Library
Steve Peters
696
This year, National Poetry Day is based on the theme of Refuge, a term defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as ‘shelter or protection from danger or trouble.1 For many of us, the term ‘Refuge’ is synonymous with international migration and displaced communities fleeing war, persecution, and environmental devastation in pursuit of safety. According to The UN Refugee Agency, over 110 million people have been forced to flee their homes as of May 2023, constituting a global crisis.2 The passage to safety is treacherous for many and involves taking various modes of risk-laden transport. Michael Rosen’s poem ‘On the Move Again from Somewhere’ gives a sense of such a journey.
Migration divides opinion across Europe with refugees viewed as a threat to National Security by some and as vulnerable individuals requiring protection by others. Brian Bilston’s ‘Refugees’ poem skilfully describes these opposing viewpoints in a clever format. As individuals, we can experience contradictory feelings and opinions on this subject as encapsulated by Imtiaz Dharker’s poem ‘The Right Word’ in which the poet has an internal debate with herself. Matt Goodfellow’s poem ‘At the End of the Day’ speaks of finding refuge in writing, a vehicle that can help us to process our feelings.
The term ‘Refuge’ may also conjure images of the places we feel most comfortable and secure, from sinking into a comfortable armchair after a difficult day to being in the warm embrace of our friends and loved ones. For Shirley Hughes, refuge could be found in ‘The Grass House’ amongst the greenery of nature. Our safe havens all differ and for Caleb Femi, it is the concrete walls of his childhood home at North Peckham Estate in South London where he feels safest.
National Poetry Day invites everyone to come together to share their voice and ‘help bridge understanding in our community.’3 Join the conversation in the Library, where we have curated a selection of resources and poems. Find our National Poetry Day display at the green pod on the third floor until mid-October. We’ve also pulled together a selection of poetry-related links on Wakelet here.
Poetry books can be found on LibrarySearch.
Read more about National Poetry Day at nationalpoetryday.co.uk.
Canterbury Christ Church University has partnered with the local charitable organisation Canterbury 4 Ukraine – find out more at https://canterbury4ukraine.org/.
Written by Rebecca Law (Library and Information Advisor)
Featured image illustration by Daria Hlazatova from Chernivtsi, Ukraine (https://nationalpoetryday.co.uk/)
