This week, on My Poetic Side, we look at the recommended poetry books from National Poetry Day and the poet who describes a mental health journey through her poems. We also cover the former UK Labour leader’s poetry reading from this weekend past.
Recommended Reading From National Poetry Day
This year, as with any other, there has been much excitement over the release of the National Poetry Day team’s curated list of recommended works. The team aimed to put together a list of poetry anthologies and collections that cover the diverse world we find ourselves in. They have focused heavily on topical, profound works from a number of well-known and lesser-known writers.
As expected, one of the first recommended works is the Forward Book of Poetry 2024. The newest collection of contemporary UK and Irish poetry comprises poems on a range of topics, some winners of this year’s Forward Poetry Prize.
In addition, spiritual poetry collection Soul Feast, edited by Neil Astley has also made the list. This collection of poetry has been curated to soothe the spirit and make people think, with a broad range of translated poems included.
Other collections include ISSAL, the debut collection from Susannah Dickey, which focuses on the growing interest in true crime documentaries, as well as Kae Tempest’s Divide By Itself and One, which explores our emotional state and Ambushg at Still Lake, a vivid and somewhat comedic exploration of lesbian marriage and parenthood.
Poet Explores Mental Health Journey in New Collection
Columbus-born poet Shelby Leigh has spent the last few years inspired by a leap into a river in the El Yunque rainforest. Struggling with her mental health and grappling with self-doubt, insecurity and anxiety, she has crafted her experiences into a collection of poetry due to be released in October. From Sand to Stars will cover the vulnerable states many of us find ourselves in and is eagerly awaited by those who have followed the writer’s journey – initially anonymised – on Tumbler and now on social media.
After her river experience in the rainforest, Leigh realised that over time, she was becoming less under pressure, and more in love with herself previously. While she accepts she does not have everything figured out, the aim of the collection is to ensure others become aware that the passage of time is intrinsic to their mental health.
Corbyn Reads From Poetry From The Many
This weekend past, Jeremy Corbyn attended an anti-war gathering and literary reading, joining Unite leader Len McCluskey in reading from a collection of poetry entitled “Poetry for the Many.”
Corbyn noted that a great number of poets had been created in Ireland, noting that for a country so small, this was quite an achievement. He went on to speak about his favourite poems, including those ranging from William Wordworth to Somali-British poet Warsan Shire. Yeats, Shelley and Oscar Wilde were also included within the readings. It is reported that all royalties from the sale of the collection will be donated to Corbyn’s Peace and Justice Project.
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