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

Founded in a poetry book shop as an idea in 2017, now a leading diverse, affordable poetry spoken word festival in Birmingham dedicated to poets and poetry lovers of all genres. WASN'T IT TIME BIRMINGHAM HAD ITS OWN POETRY FESTIVAL? From an idea floated on Twitter to a whirlwind force in the poetry world, Verve Poetry Festival (and our sister press) are proud to be a home for poets and poetry-lovers. From Waterstones to The Old Rep to The Hippodrome, and from a four-day programme to a five-day extravaganza, our festival continues to get better every year, welcoming award-winning poets from the Midlands, the UK and the world. We're thrilled collaborators with the BBC's Contains Strong Language Festival, extend our offering with a years worth of online workshops with some of the finest poets the world has to offer in addition to our trimphant return every February. THE COLLECTIVE THE BIRMINGHAM POETRY COLLECTIVE CHAMPIONING POETRY & SPOKEN WORD A COMMUNITY OF RISING POETS DEVELOPING THEIR CRAFT THROUGH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY, COLLABORATION, MENTORSHIP, READINGS, WORKSHOPS, EDITING, CAREER SUPPORT, EDUCATION, WELL-BEING, INDUSTRY REVIEW & COMMITMENT TO PLAY/PRACTICE. 23-24 we launched the pilot programme fund free. 24-25 applications will open in FEBRUARY 25. MONTHLY OPEN MIC Join us on the 3rd Tuesday of each month to socialise and jump on the mic, or just listen in to the eclectic and diverse voices of Brum. VERVE Open Door is a chance for you to try open mic poetry and spoken word for the first time, or share crafted existing poems that you've been performing for years. The open mic is all about you, wherever you are on your spoken word journey. This event is pure open mic - no headliner, no feature poet - so plenty of time for all to have a go. POETRY NIGHTS IN BIRMINGHAM MISSION Through a dynamic and thought-provoking programme of performances, workshops, and discussions, we aim to nurture creativity, amplify marginalised voices, and recognise established artists while providing a platform for new writers. We showcase the richness and vitality of contemporary poetry, championing a vibrant community that values artistic expression, cultivates empathy, and encourages dialogue. VISION The vision of VERVE Poetry Festival is to be a beacon for contemporary poetry, inspiring a diverse and inclusive community where artistic expression thrives, marginalised voices are heard, and the transformative power of poetry initiates empathy, dialogue, and positive social change. We aspire to create a lasting impact on the literary world, empowering individuals to boldly explore and develop their craft while celebrating the richness and vitality of poetic expression. OUR STORY 2023 CELEBRATING CONTEMPORARY POETRY We opened with our heartwarming Birmingham Schools Slam Final, followed by the Rathbones Folio Poetry Prize with Jackie Kay. Workshops by Helen Calcutt, Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan, Helen Mort, Will Harris, Scarlett Ward and Kathy Pimlott focused on personal experiences, resistance, mythology and sound. We presented our first Poetry Film Night and hosted a Poetry Society Young Poets Takeover. Our all day open mic was the busiest we've ever had and Nick Makoha united art, history, and poetry in our ANNUAL POETRY PERFORMANCE LECTURE. Harana Poetry LIVE brought a poetry magazine to life, and the festivals headline performances included Zaffar Kunial, Gregory Leadbetter, Jenny Mitchell, Jay Gao, Will Harris, Denise Saul, and a lively Saturday Night Stramash with Kevin P. Gilday, celebrating Scottish poets. 