Arrival at Elsewhere

Readings from the collaborative pandemic-themed poem “Arrival at Elsewhere”

In this book-length poem, curated by Carl Griffin, poets from across the world speak in one voice in response to 2020’s life-changing pandemic. Not a definitive voice, nor an authoritative one. But a contrasting, contradicting, confused voice, set both in the UK and everywhere else, represented by one narrator who, just like the rest of us, is made up of a hundred different people. A narrator cohesive only in his/her/their contemplation of Elsewhere.

Elsewhere has arrived…

As part of the Tunbridge Wells Poetry Festival 2021, local poets who contributed to the book will read extracts, as well as some of their own poems:

The book was published by, and can be purchased from local poetry publishers Against the Grain Press. All profits are donated to NHS Charities Together

Sunday 15^th August 2:30 – 3:45 (online)
Free: Get Tickets

THE READERS:

Denise Bundred: Denise Bundred worked as a consultant paediatric cardiologist and her pamphlet Litany of a Cardiologist, was published by Against the Grain Press. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and has MA in Writing. She won the Hippocrates Prize in Poetry and Medicine in 2016, coming second in 2019 and third in the Ledbury Poetry Competition in 2019.

Karen Dennison: Karen Dennison’s pamphlet Of Hearts was published this year by Broken Sleep Books. She is author of two collections – The Paper House (Hedgehog Poetry Press) and Counting Rain (Indigo Dreams). Karen is editor, designer and publisher of a series of pamphlets where poets and artists respond to each other’s work. She is co-editor of, and cover designer for, Against the Grain Poetry Press.

Sarah Leavesley: Sarah Leavesley is a prize-winning poet, fiction writer, journalist and photographer, with poetry featured in the Guardian, Financial Times, The Forward Book of Poetry 2016, as a café mural, on the BBC, in buses and in the Blackpool Illuminations. Her award-shortlisted ATG pamphlet is How to Grow Matches.

Phil Vernon: Phil Vernon works as a freelance advisor to international humanitarian and peacebuilding organisations. His first collection Poetry After Auschwitz is published by Sentinel, Watching The Moon Landing is forthcoming from Hedgehog Poetry Press. His modern version of the mediaeval hymn Stabat Mater was performed at St Paul’s Covent Garden in 2019.

Steve Walter: Steve Walter, a writer and poet, has performed at the Edinburgh and Brighton Festival Fringes, based on his first book, Fast Train Approaching…, an account of life during and after breakdown and recovery. He has also shared other people’s stories in Voices: mental health survivors, carers, therapist, family and friends. His second pamphlet of poetry, When the Change Came was published by Indigo Dreams in 2016, and he is included in their recent tribute to Dylan Thomas, Dear Dylan. His 2017 long poem Gaia 2020, is essentially a love song to the planet, prompted by a question to his late parents, Mum a watercolour artist, and Dad a poet.