The Poetry Society

A blue square with the words Free Verse Prize in bold text along the left hand side of the square. In the top right hand corner are the logos for Arts Council England and The Poetry Society. Beneath this, in the bottom left hand corner is a glowing circle with text on top of it reading 'Last chance to enter'. Along the bottom of the square are the words 'Submit your poems by midnight on March 6th 2026'.

It's your last chance to enter the Free Verse Prize! The competition closes tomorrow (Friday 6th March) at midnight, so be in with a chance of winning £500 and having your work published in Poetry News, send us your poems via the link in our bio.

Happy #WorldBookDay!

Our brilliant Poets in Schools are delivering workshops and assemblies to thousands of young people across England this week.

Interested in booking a poet to visit your school? Fill in our enquiry form and get in touch with our Education team at bit.ly/PoetsInSchools

Image showing an illustration of a cloud and the words 'connecting poets and teachers'. Text in an orange star reads 'Double Bill! Free for teachers & poet-educators', with two arrows pointing to text in white on a red background, which reads 'Poet and teacher reading group, Monday 16 march, 4.30-5.30, Zoom' and 'Poetry Jam Jar CPD session with poet Rachel Piercey, Tuesday 24 March, 4-5pm, Zoom'. Below a logo for The Poetry Society in white and text in an orange box reading 'Find out more at bit.ly/CloudChamberPoetry'

Teachers/edu poets! Join our online network Cloud Chamber on 16 March for a relaxed reading group discussion. And on 24 March poet Rachel Piercey will deliver a CPD session on the Poetry Jam Jar - a simple tool you can use in the classroom. Both sessions are FREE & on Zoom

bit.ly/CloudChamberPoetry

Our Learning & Participation Coordinator Billie wrote the latest blog post on Children's Poetry Summit, reflecting on our annual slam for Tower Hamlets primary schools - an occasion when we get to hear stellar rhymes like 'dinosaurs come at night creeping / they arrive while your nana's sleeping.' 🦖

Image showing extracts from winning poems in the Breaking the Rules Challenge: a still from a video showing the words 'these rigid lines' in tic-tac-toe formation, a photo of handwriting shaped like lace, and a poem showing linguistic breakdown with dementia. Below the images, logos for Versopolis and The Poetry Society on an orange background.

Delighted to partner again with European poetry festival #Versopolis on #PoetryExpo26. We're showcasing winning poems from the Young Poets Network 'Breaking the Rules' challenge in the 'Unruly Forms' pavilion.

Explore work by poets from across Europe at versopolis.com/initiative/poetry-expo-26

Poem ‘My World’ by Sebastian Metcalfe https://poems.poetrysociety.org.uk/poems/my-world/

Poetry prompt by Gita Ralleigh

I’m in schools for a @poetrysociety.org.uk project, using this poem to design worlds where kids ride dinosaurs or butterflies, the air smells of magic & sprinkles, the rules are kindness, dancing and having fun. Without exception, they want worlds with NO war or violence.

A green square with the text 'Free Verse Prize, 2025 Winner' at the top. Beneath this reads 'from 'The Volunteers' by Oliver Fox.' The text from the poem reads ‘when the volunteers line up at my sink and each in turn washes a single dish I whisper thanks from the kitchen table where I roll my cigarettes a task the agency says the volunteers should not do on my behalf though the older volunteers will regardless insist in tender breach of protocol’. The bottom right hand corner is a drawing of a stack of plates, and behind the top text is a yellow glowing circle.

A blue square with the text 'Free Verse Prize, 2025 Highly Commended' at the top. Beneath this reads 'from 'A fistful of desert sand' by Inua Ellams. The text of the poem reads ‘he’s bent so low his slash is almost horizontal / the cut so quick the quick so clean we think the slim limbs of green don’t feel it / passing through their ankles / the moment before they are fat with chlorophyll and pleased to be alive / these upstanding citizens of the field / the moment next they are flat face down and leaking green’. In the bottom left hand corner is a drawing of some tall grass.

A red square with the text 'Free Verse Prize, 2025 Highly Commended' at the top. Beneath this reads 'from 'Tonal Modulation' by Tim Scott.' The text of the poem reads ‘Berets frisbee through the air, the squaddies whoop. / Two link arms and jig as, at that exact moment, a red sun slips behind the rooftops and the street pulsates with orange light.’ Beneath this is a drawing of a yellow half sun.

Less than one week until the Free Verse Prize closes! If you're looking for some inspiration, here are some extracts from last year's winning poems. You can read them in full at the link in our bio, where you'll also find information on how to enter yourself.