2022 OUR MOST AMBITIOUS FESTIVAL YET An extra day added to the programme for the introduction of Birmingham's School Slam Fina. We featured experimental poetry shows like Jasmine Gardosi’s Dancing to Music You Hate and extracts from Kat Lyons’ Dry Season. Our VERVE Poetry Performance Lecture in collaboration with the Poetry School returned with Stephanie Sy-Quia and we were proud to host showcases from Youthful Cities Exchange in the form of Transnational Lag Express and the One-off Online Poetry Festival, disproving two of their title words by putting on a second-edition of their festival on the VERVE stage. The staple brilliant workshops, glorious readings and boisterous poetry nights returned, this time with added accessibility via high-quality streaming. 2020 IN OUR NEW HOME We've landed in Birmingham Hippodrome’s wonderful Patrick Studio, with an integrated programme of POETRY WORKSHOPS, a celebration of poetry collectives - Barbican & Hippodrome Young Poets showcased their work! and a glorious attrium for Verve's Poetry Bookshop and the Poetry Machine. We were thrilled to welcome: Birdspeed, Rachel Allen, Roy Mcfarlane, Toria Garbutt, Mary Jean Chan, Caroline Bird, Andrew McMillan, Deryn Rees-Jones, Jonathan Edwards, Mimi Khalvati, Jaspreet Kaur, and Heather Phillipson. Yomi Sode delivered our second ANNUAL VERVE POETRY LECTURE made in collab with the Poetry School. 2019 A CHANGE OF SCENE For our third year we migrated over to The Old Rep. We welcomed: Inua Ellams, Bernadine Evaristo, Vanessa Kissule, Roger Robinson, Joelle Taylor, Rishi Dastidar, Alison Brackenbury, Jane Yeh, Sumita Chakraborty and many talented poets. We introduced new features to the programme, with Anthony Anaxagorou kicking off the ANNUAL VERVE POETRY LECTURE made in collaboration with the Poetry School . 2018 BIGGER & BOLDER We returned for our second year with a dizzying line-up, including Salena Godden, Luke Wright, Sabrina Mahfouz, Liz Berry, Imtiaz Dharker, Pascale Petit, Nuar Alsadir, Anthony Anaxagorou, Yomi Sode and so many more. Poetry, performance and genre-bending new work from around the globe, all packed into four days. 2017 THE YEAR IT ALL BEGAN Wasn’t it about time that Birmingham had its own poetry festival? Yes, it was. And after months of meticulous planning, the inaugural Verve Poetry Festival took place in February 2017. Taking over Waterstones in the heart of Birmingham City Centre, the festival brought together some of the finest poets from around the country, offering an exhilarating showcase of contemporary work.

VERVE Poetry & Spoken Word Festival 2025 – Audience Feedback Form Thank you for attending VERVE Poetry & Spoken Word Festival 2025! Your presence, energy, and engagement help make the festival what it is—a vibrant celebration of poetry and spoken word. We are always striving to create an inspiring and inclusive festival experience, and your feedback is essential in helping us improve. This short survey (5-10 minutes) will help us understand your experience at VERVE, from the quality of events and venues to the sense of community, inclusivity, and the festival’s cultural and creative impact. Your thoughts will shape the future of VERVE, ensuring it continues to be a welcoming and exciting space for poets and audiences alike. Thank you for your time and support! (For audience members) Overall Experience How would you rate your overall experience at VERVE Poetry & Spoken Word Festival?* (1 = Poor, 5 = Excellent) How many events did you attend? * 1-3 3-6 7-10 10+ What was your primary reason for attending? * (To see a specific poet, general love of poetry, networking, curiosity, etc.) Event & Venue Quality How would you rate the quality of the event(s) you attended? * (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 Did you feel a strong sense of community at the festival?