East Coker Poetry Group
About The Group
East Coker is a picturesque South Somerset village of around 1800 inhabitants, a few miles south west of Yeovil. It is famous for being the birthplace of the navigator, pirate and botanist, William Dampier, who explored the west coast of Australia, and as the burial place of the great 20th century poet, Thomas Stearns Eliot. The village was immortalised in TS Eliot’s Four Quartets, published in 1943.
In my beginning is my end. Now the light falls
Across the open field, leaving the deep lane
Shuttered with branches, dark in the afternoon
Where you lean against a bank while a van passes,
And the deep lane insists on the direction
Into the village, in the electric heat
Hypnotised. In a warm haze the sultry light
Is absorbed, not refracted, by grey stone.
The dahlias sleep in the empty silence.
Wait for the early owl.
Although the poet was born in St Louis, Missouri, in 1888, he moved to England as a young man and remained here until his death in 1965. His ashes are buried in the churchyard of St Michael’s Church, and there is a commemorative plaque in the church. With this heritage, there is an understandable enthusiasm for poetry in the village and we decided to form the East Coker Poetry Group. Meetings are entertaining, informal and sociable. Membership is free and everyone is welcome, including visitors to the village.
Group Meetings
Our meetings regularly attract 20 – 30 poetry lovers. For many years the group met in the Helyar Arms in the village, but we will now be based at the Village Cafe :- The group meets in The Village Cafe, The Old Coach Yard, East Coker, Somerset, BA22 9HY
For more information, contact David Cloke.
For information about our meetings please contact the group via our website contact form
Porches and Poems
An Audio-visual presentation by Gini Astley.
During lockdown Gini and her twin sister Alison, a conservation architect, visited many local churches and although not able to enter, found inspiration in their porches. Gini’s poems and Alison’s drawings have been put together to make a unique record of these visits.
At the Village Café, 7.30pm
Christmas Meeting
Will there be both mince pies and poetic mince pies? Even accordion music?
The Christmas meeting is always a more informal meeting where anything may happen.
Come and relax and enjoy the evening and read a Christmas poem if you wish……
At the Village Café, 7.30pm
Paul Simon - 'A poet and a one man band'
“A Poet and a one man Band” is how Paul Simon describes himself.
Heather Murphy with June, Joyce and Jill are presenting an evening of this prolific poet and song writer’s work.
At the Village Café, 7.30pm
Covid Advice
Please follow any government and NHS guidance.
If you have any cold-like or flu symptoms please avoid coming to the meetings even if you have a negative flow test. Do wear a face mask at meetings if you wish to.
Please check this website before attending any event, just in case we have to cancel an event at short notice due to changes in the COVID situation or rules.