Free online writing workshop & open mic for poets aged 14-25 Saturday 7 March 2-4pm UK time Swipe to find out more

2pm onwards: writing workshop You’ll be guided through writing prompts to help inspire your entry to the Colour Challenge on Young Poets Network. This workshop will be facilitated by poet Sophie Herxheimer, who set and will judge this challenge. Anyone aged 14-25 is welcome to join! 3pm onwards: open mic Two-minute open mic slots are now available! Grab one while you can... Come along to hear a headline set from Young Poets Networker Sylvie Jane Lewis - plus a Q&A about all things poetry!

The workshop and open mic will take place over Zoom. Book your free space at bit.ly/ColourfulPoetry Open to poets aged 14-25 worldwide You don't need any previous experience writing or performing poetry to take part!

Calling all young poets aged 14-25 - join us at our next writing workshop/Young Poets Takeover double bill!

Book your free space: bit.ly/ColourfulPoetry

A poster for the Free Verse Poetry Prize. The left half of the image is green with black text, and the right half of the image is black with white text. In the top left hand corner is a yellow circle featuring the words 'Less than two weeks to enter!' Beneath this are the words Free Verse, positioned vertically against each other. Beneath this are the words 'Poetry Book & Magazine Fair'. The text on the right hand side of the image reads 'Now Open, Free Verse Prize 2026, First Prize £500 plus publication in Poetry News and book fair programme. Judged by Nina Mingya Powles. Competition closes midnight 6 March 2026. Visit the poetrysociety.submittable.come/submit'

There are less than two weeks left submit to the Free Verse Poetry Prize, closing at midnight on the 6th March. Send us your poems on any theme for a chance to win £500 and publication in Poetry News. Head to our bio and send in your poems!

Thank you for doing the visits, Josh! Hope you and the students have had a great time 🥳

The Poetry Society is delighted to be part of A New Direction’s Primary Arts In-Schools Touring Programme!

From today, six of our Poets in Schools are heading across London to deliver Poetry Jam Jar, a brand-new offer for state mainstream primary schools.

👉 Learn more: bit.ly/primary-arts

A bright blue a square with a yellow spotlight coming down from the centre top. In yellow are the letters Q, on the top left of the square, and A, on the bottom right of the square. Next to the Q are the words 'What's your favourite thing about being the organiser of this group?' Next to the A is the text 'I love having a group of people to meet with every month to discuss work in progress. It’s quite a short space of time (6pm-8pm) so mostly you’re getting to know someone through their work with snippets of their world each month. I love that slow reveal and the building trust.’ The text at the top of the square reads 'Stanza Spotlight, Folkestone, with rep Lydia Benson.' At the bottom of the square is The Poetry Society's logo in white. All of the text is black.

A purple a square with a yellow spotlight coming down from the centre top. In yellow are the letters Q, on the top right of the square, and A, on the bottom left of the square. Next to the Q are the words 'What's your favourite thing about being the organiser of this group?' Next to the A is the text ‘It’s great being exposed to so many different styles of poetry, getting references and reading recommendations, and having interesting conversations on everything from the bureaucracy of banking to the term ‘livestock’. We really enjoy being part of and helping to expand a local community of writers.’ The text at the top of the square reads 'Stanza Spotlight, Margate, with reps George Reiner and Jessica Rose.' At the bottom of the square is The Poetry Society's logo in white.

Ahead of their poetry night at The Poetry Cafe on Thursday 26th February, we've spoken to reps from the Folkestone and Margate Stanzas to see what they most enjoy about running their groups.

Tickets for the event are free for Poetry Society members and you can find out more in our bio.

All part of the service... 😊

Thank you! 😘

Thanks Sarah!

A bright pink square with the words ‘Today is our 117th Birthday!’ in the middle, in front of a glowing circle. Beneath this are the words ‘Championing poetry since 1909’. At the bottom of the square is The Poetry Society’s logo in white. Along the top of the square are rows of multicoloured bunting.

We’re 117 years old today!
The Poetry Society has been championing poets and poetry since 1909. If you want to help us continue our mission to promote the reading and writing of poetry, consider joining us as a member, or donating to us. We’d be delighted to have you. poetrysociety.org.uk

A pale blue square with the title ‘What’s Missing?’ in dark purple at the top. In the middle is a gold ticket at an angle, featuring the text ‘Theatre Poetry with Peter Oswald: Alice Oswald and Joanna Laurens’. Beneath the ticket and to the right are the labels ‘The Poetry Café, Wednesday 25th February, 6.30-8.30pm’. At the bottom of the square is the Poetry Society’s logo in black text.

There are just a few tickets left for our Theatre Poetry workshop on Wednesday 25th February, run by Peter Oswald. Book your tickets at the link in our bio and come along to The Poetry Cafe for an evening of discussion, reading, and writing.

