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Manchester Writing School invites students to share poems of peace

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By Jacqueline Grima


After the tragic events of the past week, the team at Manchester Writing School will be holding a drop-in poetry session on Tuesday 30th May at Number 70 Oxford Road. The Poems for Manchester event will invite students to share words and poetry and is intended to provide a supportive and peaceful space for anybody affected by the recent attack at Manchester Arena.

The event was inspired by writer Tony Walsh who performed his powerful poem ‘This Is the Place’ at the city’s vigil held in Albert Square after the attack. The poem praised the city and its people and was greeted by applause from listeners.

Poet and Manchester Writing School Lecturer Helen Mort, who organised the event, said, “I think we turn to poetry at times when we’re in need of consolation and connection because it is a universal language, speaking across time as well as across space. The poem that Tony Walsh read on Tuesday after the tragic events at Manchester Arena was a great example of that. Next week, I’m hoping that we can bring staff and students at Manchester Met together to share poems of peace.”

The event will take place between 12 and 1pm and is informal. Students are welcome to bring along a poem that they have written themselves, one written by someone else that they would like to share or even song lyrics or a quote. Anybody who wants to simply listen to the readings is also welcome to attend.

For more information, contact Helen at H.Mort@mmu.ac.uk

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Jacqueline Grima

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