November sees the centenary of the Armistice which brought an end to the First World War.

Jem Langworthy presented – with the aid of volunteer and conscript readers – an evening of poetry written by and about those who lived through the years 1914 to 1918, from the jingoists to the pacifists and the soldiers who found themselves ‘here because we’re here because we’re here…’.

We saw how the war affected the poetry of some well-known writers and heard some too-often overlooked poetry written by women – nurses, wives, girlfriends, mothers. In addition to some refreshingly humorous verse written at the time we looked at poetry written long after the war which attempted to put it in some perspective.

Kim Squirrel and music

Bridport poet, Kim Squirrel, comes to East Coker 

An open meeting to bring some poetry books or booklets and tell us how the cover design works for you – and why.  

And perhaps read a poem or two from the books…….

This was a joint meeting with the Wells Fountain Poets and Taunton Fire River Poets at the excellent Great Bow Wharf facility in Langport.

It was a lovely relaxed day.  The sun shone; the poetry flowed; a good time was had.

Readings from the Bard’s poetry or plays.  

Heather Murphy coordinating the ecellent evening and many of our members read from a good variety of Shakespeare’s poetry and plays.  

Underground poetry in all senses of the word.   

Mind the gap – and expect the unexpected.   Caroline Mornement put together this poetic evening.

Foothold is a celebration of the West Dorset landscape in its changing seasons and climate. 

There are poems which explore the time and tiny place we humans occupy in earth’s history and poems on the theme of music (the poet’s husband is a composer), of love in old age and of love for a young grandson.

Pam Zinnemann-Hope’s first collection, On Cigarette Papers, was shortlisted for the Seamus Heaney Centre Prize and adapted by her for the Afternoon Drama on BBC Radio 4, in which she also acted, alongside Eleanor Bron, Greg Wise and Emma Fielding.  

As with many poets before and since, Scannell’s prize-winning poetry – which covered topics ranging from love, war, ageing, fear, remorse, and even verse for children – seems to have sprung from the fertile soil of a disturbed and damaged life. Yet his verse, greatly admired by the likes of Seamus Heaney, is written in an accessible style, often laced with an engaging dry humour. 

Jem Langworthy, who copy-edited his biography for Oxford University Press, presented an evening about this British poet and author who at one time lived locally at Nether Compton. 

A meeting open to anyone to read a poem or two.  Bring some poems to read or just come and listen and enjoy the ambiance.

These meetings are always popular

Hourglass was a poetry reading, to entertain, to stimulate, to give witness and testimony to the hard lives of sailors in war and peace.
A speaking of sea verse, written by Edward Hawkinge