Love Poetry
In February 2007 Poet in the City hosted Love Poetry, an event at the National Portrait Gallery featuring James Fenton, Wendy Cope, John Fuller and Hugo Williams, each reading some of their favourite love poems (and some of their own poems about love). This event coincided with the publication of the New Faber Book of Love Poetry, edited by James Fenton.
Pukka Poetry
On 18th May 2007 Poet in the City hosted an event for new audiences at the National Portrait Gallery. Pukka Poetry featured three exciting contemporary poets of Indian origin: Daljit Nagra, Tishani Doshi, and Sandeep Parmar.
Wendy Cope in Oxford
Also in May, Poet in the City travelled to Oxford for a well-attended event at St Hilda’s College. In addition to our patron, Wendy Cope, the event featured the poets Joanne Limberg and Caroline Bird.
Spoken word
In June 2007 Poet and the City joined with Apples & Snakes for a special event featuring some the UK’s most exciting contemporary performance and spoken word poets: Patience Agbabi, David J, Suzanne Andrade and Polar Bear. The New Audiences committee of Poet in the City ran the event, which was hosted by The Guardian Newsroom in Clerkenwell, London.
Trees in the City
This event in June 2007 featured an original suite of poems by Patience Agbabi, Matthew Hollis and John Burnside. The poems were commissioned by Poet and the City to highlight the problem of climate change. Project sponsor Lloyd's of London sponsored the event, which took place at the celebrated Lloyd's Building in the City of London. A limited edition Trees in the City booklet designed by the UK's Young Designer of the Year is available for £5 at Poet in the City events.
>> Learn more about Trees in the City
>> Hear the poets read their Trees in the City poems
John Betjeman and Friends
Poet in the City's new Friends scheme launched with a summer party event featuring the poems of John Betjeman. The event took place in a marquee on the lawns of Imperial College, at the foot of the Queen’s Tower, which was saved from demolition by Betjeman's intervention. If you missed this event, it is not too late to take part in future exclusive events for Friends of Poet in the City.
>> Become a Friend of Poet in the City
Poetry and Science
On 3rd July 2007, Poet in the City held an event hosted by Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, featuring poetry about science, with readings by Lavinia Greenlaw, Maurice Riordan, Mario Petrucco and Michael Symonds-Roberts. Taking place at the newly refurbished Wellcome Collection, the event included a lively Q&A session moderated by Baroness Kennedy.
Anna Ahkmatova
This event on 18th September 2007 featured poetry by the great Russian poet Anna Ahkmatova, read in Russian and in English translation, and a discussion about Ahkmatova and her life by critic Elaine Feinstein and novelist DM Thomas (the two leading translators of Akhmatova’s poetry). The event was co-sponsored by Amnesty International and held at their UK headquarters.
Poetry and Power
This event on 2nd October 2007 was hosted by Baroness Helena Kennedy QC and held in the Members' Dining Room at the Houses of Parliament in Westminster. The event featured the nation's poet laureate, Andrew Motion, our poet in residence, John Mole, and the poets David J and Tishani Doshi.
Poetry Breakfast
On 4th October 2007 we began our National Poetry Day celebrations with a City-style poetry breakfast, featuring the acclaimed contemporary poet Clare Pollard reading a selection of her poetry.
East End Poetry
On 4th October we rounded off National Poetry Day in style at this fabulous New Audiences evening event, featuring some of the most exciting poets based in, or writing about, the East End of London, including Shamim Azad, Polly Atkin, Tim Wells and Kit Wright.
Poetry and Family
On 18th October we held an event at the National Portrait Gallery in London featuring poets who have written about the family.
W.H. Auden
This event on 31 October at Christies celebrated the life and poetry of W.H. Auden and marked the centenary anniversary of his birth. Speakers included Kate Bucknell, Simon Callow, John Fuller, Lachlan Mackinnon and Peter Mudford.