An Evening with Nina Mingya Powles

“Go to the poets, they will speak to thee”

Our 2021 contemporary poetry reading series, “Go to the poets, they will speak to thee”, is curated and hosted by poet Kim Moore. We will be listening to what poets have to say about our turbulent times, and how poetry can cross borders to challenge, delight and inspire us. Each event in the series is part reading, part open mic – and the theme of the open mic changes every month! 

Wordsworth was alternately fascinated, challenged and tormented by the concept of home and belonging and what this might mean, writing in ‘Guilt and Sorrow’: “And homeless near a thousand homes I stood, And near a thousand tables pined and wanted food”. This fascination with home and belonging continues in contemporary poetry today and is one of many themes explored in the work of our guest poet this month, Nina Mingya Powles. Her debut collection Magnolia, 木蘭  was published by Nine Arches Press in 2020 and shortlisted for the Forward Prize for Best First Collection. This collection pushes at formal and structural boundaries whilst moving effortlessly between themes of migration, the environment, and growing up mixed-race. There will be an open mic session – please bring a poem that explores the concept of home.

How to book and attend

Please read our guide to booking and attending online events before you purchase a ticket.

Email wordsworthreadingseries@outlook.com for an open mic spot after you have booked a ticket through the Eventbrite link on this page. (Open mic is now FULL.)

This event is booked on Eventbrite and takes place as a Zoom Webinar. If you have bought a ticket and signed up to the open mic you will need to have a working microphone. You do not have to switch on your webcam but are welcome to do so if you are comfortable. You will only be able to share audio and/or video with the audience during the open mic segment of the event. 

Five free tickets are available for each session for those experiencing financial hardship that would otherwise not be able to attend. This is on a first come first served basis with no questions asked about your situation. Please email Hannah at h.catterall@wordsworth.org.uk.

Live captions will be provided by Otter.

Photograph of Nina Mingya Powles © Sophie Davidson