​Announcing a new special e-pamphlet from Poetry NI for Christmas, by Elizabeth McGeown.

" 'twas two weeks before Christmas
and all through Belfast
people are trying to relive their past."

McGeown's epic poem 'twas captures many stories of the Christmas season: from the parties and celebrations, to the isolation felt by many, to commerce, music, TV specials and other traditions. It is a poem born of Belfast, and the unique situation the city centre found itself in during the wake of the Primark fire; but it also explores how Christmas can make us reflect on our own personal identity, and how we choose to engage with others.

Download for free now.

At last, it's here, Issue Nine of Panning for Poems (sorry for the wait). Enjoy the relaunch of your favourite micropoetry microjournal!

Issue Nine features: Alison Ross, Olga Dermott- Bond, Siobhan Elvis Atkins, Anna Murphy, Courtney Hilden, Geraldine Dardis O'Kane, Trish Bennett, Peter Adair, Juliet Wilson, Colin Dardis, Olive Broderick, Dan Eggs, Shannon O'Brien and Micheál Gallagher.

Plus, we are open to submissions for the next issue, see the link for details.

Our latest e-pamphlet, Changing Verses in Midstream, is now available for free download, especially compiled for National Poetry Day UK.

We put out a 24-hour writing challenge: to write a poem on the theme of 'change'. Poets had precisely 24 hours to respond to the challenge, write a new poem, and send it in to us.

We're delighted with the results and that so many decided to take up the task. Within, you'll find poems from Orla Fay. Trudie Gorman, David Braziel, Glen Wilson, Siobhan Atkins, Peter Adair, Jane Robinson, Jessamine O’Connor, Geraldine O’Kane, K.S. Moore, Trish Bennett, Colin Dardis, Andrew Roycroft and Rosie Burrows. 

Special thanks also to the Year 10 pupils from the Archer Academy in East Finchley, North London, who held a special writing special in school, in answer to our challenge. Well done all of them!

Happy reading, and happy National Poetry Day.

We're going to be at Titanic Belfast's August Arts and Animation Festival for some maritime poetry on the high seas!

Join us from 1.30-2.30pm on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th August for poetry from Amy Wyatt Rafferty, Ross Thompson (Saturday only), Mark Cooper (Sunday only), Geraldine O'Kane and Colin Dardis.

PLUS we've have OPEN MIC slots for anyone wanting to share a sea shanty or set sail on a sonnet! Just bring a poem with you on the day, come along and join in. Plus there will lots of other family-friendly events including walking tours, buskers, face painting, art trail, pop-up library and more!

Poetry NI is hosting a family poetry workshop, Say Hello to Haiku!, at Seamus Heaney Homeplace on Saturday 4th August, 11am.

"Seamus Heaney and WB Yeats both had a fascination with the Japanese art form haiku. A typical haiku is a three-line poem, often featuring an observation about a fleeting moment involving nature. In this fun and accessible workshop, parents/carers and their children can work together to create their own haiku exploring a variety of topics."

Tickets are available to book now, £5, £3 concession.
​

For the first time ever, we had joint winners at the Belfast Book Festival Poetry Slam! After three rounds, making it through to the final four, they came out with exactly the same score, so massive congratulations to our Slam Co-Champions for 2018, both highly deserving, Kavita Thanki and Dave Wilson!

Well done also to 2nd place Elizabeth McGeown and 3rd place, Anthony Ferguson for their excellent poems on the night too.

Deborah Bailey presented the Brian Bailey Memorial Cup to the winners on the night, many thanks to her, as well as our guest judges who assisted us in the scoring so well, Gaynor Kane and Siobhán McCafferty.

A big thank you to Gaynor and 2017's champion David Braziel for guest readings on the night too, and to the Festival team, staff and volunteers at Crescent Arts Centre for helping making it a special night. And of course, to everyone who came down, clapped, cheered and laughed along with us, we have a great time!