* 1 = Not at all, 5 = Extremely well) Further comments Did you feel the festival was inclusive and representative of diverse voices? * Yes No Please elaborate Did the festival introduce you to new poets, styles, or perspectives? Yes No If yes, please describe* Creative & Cultural Impact Did the festival inspire or influence you creatively?* Yes No If yes, how? Has attending VERVE made you more likely to engage with poetry/spoken word in the future?* Yes No Somewhat If yes, please provide insight. Do you think VERVE contributes positively to the cultural landscape of Birmingham and the wider poetry scene? Yes No If yes, how? 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.)* (Types of events, themes, collaborations, etc.) Do you have any final thoughts or suggestions?* Next

We love to hear from poets of all genres. Join our poetry community via our newsletter for Online Poetry Workshops, annual Poetry Festival Line-Up, and poetry development opportunities. HELLO Contact Us See below for more information on volunteering, press, and sponsorship. If you have a proposal for the festival, get in touch via the form below. PRESS ENQUIRIES Get in touch with Stuart, our festival director for any press or media enquiries. We are happy to collaborate and are always looking to build relationships with content creators, editors, zines, publications, newsletters and independent writers. Mail PRESS ENQUIRIES mail@vervepoetryfestival.com VOLUNTEER WITH US Every year, Verve recruits a tightly knit group of volunteers who help us run the show. The opportunity is for absolutely everyone, whether you have volunteering experience or not; whether you spend 18/24 hours a day reading poetry or have only read one poem on the back of a napkin in cafe! It’s a great opportunity if you are looking to build a career in the arts, make new friends or explore something new. Mail VOLUNTEERING hayley@vervepoetryfestival.com REACH OUT First Name Last Name Email Message Send Thanks for submitting! JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

THANK YOU Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. Your insights are incredibly valuable in shaping the future of VERVE Poetry & Spoken Word Festival. We deeply appreciate your participation and hope that the festival has been a rewarding experience for you, both creatively and professionally. If you have any further thoughts or ideas, feel free to reach out to us—we would love to hear from you! We hope to see you again at VERVE in the future. Until then, keep creating, keep performing, and keep inspiring. With gratitude, The VERVE Festival Team

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VERVE FESTIVAL of POETRY & SPOKEN WORD Experience more poetry for your money with one of our FESTIVAL PASSES . £60/£45 (cons) FESTIVAL PASS £35/£26 (cons) SATURDAY PASS £20/£15 (cons) SUNDAY PASS £50/£35 (cons) ONLINE PASS FEBRUARY 13th - 16th 2025 FULL LINE-UP & EVENT PROGRAMME BELOW ALL EVENTS POETRY SPOKEN WORD WORKSHOPS YOUNG PEOPLE SPOKEN WORD VERVE X LOUD POETRY SLAM Birmingham Heat Thursday - 7pm More Info Book Stream Book Tickets WORKSHOP LYRIC SHAME Susannah Dickey Friday - 3:30pm More Info Book Tickets POETRY FRIDAY NIGHT HEADLINE EVENT Dzifa Benson, Anthony Joseph, Richard Scott with host Helen Bowell Friday - 8:30pm More Info Book Stream Book Tickets YOUNG PEOPLE POETRY SOCIETY YOUNG POETS OPEN MIC Saturday - 11:00am More Info Book Stream Book Tickets SPOKEN WORD POETRY PERFORMANCE LECTURE Susannah Dickey Saturday - 1pm More Info Book Stream Book Tickets WORKSHOP THE SWERVE Ruth Padel Saturday - 3pm More Info Book Tickets SPOKEN WORD BIG GAY POETRY NIGHT Joelle Taylor, Kandace Siobhan Walker & Sanah Ahsan Saturday - 8pm More Info Book Stream Book Tickets SPOKEN WORD OUR POETRY FESTIVAL COMPETITION EVENT Hannah Lowe Sunday - 11am More Info Book Stream Book Tickets POETRY LAUNCHING THE NEW CARTHAGINIANS Nick Makoha Sunday - 1pm More Info Book Stream Book Tickets WORKSHOP WHICHING AND