The winning July poem for VERVE Poetry Festivals monthly poetry competition, Poem of the Month. KAT DIXON WORDS FALL OUT OF MY MOUTH LIKE TEETH, CRUMBLING The grappa’s made from cumin here. La Trebbia bursts its banks three times a year. Mountains disgust themselves, shed rocks, fill roads. I haven’t understood a word since Tuesday, aspetta , Monday afternoon. The longest conversation is with Mina, who asks how many times I’ll throw her ball. Dov’è la pallina, Mina, dov’è? Fortunately, I speak the language of focaccia well. When the table laughs in unison, I bite my cheek, sip salt, lick blood, snort rosemary. Really, I could spit. A line of mountain is unbothered by a line of cloud. That mountain has been there for centuries. To the mountain, the cloud is a few half-seconds of vapour, indistinguishable from sky. To the mountain, the cloud is just the English girl who eats too much cheese, then vanishes. An impression is being made. This morning I almost talked about lunch. Your mother cuts me off if I’m not quick enough. The prosciutto knife does conversation too. Eyebrows can be noisy. Your father’s across a dinner table. Voices are raised and I cannot tell if it is a real fight or too much salt in the soup. He points to my empty glass of beer. Sì, grazie. At night, I walk barefoot on stone. The air gets slicker deeper in the forest. I catch my toes in soil, falter, chase sparks that vanish. On leaving, I learn it is the time of year. Lucciole, ma certo. Fireflies taste of sour pears and swallowed words. SHORTLIST Loneliness of the Fold by Jane Burn. You Know I Don't Like Grapefruit by Dean Atta. Mister by Alexandra Corrin-Tachibana. In This Classic Lesbian Love Story by Laura Stanley. Birds in the Flame Tree by Mark Fiddes. READ ALL SHORTLISTED ON OUR SUBSTACK The Winning Poet Kat Dixon is a queer writer based in London. Her poetry explores the intersections of modern life, social justice, and queer identity in a rapidly changing world. Kat’s debut poetry book eat the glitter is published with Broken Sleep Books. She performs regularly at theatres, pubs and festivals. You can find Kat’s writing in The Rialto, Magma, fourteen poems, Butcher’s Dog, Queerlings, Mslexia, The Letters Page, Southbank Poetry, Perverse, Sideways Poetry Magazine, Tears in the Fence, New Boots and Pantisocracies, Ink Sweat & Tears, Impossible Archetype, Bluebird and others; Her work has been published in anthologies such as Spectrum Anthology, Re:Creation Anthology and 10 Poets Travel to the Dark Side of the Moon with Sidekick Books. Kat’s work has been shortlisted for various prizes, including the Café Writers Prize, Verve Poetry Prize, the Rialto Pamphlet Prize, Sentinel Prize, Mslexia single poem prize, Waltham Forest Poetry Prize and the Ver Prize. Her poetry has been nominated for a Forward Prize for Best Single Poem. Kat has taught at festivals and events including the Aldeburgh Poetry Festival, Oxford Poetry Library and The Poetry School, sharing ideas on the role of AI tools in the creative process. She enjoys working in multimedia and produced poetry-objects such as fortune cookies filled with poetry and hand sanitiser poetry labels. Her poet-sculptor collaboration at APT Gallery with Dexter Dymoke explores how words intersect with visual play.

