This is a subject that could cover many volumes of books and many hours of talks. Jem Langworthy takes the English Civil War as his starting point and ends in the mid 20th century. We’ll hear poetry written by or from the viewpoint of (i) those in power, (ii) those who want power, and (iii) those over whom power is exercised – including poems by Marvell, Milton, Charles Dickens (yes, he wrote poetry), Yeats, Auden, Larkin and, holding centre-stage, Shelley.

An evening of poetry and prose presented by James Crowden and based on his new book ‘The Frozen River’.  

In 1976 James Crowden left his career in the British army and travelled the Northern Himalaya, one of the most remote parts of the world. The Frozen River is his extraordinary account of the time he spent there, living alongside the Zangskari people, before the arrival of roads and mass tourism.   James captured a crucial moment in time for this Himalayan community. A moment in which their Buddhist practices and traditions were threatened by the pull of a world beyond their valley.

Bring along a poem or two to read (your own or by another), or come simply to listen. These open evenings always result in an interesting mix of subject-matter and styles.

As February is the month of St Valentine, Heather has agreed to lead a meeting on the subject of love, a subject which, surprisingly, has not been covered by the group before (so far as I know). Please bring along a couple of your favourite love poems (we’ll want to fit in as many as possible so no 25-verse sagas please).

And, to add a little spice, we will hold an informal love poem competition. If you wish to enter, please bring along to the meeting a love poem of your own –no more than 20 lines or so. Give it to Heather when you arrive and don’t put your name on it (the entries will be judged anonymously during the break by Keita, our generous host at the café). All the entries can then be included in the poems read in the second half.

Entering this competition is not compulsory – if you want to just come and listen, please feel free to do so. That said, we hope that at least a few of you will enter as poor Heather doesn’t want to have to eat the prize (a heart-shaped box of chocolates) all on her own!

Jem Langworthy will guide us through the complexities of Eliot’s most iconic poem – one which can frustrate, baffle, intrigue and delight – explaining the imagery and allusions and examining why, nearly 100 years after it was written, this is still very much a poem for today.

This will be a lighthearted  open meeting and you are encouraged to bring poems relating to Christmas, New Year  or Winter. Mince pies will of course be available. The cafe will be open to provide seasonal liquid refreshment. 

Diane Summer leads this evening.   Will we all be sitting under the shade of a coolibah tree by the billabong while the hot antipodean sun shines……….?

There is much more to the vast continent of Australia than Waltzing Matilda – come along and hear the poetry.

These competition evenings are always fun!   The theme this year is ‘The Poetic Highway Code’ and this should bring forth an interesting collection of poems from our inventive poetry group members.

As always, we hope you can come and read your entry at the meeting, but if you cannot come or would prefer not to read, your poem will be read by one of our resident ‘readers’.

Ouir Judge this year is Sandra Snelling, well known for her work at the Swan Theatre in Yeovil.  

Note – Our venue is The Village Cafe in East Coker

Can poetry have therapeutic value?   Our main speaker will be a presentation by poet Ellie Sturrock who works within Dorset NHS.

Poetry group member Trevor Pearce will also be reading poetry from his personal experience.

This will be a ‘new area’ for the group and I hope it will stimulate interest in this facet of poetry.

Iona Lambe, Peter Tait, Stephen Beer and Catherine Simmonds each present a short reading of their personal choice of poetry.

This is likely to be a very interesting mix of poetry.