Pandemic poetry

During the current Covid-19 pandemic, poetry has been drawn on by politicians, medics, teachers, protesters – all manner of people, in many circumstances – in an attempt to grapple with and communicate hope, fear, loss, confusion, loneliness and heightened emotion.

Writers from the University of Plymouth, including Professor Anthony Caleshu, talked about how poetry has been read and written during the ongoing pandemic, where it has provided inspiration, solace and a way for people around the world to interact during periods of lockdown.

Poetry and Covid is a project that proposes the writing, exchange, publication and discussion of poetry as a significant cultural response, benefitting the UK (and global) public’s processing, healing, and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is funded by the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council, University of Plymouth, and Nottingham Trent University.

This event took place on 24 September 2021 at The Bread and Roses as part of FUTURES2021

FUTURES2021 is funded by the European Commission under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions and delivered collaboratively by the University of Bath, Bath Spa University, the University of Bristol, the University of Exeter and the University of Plymouth.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement number 101036029.