VERVE Poetry & Spoken Word Festival 2025 – Poet Feedback Form Thank you for being part of VERVE Poetry & Spoken Word Festival 2025! Your talent, energy, and words help shape this festival into a space of creative excellence and community. We are committed to improving the festival each year, and your feedback is invaluable in helping us do so This short survey will take about 5-10 minutes to complete. It focuses on your experience as a performer, the quality of the events and venues, the sense of community and inclusivity, and the long-term impact of the festival on your creative practice. Your responses will help us understand what worked, what could be improved, and how we can continue to make VERVE a meaningful, inclusive, and artistically inspiring festival. Thank you for your time and for sharing your thoughts with us! (For poets/performers at the festival) Overall Experience How would you rate your overall experience at VERVE Poetry & Spoken Word Festival?* (1 = Poor, 5 = Excellent) What did you enjoy most about performing, participating, or hosting at VERVE? Event & Venue Quality How would you rate the quality of the event(s) you performed in? * (1 = Poor, 5 = Excellent) Further comments How would you rate the venue?* (1 = Poor, 5 = Excellent) Further comments Did you feel the venue was accessible and welcoming?* Yes No Somewhat Please elaborate. Community & Inclusivity How well did the festival foster a sense of community among poets and attendees?* 1 = Not at all, 5 = Extremely well) Further comments Did you feel the festival was inclusive and representative of diverse voices? * Yes No Somewhat Please elaborate How did the festival contribute to your sense of belonging in the poetry/spoken word community?* Creative & Cultural Impact Did performing at VERVE influence your creative practice?* Yes No Somewhat Please elaborate Has the festival inspired any new ideas, collaborations, or projects for you? * Yes No If yes, please provide insight. How do you think VERVE contributes to the wider literary/spoken word scene?* Feedback for Future Festivals What was your favourite event at the festival?* What did you dislike or think could be improved?* What would you like to see more of in future editions of VERVE? * (Types of events, themes, collaborations, etc.) Do you have any final thoughts or suggestions?* Next

Poem of the Month, VERVE Open Door Free Poetry Open Mic, Free Young Person Poetry Programme at VERVE Spoken Word Festival, Mentorship and Supporting National Grass Root Poetry Nights. * for real * COMMUNITY POETRY PROJECTS If you don't know, now you know we run a series of free poetry events, actitivities and opportunities as VERVE Poetry Festival. We make zero profit. Everything we do goes back into poets and poetry culture. Take a look at what we do below. VERVE OPEN DOOR On the third Tuesday of every month we host an entirely free open mic at THE HIVE in Birmingham with a FREE poetry workshop in the day. We'd say it sells out every time but its free so selling out make no sense at all! There's free hot drinks and our founder (also the founder of VERVE POETRY PRESS) is almost always in attendance, you might say he's scouting for poetry talent. We've seen a few poets make there way from beginners to published poets. We do it because we love it! THE COLLECTIVE The Collective is a circular initiative developing 12 newbie poets into practicing artists. We ran it with no funding, no money, entirely for free from 2023-2024. The Collective Included; 2x poetry retreat days. 1-2-1 mentorship with a poetry publisher. Monthly writing circles. Monthly workshops. 4x Sharing events at venues in the city. We're strategising the next cohort and will create a dedicated page once we've got our ducks in a row. Previous cohort members have gone on to publish books, feature at international poetry festivals and national events. SUPPORTING NATIONAL GRASS ROOT POETRY & SPOKEN WORD NIGHTS We support grass root poetry and spoken word nights by paying them to feature at our festival INCLUDING; Empower Poetry The Big Gay Poetry Night I AM LOUD Scottish Poetry Slam Run Your Mouth Tell it to the Music We're structuring a funding stream from VERVE to support grass root events within their community, money to help with running costs, paying poets and marketing - with your help of course. Watch this space! YOUNG PPL & CHILDREN We host free activities including workshops, performances and reading opportunities in partnership with Writing West Midlands, The Poetry Society and The Poetry School. This is our initiative to support the NEXT GEN of poets via a free young persons event programme as part of the VERVE POETRY AND SPOKEN WORD FESTIVAL.

A free guide to reading and writing poetry on the theme of poets and poetry for young poeple aged 11-17 to enter our competition! POETRY RESOURCE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE We've created a document for young people to assist in reading poetry, finding the themes, tone and elements within poetry and a guide on how to write a poem! DOWNLOAD HERE SUBMIT YOUR POEMS HERE