Congratulations to BAFTA winner Dean Atta! Best British Short Animation with Two Black Boys in Paradise, based on Dean's poem.

An intriguing glimpse into the teacher CPD for our Poetry Jam Jar project with @anewdirectionldn.bsky.social !

Gita and 5 other poets are delivering CPD and workshops in primary schools across London for the Primary Arts Touring programme.

Posters are free - we just ask you to cover postage and packaging costs. 🚇

POETRY BY HEART: NORTH YORKSHIRE Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

These events will be a chance for selected pupils from local schools to perform in a multi-school showcase, with guest reader @mattabbottpoet.com

The team is running 3 online info sessions on 24 Feb, 26 Feb & 3 March where you can find out more. Register your interest at bit.ly/PBHNorthYorkshire

Photo of a teenager performing a poem at the Poetry By Heart finale. Black text in yellow boxes reads Poetry By Heart North Yorkshire Showcase, Ripon Library 18 April, Scarborough Library 25 April. Logos for North Yorkshire Council, Poetry By Heart and The Poetry Society at the bottom.

Schools in North Yorkshire! We're partnering with @poetrybyheart.bsky.social North Yorkshire Council School Improvement Service & North Yorkshire Libraries on 2 showcases!

Ripon Library, 18 April
Scarbrough Library, 25 April

Free to take part! #PoetryByHeart

Orange background with the Poetry Society logo in black at the bottom. Text in black reads I, too, am a survivor.My eroded coat dappled with lichen and stars.My spirited tail has longsnapped off.One millennium and then another has wheeled on bysince the potter squatting on his dusty stoolthumbed my jowls...‘Earthenware model of a horse, unglazed’, Sarah Howe, commissioned for the TIDE project, a partnership between The Poetry Society & the University of Oxford"

We commissioned Sarah Howe's 'Earthenware model of a horse, unglazed' for our TIDE project in collaboration with Oxford University.
www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/stories/if-m...

An orange background with the Poetry Society logo in black at the bottom. Text in black reads "Today in a horse landscape horses steam in the lee of thorn hedges on soaking fields. Horses waltz on iron poles in dank fairgrounds. A girl in jodphurs on Sand Bay leads her pony over and over jumps made of driftwood and traffic cones. 'The Horse Landscape', Helen Dunmore, runner-up in the 1985 National Poetry Competition

Kung Hei Fat Choi! Happy Lunar New Year! In celebration of the year of the horse, here are two horsey poems...

Helen Dunmore's ‘The Horse Landscape’ was runner up in the 1985 National Poetry Competition poems.poetrysociety.org.uk/poems/the-horse-landscape/

Our furniture is turning to nails’ ends and cows’ ears.
We’ve stored no provisions for molassesless times.
Like used-up, riled-up hives – our hearts.
Like pancakes burning in old butter – our backs.

'After the Calm', Paul Nemser, National Poetry Comp. 2014
poems.poetrysociety.org.uk/poems/after-...

Thanks for everything, Miles. It's been so special for us getting to work with you and PNN over the years. Very proud of all the poetry that has been written over the partnership. 💚

'The bottom of the wave that takes
the plover's carcass retreats through shingle
and, once more, the battered stones begin to sing.'
I find that @mrjohnmccullough.bsky.social _'s poems are amongst the rare ones which stay, lastingly,in the mind.These stones sing @poetrysociety.org.uk Poetry Review.

Announcing our CLiPPA 2026 Judges! | Centre for Literacy in Primary Education We are excited to announce that writer and poet Nicola Davies, the new Children’s Laureate for Wales, is chair of the judges for this year’s award. She is j...

The primary schools shadowing scheme helps schools explore the shortlisted collections with specialist @theclpe.bsky.social resources. Find our more and register for your school to take part in the scheme at
clpe.org.uk/news/announcing-our-clippa-2026-judges

Graphic showing photos of CLiPPA judges Anjali Patel, Jake Hope, Lisa Mead, Colette Hiller and Nicola Davies. A purple background with gold sparkle and the CLPE logo.

This year's CLiPPA judges have been announced! Children's Laureate Wales Nicola Davies chairs the panel, joined by 2025 award winner Colette Hiller, Carnegie Medals Awards Exec Jake Hope, Lisa Mead of Apples & Snakes, & teacher Anjali Patel. CLiPPA celebrates the best published poetry for children.

We're thrilled to be teaming up with Borough Road Gallery at LSBU on our newest Young Poets Network writing challenge, all about colour!

We can't wait to read your colourful poems! Head to bit.ly/YPNColourChallenge for prompts from poet & visual artist Sophie Herxheimer. Deadline 12 April.