Carol Ann Duffy at Wirral Book Fest

Do you ever buy tickets for something, think it’s a good idea at the time, then have serious second thoughts as the date looms? I saw this event recently – the Poet Laureate for the UK appearing at a reading in the Wirral. It seemed too good an opportunity to miss.  But on the night, I was wondering whether there would be a tiny audience. Poetry readings can be tedious to say the least!

I was surprised – 300 people turned up. They weren’t disappointed. The evening began with 3 young poets from the Wirral Young Poet Laureate scheme who each read a group of poems.

Carol Ann Duffy presented for just under an hour. Her readings were magnificent. Just the right amount of explanation, description and context setting for each poem. I loved her poems based on myths, with a feminist twist or a different take. Excellent. She ended the reading with a poem she had been working on that afternoon – a poem about war, with many place names read out like the tolling of a bell. The presence of local place names gave a particular resonance to this. Powerful stuff.

The evening was organised by the local library service – it’s good to see something which draws in readers and writers to the enjoyment of literature. And it was also great to have some of my preconceptions dispelled so effectively. A good night out.