RESIDENTS and visitors to Settle this month will be able to celebrate coming out of the coronavirus lockdown by enjoying poetry by North Craven poets displayed in windows across the town.

Settle Sessions Poetry has made it possible for 40 posters to be be displayed in shop windows and public buildings throughout September, each featuring a poem written by a living poet.

A spokesperson for Settle Sessions Poetry said the aim was to turn the town into the ‘poetry poster town of North Yorkshire’ .

“There is an astonishing variety of subject-matter and style. And from the start to the end of the month, residents and visitors alike will be encouraged to play Spot the Poem, as free sheets will be provided listing the venues and poets represented.

“All this poetic activity proves how much creativity there is in this small but vibrant community.”

To further celebrate coming out of the lockdown, the group has also organised a public reading, due to take place at the Friends Meeting House, Settle, at 7.30pm on Friday, September 17.

The event will see the launch of full length collections from Jean Stevens and Ann Pilling and a pamphlet of poems by members ‘Pages of Our Days’, to which they have also contributed.

Numbers will be restricted because of Covid and entry will be by ticket. Free tickets will need to be claimed in advance from Limestone Books, Settle.

 

The Curlew, by John Killick:

Where the bald path strikes across the moor,

winds stunt the bushes, and scour

the few trees almost to extinction,

and the persistent rain serves only

the peat bogs’ unslakeable thirst ---

these are haunting grounds of the curlew:

almost an exhalation of the earth,

a whistling in the light, then a recurrent

nocturnal call, embodiment

of landscape giving up its ghost.