Funding for the poetry group in the Midsomer Norton library was withdrawn by B&NES Council, which I felt was a sad loss to the local community.

So, I asked around for a venue and eventually found great enthusiasm from the Full Stop Café at the Book Barn, Hallatrow. Beki opens the café for us so that we are provided with refreshments for the evening of lovely cakes and coffees. I host the poetry evening, and usually start it off by introducing a poet to the audience, and then opening the floor to poets from the audience.

We are not a high brow group – any poem meets the grade. Poetry can be very rewarding, and offers the opportunity to identify with experiences that others portray to support our own difficulties and trauma. It can also be huge fun, and there is plenty of humour in our mix. The purpose is simply to cultivate the love of poetry and the holding rhythm of words within the local community.

People can bring their own poems, those that are well known and they love, or those that are less known. Poets also love an audience, so there is no pressure to read or bring anything – we invite people to just come and listen. Young people from secondary school age are especially welcome to come and enjoy the evening.

At the moment it is a free event, but in order for the group to progress we are looking at inviting small donations per evening. This can be as little as £1, or nothing if you can’t afford it. This will go towards inviting guest poets, and hopefully, going forward, will subsidise poetry writing workshops.

Barn Poetry happens every third Tuesday of the month, from 7–8 p.m. (and lately has overrun, it is so popular!), the next one being Tuesday 17th October.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Shannon Turner