Poet Laureate promises a feast of verse
STAFFORDSHIRE’S Poet Laureate is among those backing this year’s Staffordshire Day celebrations on Saturday.
Mel Wardle Woodend (right) promises a host of poetry activities, including a poetry film, an online recital of a specially commissioned poem and a Zoom call with local poets.
Mel’s film Echoes, which she produced with fellow poet Jon Watkiss, will celebrate the county town of Stafford, focusing on its geography, landscapes and past industry. Sandstone and Clay is a specially-commissioned poem for Staffordshire Day and explores some of the history, accent and dialect and the diverse landscape of the county.
Both will be streamed on Staffordshire Day on the Mel Wardle Woodend Author and Poet Facebook page and the Stafford Word Facebook page at 9am.
Alongside Mel’s own work, she and fellow poet Gary Carr will also be bringing together some of the county’s top poets for a poetry extravaganza on Zoom on Saturday between 2pm and 4pm.
People will be able to sign up for the event and hear from poets sharing poetry films they have made and also reading poems on the theme of “film”.
Talking about her plans for Saturday, Mel said: “As Staffordshire Poet Laureate, I’m once again really looking forward to our celebrations. Poetry is a great way of expressing ourselves and communicating our thoughts and feelings and is the perfect channel to let people know about our great county.
“This year, I’ll be showing my first poetry film about Stafford and also in the morning, doing a live reading of my Staffordshire Day Poem Sandstone and Clay.
“I’m looking forward to that and to the Zoom event in the afternoon, with many poets from across Staffordshire. I hope people can join us and take part in the activities.”
Janene Cox, assistant director for culture, rural and safer communities at Staffordshire County Council, said: “We all know what a great county Staffordshire is and what truly amazing people we have here, and this is our chance to tell everyone.
“As in previous years, our libraries service and our Poet Laureate will be taking centre stage with a whole range of creative online activities. There will be loads happening throughout Staffordshire Day on the libraries Facebook page and website. So, whether it’s poetry, author talks, stories, online crafts or quizzes, there will be something for all the family.”
Also in the line-up for this year’s celebrations is the first Staffordshire Day Film Competition. Judges are currently narrowing down the entries, and the winners will be announced on Saturday.