The Poetry Exchange

'And yes, it is a kite!' Fiona soars in our latest episode - sharing again her incredible conversation about the poem that's been a friend to her: 'A Kite for Aibhín' by Seamus Heaney. Go with the wind, friends xx thepoetryexchange.co.uk/episode-96

Very grateful to be one of the featured poetry books for @PoetryDayUK this year...these are friends you can count on... We'd love to see photos of you and/or your copy wherever you are this week... In memory of Fiona and a life filled with poetry 💚💛 forwardartsfoundation.org/national-poetr…

Counting down...

@lilybartlives Thank you so much for this beautiful sharing and support, Amanda.

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So honoured and humbled to have been made a Doctor of Letters with University of Wolverhampton @wlv_uni A joy to have my family and friends celebrate such an amazing day with Graduates of 2024. @NineArchesPress @PoetryExch @CpwWlv and big thanks to Dr Rob Francis @RMFrancis 🙏🏿🙏🏿

The winner of the 2024 Sarah Maguire Prize for poetry in translation is On the Contrary by Lia Sturua, translated by Natalia Bukia-Peters and Victoria Field, published by Fal and supported by Writers' House Georgia! Read the announcement on our website: poetrytranslation.org/articles/annou…

Huge congratulations to our friend Victoria Field @Victori90018860, co-translator Natalia Bukia-Peters & poet Lia Sturua for winning the Sarah Maguire Prize for ‘On the Contrary.’ A sensational read and shortlist, and a beautiful evening @PoetryTranslate. poetrytranslation.org/articles/annou…

'But was it Ulysses? Or was it only the warmth of the sun On her pillow? The thought kept beating in her like her heart. The two kept beating together. It was only day.' All of Fiona's warmth and light in our latest episode... 💛 thepoetryexchange.co.uk/episode-95

Amazing news @YomiSode @VKennefick & Yousif M Qasmiyeh taking over the reign of PBS selectors wishing them all the best and lots of reading that will nourish your poetry soul 🔥👏🏾👏🏾

In this celebratory book draws on ten years of @PoetryExch to bring together a collection of poems chosen by readers that know them as friends, presented alongside their personal stories of connection. #NationalPoetryDayRecommendations @QuercusBooks thepoetryexchange.co.uk/anthology

'Friend and dear friend and a planet's encouragement' In this special episode, we pay tribute to our extraordinary friend and bring you a conversation Fiona really wanted us to share. We hope it fills your heart with love & poetry whenever you listen xx thepoetryexchange.co.uk/episode-95

“an ‘I’ can become a ‘we’…” The epigraph to Poems as Friends - Adrienne Rich’s powerful, guiding words. For Fiona, poetry was always something that could bridge gaps between us, a common language where strangers could find each other as friends. ❤️ thepoetryexchange.co.uk/anthology

Day 7 #SealeyChallenge @SealeyChallenge You’re gonna love this one, So To Speak by Terrance Hayes, an alchemist of words, conjuring volumes of stories in a single poem “from the political to the sensual, from a magic goat to a talking cat” @PoetrySociety @PenguinBooks 🔥🔥👏🏾

To anyone that says “don’t meet your heroes”: find better ones. Fiona’s been in my life before we met each other. Through @PoetryExch Fi brought us conversations on #PoemsAsFriends, and Light to my darkest days. Calling her a friend has been a blessing. You live in us. WE ARE ✨

Fiona’s legacy @PoetryExch and beyond is such a precious one. She was generous, inspiring, thoughtful, and I’m devastated at the thought that she and I won’t have another conversation. Fiona set a wonderful example in the contemporary life of poetry - and that lives on.

My heart is so broken by this news, she was a wonderful friend, a beautiful soul & the staunchest ally I could have - her humour & laughter was infectious! Rest in peace dear Fiona - your love & light will be missed immensely 💔🕊️😘Xx

It’s taken a week to get into the swing of things since I lost my friend and sister of poetry. A curator of words, bringing diverse people together, an innovator and driver for change. Truly missed, walk good. Love & Light xx