Bristol, the harbourside city of south west England, has been known for many things – its music, its street art, its heritage, and more recently, its poetry. Over the last few decades, the city has experienced a vibrant and diverse poetry scene. From cafes to pubs, bookshops to community centres, Bristol is now home to a variety of poetry events and groups. In this article, we will explore the rich tradition and evolution of Bristol poetry.
One of the earliest known poets to come from Bristol was Robert Southey (1774-1843), an English poet of the Romantic school. He was born in Wine Street and wrote over 900 poems in his lifetime. His most famous works are “Thalaba the Destroyer”, “The Curse of Kehama” and “Joan of Arc”. He was appointed Poet Laureate in 1813, succeeding his friend Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who also lived in Bristol for a period.
However, it is fair to say that Bristol’s contemporary poetry scene gained momentum in the 1990s, primarily through the emergence of a number of poetry events and groups such as the Bristol Poetry Slam, The Portcullis Poets, and The Poetry Can. The latter is an umbrella organisation that supports the production and promotion of poetry in the South West, collaborating with artists, schools and community groups.
One of the biggest poetry events in Bristol is the Bristol Poetry Festival, organised by Poetry Can. It features a range of local and international poets, performances, workshops and talks. 2020’s festival was a virtual one due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but previous years have seen workshops by poets like Warsan Shire, Liz Berry and Simon Armitage. Such festivals and events not only showcase and celebrate Bristol’s diverse poetic landscape but help inspire and bring together poets and poetry enthusiasts from the city and beyond.
Bristol’s spoken word scene has grown from strength to strength in recent years, becoming increasingly diverse and inclusive. The spoken word genre is often associated with the likes of George the Poet, Kate Tempest and Scroobius Pip and there are a growing number of spoken word artists emerging from Bristol too. Groups such as Raise the Bar and Milk Poetry have brought a fresh and exciting dimension to poetry in the city, with spoken word nights, slams and performances.
Performance poet Vanessa Kisuule is one of Bristol’s most successful and celebrated poets. She won the Hammer and Tongue National Poetry Slam in 2014 and the Roundhouse Poetry Slam in 2019. Her poetry addresses themes of race, gender, politics and social injustice. She is also a workshop facilitator, mentor and writer across a range of genres. Vanessa is amongst a growing number of poets who use their platform to address important contemporary issues in a thought-provoking and impactful way.
Bristol boasts a rich and diverse range of voices, with poets like Holly Corfield-Carr, Rebecca Tantony and Stephen Lightbown using their words to tackle gender, sexuality, identity, loss and environmentalism. These themes resonate with audiences and speak to the city’s progressive and socially-aware character. These poets showcase the power of poetry to not only entertain and enlighten, but also inspire and provoke change.
Bristol’s poetic landscape has evolved over the years, and the city has become a hub for poets from all walks of life. From traditionalists like Southey to contemporary artists like Kisuule, Bristol has seen a variety of approaches and styles. Genres such as slam poetry, spoken word, performance poetry and page poetry, have emerged and flourished in Bristol, helping to shape and define the city’s poetic identity.
In conclusion, Bristol has steadily become one of the UK’s most important cities for poetry, with a rich and diverse history that spans cosmopolitan, traditional and experimental forms. Its vibrant and inclusive poetry scene caters for all tastes, whether one enjoys traditional sonnets or bold boundary-pushing performances. The city’s success in showcasing and promoting its poetic talent at events and festivals is a testament to the vitality and creativity of its poets. Bristol has become a city of poetry, a place where rhyme, rhythm and reason meet in a celebration of words and emotions. This Bristol poetry to Bristol poetry will help those who want to discover the brilliant poets and poetry events in Bristol.