WORK IN POETRY *submissions closed* (MORE NEWS ABOUT TIMESCALES ETC SOON) As part of our 2026 festival programme, VERVE Poetry Festival is excited to launch WORK IN POETRY — an open call for emerging experimental works in live poetry and spoken word. This showcase is a space for scratch performances, works-in-progress, and interdisciplinary pieces exploring the possibilities of poetry on stage. What We Asked For. We invited proposals from poets, performers, and artists working in and around poetry developing: Scratch performances or works-in-progress Experimental or interdisciplinary approaches Performance poetry that incorporates sound, movement, visuals, digital media, or audience interaction Projects that are part of a DYCP or other development process New voices pushing the boundaries of poetry on stage Old voices with new material. What We Offer. A professionally produced slot at VERVE Poetry Festival 2026 A £300 fee per performance (solo or group) Basic technical support and rehearsal time An opportunity to perform in front of a live audience and gather feedback Promotion as part of the official festival programme This is a testing ground, not a finished product. We welcome risk taking, raw edges, and creativity in development. When's the scratch event? Date: Friday 8th May 2026 Time: 2:30 PM – 5:00 PM Location: Birmingham Hippodrome Fee: £300 per artist/group Number of commissions: 4 Event type: Scratch performance showcase WORK IN POETRY is part of our wider programme celebrating bold, innovative, and experimental voices in poetry and live literature.

WE'VE GOT YOUR SUBMISSION Thank you for applying to WORK IN POETRY at VERVE 2026! We’ll be reviewing submissions over the coming months and aim to get back to all applicants in November. If you have any questions, email us at mail@vervepoetryfestival.com WRITE, CONNECT and GROW in our POETRY WORKSHOPS JOIN OUR SUBSTACK COMMUNITY DISCOVER BOLD, BRILLIANT POETRY IN OUR BOOKSHOP

VERVE OPEN DOOR COMMUNITY We're here for you and want to hear your thoughts on what we provide and how we can support you further. Thank you for being a member of our VERVE POETRY COMMUNITY. First name Last name First of all, do you like what we do? Tell us what and why? What can we do for you? Is there anything VERVE can provide for you in terms of poetry development, opportunities, community support or accessibility? Apart from VERVE, what other community groups are you a member of or associated with? How can we support / help other community groups you're a member of? How would you identify yourself? What's your postcode/location? What's your age group? 16-25 26-35 36-44 46-65 66-75 75+ Email Submit

The winning April poem for VERVE Poetry Festivals monthly poetry competition. RHIAN ELIZABETH APRIL POEM OF THE MONTH WINNER to the girl who said i’ll never be happy because i’m too picky you preferred orange juice to apple. this, i discovered, the morning after the night i had to sleep in the spare room because your breathing reminded me of my grandmother’s old fashioned kettle whistling in the kitchen whenever she made herself a cup of tea. after that, just to prove my unfastidious-ness, i took to bringing my own carton of apple juice round for breakfast, and even tried looking past the fact you never laughed at my leave the gun, take the cannoli joke when i handed you the bag of pastries in the italian bakery. who the fuck hasn’t seen the godfather? and who the fuck doesn’t know every single word to barbra streisand’s the way we were? i put up with a lot. oh, and by the way, i’d never dated someone shorter than me before i met you but i never looked down on you, not even for that. SHORTLIST Maria Taylor - Alternative Notes for a Love Poem Naomi Woods - 8 mins, 32 secs. Rob Walton - F Glorious F Kadie Newmen - Knock Out Coach Syd Meats - The Next Song on the Radio READ ALL SHORTLISTED ON OUR SUBSTACK The Winning Poet Rhian Elizabeth is a trainee counsellor and a writer. Her debut novel, Six Pounds Eight Ounces, was published in 2014 by Seren Books and is currently being adapted for TV, and there are the poetry collections the last polar bear on earth, published in 2018 by Parthian Books, and girls etc., by Broken Sleep Books in 2024. Her prose and poetry have been listed in various competitions and prizes and appeared in many magazines and anthologies worldwide, as well as being featured on BBC Radio 4’s PM programme. She was named by The Welsh Agenda as one of Wales’ Rising Stars—one of 30 people working to make Wales better over the next 30 years. She is a Hay Festival Writer at Work and was previously Writer in Residence at the Coracle International Literary Festival in Tranås, Sweden. Rhian Elizabeth’s maybe i’ll call gillian anderson is a raw, darkly funny, and deeply affecting collection that navigates the liminal spaces of love, loss, and reinvention. PRAISE for maybe i'll call gillian anderson : A poetic memoir like a rush of honesty to the heart (or Gillian Anderson’s answerphone.) — Caroline Bird

