| Status: | Active, open to new members |
| Group leader: | |
| When: | On Mondays 2:15 pm alternate weeks |
| Venue: | Wells |
Leader:
Norman
Who wrote..?
"In my youth," said his father, "I took to the law,
And argued each case with my wife;
And the muscular strength, which it gave to my jaw,
Has lasted the rest of my life." *
We meet every other Monday afternoon to read and discuss poetry, not just humorous poems but some very serious. Each other meeting is devoted to the work of one poet, chosen by a member of the group, while the rest of us search books, or the internet, to find examples of his or her work. Some choose well known poets while some try to find others few of us have heard of, whoever is chosen we all read and try to appreciate them. Of course some choices can inspire comments such as ‘that’s not poetry!’ then there’s a discussion about how do you define it.
Alternate meetings are devoted to a subject, also chosen by one of the group.
Each year we have a day out in the summer, a visit which has a poetic or literary connection. Our year always ends with celebration of Christmas and seasonal poems, a meal, crackers and mince pies to follow – come and join the party!
If you think we sound interesting and would like to join contact me using the link above.
Norman
*The poet was Lewis Carroll, from Alice in Wonderland
Please contact the group leader using the link above.
Summer 2025 Report
Which poet also wrote regular jazz record reviews for the Daily Telegraph between 1961 and 1971.*
We meet every two weeks to read poems by a selected poet, or poems on a particular subject, all chosen by members of the group. This year we have explored poetry as diverse as The Brontë sisters and James Joyce (I for one never knew he wrote poetry) as well as modern poets such as Caroline Bird and Jo Shapcott.
Each summer, before our August break, we have enjoyed the hospitality of one of our members in Wilton. The subject was ‘War and Peace’, most appropriate as in the past Wilton suffered two battles, one in 871 between King Alfred and the Vikings and the other in 1143, during an early civil war known as the Anarchy between Stephen and Maude/Matilda. There was also a literary connection, as in Tudor times the then Countess of Pembroke in Wilton House presided over an “Arcadia” of artists, writers and poets including Shakespeare and the highly likely first production of ‘As You Like It’.
Norman
* The poet was Philip Larkin
