Sea Swim poems to be part of festival

A NEW publication of Sea Swim poems by John Wedgwood Clarke will be launched at Scarborough Literature Festival next month.

Since May 2011, the Sea Swim project has helped bathers rediscover or experience for the first time the particular exhilaration, stimulation and inspiration that comes from swimming in the sea.

The shores have been awash with water-babies thanks to a series of organised swims which were followed by creative sessions in which original poems and creative writings were produced by those taking part.

Mr Clarke said: “The poems in this pamphlet explore the fluent, fragile and sometimes agonisingly pleasurable relationship between the swimmer, the land and the sea around Scarborough. They have been written as one of a number of artists’ responses to the Sea Swim project, which has encouraged more than 750 people across Yorkshire to dip their toes into the chilly waters off the Scarborough coast.

“Sea Swim explores how swimming transforms the way we feel ourselves to be in our bodies and the liberating effects these changes have on the imagination – a subject that lends itself perfectly to poetry.”

The new publication, entitled Sea Swim, which will feature a reading by Mr Clarke at Scarborough Library at 3.30pm on Sunday April 15, will be produced by the Scarborough-based Valley Press.

Scarborough Literature Festival runs from April 12-15.