A curated selection of the best in contemporary poetry, essential "How To Write Poetry" guides, and a unique assortment of imported poetry books. Our collection also honors the great poets of the past who have shaped modern poetry. We provide value through discounted pre-orders, a rewarding stamp & save program, and enticing subscription options. Explore our collection today and discover why VERVE Poetry Bookshop is the go-to destination for poetry lovers. VERVE POETRY BOOKSHOP Discover VERVE Poetry Bookshop: Your Online Destination for Contemporary Poetry VISIT BOOKSHOP VERVE Poetry Bookshop started as part of our vibrant Poetry Festival in Birmingham. Since our early days at Waterstones, we've been dedicated to bringing contemporary poetry to life through carefully curated collections. Our festival bookshop has become a must-visit for poetry enthusiasts, featuring a wide selection of books from both visiting poets and the broader world of contemporary poetry. Our shelves boast titles from renowned poets like Imtiaz Dharker, Liz Berry, Kim Addonizio, Frank O'Hara, and many others. Whether you’re looking for emerging voices or classic poetry collections, our selection has something for everyone. Recognising the need to make our poetry book shop available year-round, we launched the VERVE Poetry Bookshop online. Here, you'll find a curated selection of the best in contemporary poetry, essential "How To Write Poetry" guides, and a unique assortment of imported favourites. Our collection also honours the great poets of the past who have shaped modern poetry. VISIT BOOKSHOP

The winning June poem for VERVE Poetry Festivals monthly poetry competition, Poem of the Month. MAX WALLIS JUNE POEM OF THE MONTH WINNER SHORTLIST Here’s to you by Rachael Clyne in praise of the queer minded. Refugee Handbook by Chiwenite Onyekwelu in praise of rain, and running to live. First Time by Amy King in praise of anticipation. Spring Clean by Kate Howlett i n praise of jewellery, joyous clothing and curved bodies. Cet automne-là, j’habitais au Gateau by Tina Selderholm in praise of cake and language. READ ALL SHORTLISTED ON OUR SUBSTACK The Winning Poet Max Wallis is an award-winning poet writing from survival. After spending 2024 in bed with complex PTSD, he founded The Aftershock Review, funded by Arts Council England for radical, resonant poetry. His poetry has appeared in Vogue, The Rialto, Poetry Scotland, and he came 3rd in the Michael Marks Environmental Poet of the Year Award 2024. His debut, Modern Love was shortlisted for the Polari Prize a decade ago. www.max-wallis.com

The winning September poem for VERVE Poetry Festivals monthly poetry competition, Poem of the Month. Heather Chapman Unsent Letter as Means of Transmutation Now I have known you an improbable couple of decades at last we can lie to each other, or at least beside each other. I picture you: staring at the ceiling, you pass a Renaissance hand over your ribs and everything is invention. In Vienna, now – you’ll recognise the stamp. Imagining us as the porcelain fountain in the market square, electric with wishes. I get my cavities filled with gold, jump to fifty. Remember our first year – our breath folded and fired like aeroplanes. Our fourth, silk – we linked pinkies, knuckled to a stitch. I can’t stop buying things for you: bottles of air from mountains, bottles of water from beaches. In twenty more years I will be a fistful of air and you will be that fist opening. SHORTLIST Axotol by Ben Rys Palmer Wish You Were Here, postcard to my unborn child by Angela Cheveau A list of things you don't want your colleagues to know by Khushi Bajaj Doings Coke with You by Ross McCleary To a Friend by Jennifer Wong READ ALL SHORTLISTED ON OUR SUBSTACK

The winning July poem for VERVE Poetry Festivals monthly poetry competition, Poem of the Month. Minal Sukumar SHORTLIST Nesting Grounds by Milla Van Der Have . Progress Log by Kadie Newman. Dead 8 launch hunting No 1 by Rish Dastidar . Opposites of ghosts by Dillon Jax. Place to Call Home by Denni Turp. READ ALL SHORTLISTED ON OUR SUBSTACK