telford is…
Christmas in Telford is all a twinkle,
it’s a big wheel and a carousel,
it’s spending time with your family,
it’s making a memory
with friends,
it’s marshmallow dips,
it’s Kholer Chocolate Kisses,
it’s my two girls,
it’s shopping with the missus.
Christmas in Telford is boring roundabouts
changed into islands of glistening snow,
it’s Caitlin crazy for Christmas lights,
it’s the Winter Wonderland,
it’s a trip to Ironbridge, which is always nice,
it’s beautiful red onions and a dash of hot stuff,
it’s a community feel,
it’s peace on earth,
it’s happiness,
it’s love.
Christmas in Telford is tinplate robins
(£8 each),
it’s people coming together,
it’s cool,
it’s putting hooks on hand-painted earrings,
it’s a day off school,
it’s shopping with toddlers, Taylor and Paige,
it’s spending all your money,
it’s pastry, nuts and honey,
it’s baklava from Sam,
it’s frankfurters, open cooking,
it’s Freya and granddad out with nan.
Christmas in Telford is waiting for the daughter,
it’s Isabelle’s shiny tree,
it’s a weekend away,
it’s a shopping spree,
it’s misery and expense,
it’s a ‘Miserable Scrooge’
or a ‘Grumpy Git’ beer,
it’s a load of hard work
for the traders here.
Christmas in Telford is access
for wheelchairs,
it’s a brass band playing in the square,
it’s coconut macaroons,
it’s handmade cookies and stollen,
it’s knitted jumpers,
it’s whacky and wild,
it’s a trip to Wilkinson’s
(after driving 150 miles!),
it’s a poetry reading
with a crying child,
it’s Primark with Zaynah and Katelyn,
and Layla and Taya.
Christmas in Telford is my own pot pourri,
it’s a mug of hot gluhwein
all cinnamony,
it’s busy and buzzy,
it’s a good place to be.
Christmas in Telford is cold,
it’s a bad weather bummer
for a homesick Argentinean
who prefers Christmas in summer!
Christmas in Telford is quality time,
it’s a day out with Matt,
it’s creating a Santa Paws
i.e. dressing up your cat!
Christmas in Telford is turkey,
it’s pork, it’s beef,
it’s roasted hog,
it’s an adventure with Edith,
it’s a shivering dog,
it’s a promise from Malc
to come again next year.
Christmas in Telford is festive cheer,
panning out from each and every market stall,
and a wish for a Merry Christmas
to one and to all.
Created by Emma Purshouse
(for Poetry On Loan and Telford Libraries)
11th May 2016
Jonny Fluffypunk conducted a fun poetry workshop with two reading groups that were none poetry readers. All who attended enjoyed the workshop, and here are some comments:
An inspiring, thought-provoking evening of poetry.
A light-hearted time with no pressure
Haven’t had such a fun evening in ages!
13th November 2014
Deb Alma, the Emergency Poet, entertained, soothed and possibly healed a number of people at Telford library with her poetry prescriptions.