Arts organisation Poet in the City celebrated National Poetry Day, September 28th with a programme of events which closed with spoken word and music performances in front of the Sir John Betjeman statue at St Pancras International Station. The theme this year was Freedom with particular reference to the freedom to travel and the plight of migrants and refugees.
The first stop was Poetry Breakfast at L’Escargot in Soho where prize-winning poets Vahni Capildeo and Jo Shapcott were also in attendance and mingling with fellow poets. The In Transit series of pop-up poetry events at St Pancras International station began at 10am with poetry buskers ‘popping up’ around the station. During the lunch hour Rachel Long ran a poetry workshop at Hatchards. She also heads the Octavia collective for women of colour. The final performances came at 6.45pm – 7.45pm with poets and musicians sharing the stage – Jolade Olusanya, JJ Bola and Basel Zaraa amongst them.
Poet in the City CEO Isobel Colchester next to the statue of Sir John Betjeman
