There’s no better way to start off the year than with the beauty of poems. This Poetry Afternoon we’ll read three poems from the collection These Hard and Shining Things. There’s no need to prepare and no need to be ‘into poetry’ – although poetry fans are more than welcome too, of course. There’s no preparation needed, whatsoever: we'll gather the specific poems we're reading this session on a handout for you, and we'll read them together on the spot.
Who are we reading?
These Hard and Shining Things collects the voices of poets Rowan Evans, Sir Geoffrey Hill and Toby Martinez de las Rivas. They're are all English, male poets, both younger, older and passed away; renowned and lesser-known. Here’s more information on Evans, Hill and Martinez de Las Rivas:
- Rowan Evans (1991) is a poet, sound artist and composer born in 1991. He studied at Cambridge and Bristol universities. His debut collection is A Method, A Path (2023).
- Sir Geoffrey Hill (1932 – 2016) was a professor of English language and religion at the University of Oxford and has been called the greatest living poet in the English language. He has been awarded numerous prizes, and wrote multiple poetic works.
- Toby Martinez de las Rivas (1978) grew up in Somerset and went on studying history and archaeology. He has published, among other work, three bundles that have been shortlisted for several prizes.
What to expect?
The session will start at 4:00 PM with some coffee and tea and some time to settle in together. There is no need to prepare anything; we'll have the readings with us! We have selected three poems, one by each writer, which we will read together. Then, there is some time to reread in silence, after which we will discuss what we think and feel about the poems. All input, from poetry newbie to literature student, is most welcome.
Summarized, join us for some chill poetry reading time. We’re looking forward to seeing you! Don’t forget to sign up for one or more of the sessions (the others take place on January 6th and 13th).
Reading Club: Poetry Afternoons are organized by NEWConnective, VU’s Platform for Life’s Big Questions. Do you want to stay up to date? Follow us on Instagram (@newconnective) or join our community on WhatsApp.