Poetry / Raise The Bar
REVIEW: Poetry for the Many, Bristol Beacon – ‘An enlightening evening’
Poetry and Jeremy Corbyn might not seem like the most obvious combination, but actually, it turns out Corbyn has a deep love of poetry, something he shares with trade union leader Len McCluskey.
The two used to spend time together discussing poems in their respective offices, leading to their decision to co-edit the poetry anthology that became Poetry for the Many.
The resulting collection is the focus for this special sell-out Raise the Bar event at the Lantern Hall in the beautifully renovated Bristol Beacon, brightening up a rainy Tuesday night.
is needed now More than ever
The evening opens with Corbyn in conversation with Bristol City Poet Kat Lyons and Raise the Bar’s Danny ‘Craft-D’ Pandolfi.
Unfortunately, McCluskey could not attend due to personal reasons, sending his apologies in a brief introductory message.
Craft-D, Jeremy Corbyn and Kay Lyons at Poetry for the Many, Bristol Beacon – photo: Raise the Bar
Corbyn has always enjoyed poetry, mentioning a fond childhood memory of his teacher reading the class a poem every Monday. He and McCluskey wanted to create an anthology of poems that had left an impact on them, including those reflecting different genders, races, creeds and ideas. A collection, as the title suggests, for the many, and not the few.
After the intro, the night moves on to poetry readings from the anthology. Before each one, the panel discuss some of the potential meanings and interpretations, with particular insights from Corbyn about why they were included in the anthology.
The first poem In Jerusalem by Mahmoud Darwish feels particularly poignant given recent events. Corbyn had invited a man, originally from Gaza, who has been in the news lately for performing a hunger strike in support of a ceasefire.
Photo: OR Books
The other poems are all equally thrilling, taking us from 17th-century feminism with You Foolish Men by Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, to hope in a post-apocalyptic landscape with The Horses by Edwin Muir.
The event concludes with a short Q&A, underpinned by an overarching theme of hope. Finally, the three panellists perform the last three stanzas of Shelley’s Mask Of Anarchy – which, echoing the anthology title, ends with a reference to ‘the many’.
Overall it’s an enlightening evening that reflects Corbyn in a new light, diving into his thoughts and ideologies on topical issues through the lens of beautiful and carefully selected and poetry.
The next Raise the Bar event: Poetry Against Patriarchy, headlined by Jasmine Gardosi, is at Strange Brew on March 5 at 7.30pm. Tickets are available at www.headfirstbristol.co.uk. Follow Raise the Bar @rtbspokenword on socials.
Main photo: Raise the Bar
Read more: ‘A major talent in the making’: Bristol-based poet Kaycee Hill
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