PITCHING The Emma Press Sunday 4pm More Info Book Tickets WORKSHOP SPEAKING THE SILENCES : language of the lacuna Scarlett Ward Friday - 1pm More Info Book Tickets WORKSHOP TURNING MOVEMENT INTO POETRY Dzifa Benson Friday - 4pm More Info Book Tickets WORKSHOP MAKING THE ORDINARY EXTRAORDINARY Laurie Bolger Saturday - 9:30am More Info Book Tickets WORKSHOP ANCESTRY, INTERTEXTUALITY & GHOSTS Richard Scott Saturday - 12:00pm More Info Book Tickets POETRY MAGMA MATTERS: Past, Present and Future Various Magma Regular and Specific Issue Editors Saturday - 2:30pm More Info Book Stream Book Tickets SPOKEN WORD POETRY UNBOUND SPECIAL Imtiaz Dharker with Padraig O Tuama. Saturday - 4:30pm More Info Book Stream Book Tickets WORKSHOP THE WALL AS THIN AS A WREN's BONE Carrie Etter Sunday - 9:30am More Info Book Tickets WORKSHOP VALENTINES HOT & COLD Anthony Vahni Capildeo Sunday - 12pm More Info Book Tickets POETRY SUNDAY HEADLINE EVENT Helen Calcutt, Carrie Etter, Ruth Padel, Padraig O Tuama Sunday 2:30pm More Info Book Stream Book Tickets SPOKEN WORD VERVE CLOSING GALA WITH OPEN MIC Hosted by Sam J Grudgings Sunday 4:30pm More Info Book Stream Book Tickets WORKSHOP YOU WOULDN'T STEAL A POEM – a playful revolution Ellora Sutton Friday - 1:30pm More Info Book Tickets POETRY THE PAMPHLET HOUR Laurie Bolger, Troy Cabida, Betty Doyle, Ellora Sutton Friday - 7pm More Info Book Stream Book Tickets WORKSHOP THE SONNET: INSIDE & OUTSIDE FORM Anthony Joseph Saturday - 10:00am More Info Book Tickets WORKSHOP AFTER POEMS Theresa Lola Saturday - 12:30pm More Info Book Stream Book Tickets WORKSHOP FINDING MARY: IRISH ANCESTRY Helen Calcutt Saturday - 2:30pm More Info Book Tickets POETRY SATURDAY NIGHT HEADLINE EVENT Theresa Lola, Victoria Kennefick, Anthony Vahni Capildeo with host Jo Bell Saturday - 6pm More Info Book Stream Book Tickets WORKSHOP YOU. YOU. YOU. The Lyric Address in Poetry Padraig O Tuama Sunday - 10am More Info Book Tickets WORKSHOP A FAMILY AFFAIR Victoria Kennefick Sunday - 12:30pm More Info Book Tickets WORKSHOP SOUNDSCAPE IN POETRY Aoife Lyall Sunday 2:30pm More Info Book Tickets

VERVE FESTIVAL of POETRY & SPOKEN WORD Experience more poetry for your money with one of our FESTIVAL PASSES . £60/£45 (cons) FESTIVAL PASS £35/£26 (cons) SATURDAY PASS £20/£15 (cons) SUNDAY PASS £50/£35 (cons) ONLINE PASS FEBRUARY 13th - 16th 2025 FULL LINE-UP & EVENT PROGRAMME BELOW ALL EVENTS POETRY SPOKEN WORD WORKSHOPS YOUNG PEOPLE Heading 2 Big Title Heading 2 Button More Info Heading 2 Big Title Heading 2 Button More Info Heading 2 Big Title Heading 2 Button More Info Heading 2 Big Title Heading 2 Button More Info Heading 2 Big Title Heading 2 Button More Info Heading 2 Big Title Heading 2 Button More Info Heading 2 Big Title Heading 2 Button More Info Heading 2 Big Title Heading 2 Button More Info Heading 2 Big Title Heading 2 Button More Info Heading 2 Big Title Heading 2 Button More Info Heading 2 Big Title Heading 2 Button More Info Heading 2 Big Title Heading 2 Button More Info POETRY THE PAMPHLET HOUR Laurie Bolger, Troy Cabida, Betty Doyle, Ellora Sutton Friday - 7pm Book Tickets More Info Book Stream POETRY SATURDAY NIGHT HEADLINE EVENT Theresa Lola, Victoria Kennefick, Anthony Vahni Capildeo with host Jo Bell Saturday - 6pm Book Tickets More Info Book Stream POETRY FRIDAY NIGHT HEADLINE EVENT Dzifa Benson, Anthony Joseph, Richard Scott with host Helen Bowell Friday - 8:30pm Book Tickets More Info Book Stream POETRY LAUNCHING THE NEW CARTHAGINIANS Nick Makoha Sunday - 1pm Book Tickets More Info Book Stream POETRY MAGMA MATTERS: Past, Present and Future Various Magma Regular and Specific Issue Editors Saturday - 2:30pm Book Tickets More Info Book Stream POETRY SUNDAY HEADLINE EVENT Helen Calcutt, Carrie Etter, Ruth Padel, Padraig O Tuama Sunday 2:30pm Book Tickets More Info Book Stream