A poet called Philip Hill (aka Phil Hill) has immortalised Gatis Community Space in the Whitmore Reans area of Wolverhampton for National Poetry Day. Phil was one of the poets who performed recently at Newhampton Arts Centre for the Poetrty and Music Jam during the Love The Reans Festival in Wolverhampton.
Phil is also a regular at the spoken word nights at Cafe Royale in Victoria Street called Words of Wisdom. He has also attended poetry workshops with Emma Pursehouse, Wolverhampton`s first Poet Laureate, for an Arts Council England supported project at the Newhampton Arts Centre with Good Shepherd Services in Wolverhampton.
Phil`s poem is called "A Space Called Gatis" and his poetry collections include "Apocalyptic Seasons", "Poems of Masculine Fragility", "Weird Spectacles" and "The Heroine".
National Poetry Day falls on 3rd October and is the UK`s biggest celebration of poetry.
"I have disabilities related to the functioning of my nervous system" explained Phil "and these are managed with medication. I joined the Man About Mondays creative writing group at Gatis Community Space. I decided to join this Gatis group because I write most of my poetry as a journalistic exercise and it would enable to become a more versatile poet. I have written the poem about Gatis as part of my journey to broaden my source of writing prompts."
Gatis Community Space is located in Gatis Street, Wolverhampton WV6 OET and it`s aim is to provide a safe and inclusive centre that puts community at the heart of its diverse projects, empowering people to be their best versions and enabling change to a sustainable future.
Since 1994, National Poetry Day has engaged millions of people with poetry through a range of live events and web-based activities for people throughout the country. Such a variety of poetry is written and read that each year the day is given a new theme, in order to highlight particular poets and styles of poetry. The 30th anniversary of National Poetry Day is celebrated on Thursday, 3rd October with the theme of ‘Counting.’
To mark the special occasion, The Poetry Society has an array of illuminating events planned, including a poetry happening on London’s bridges, an event at The Poetry Café, an online Young Poets event, results from the Stanza competition, new resources, a National Poetry Day quiz, a special workshop, and a Guinness World Record attempt.
The City Bridge Foundation’s Poet-in-Residence, Cecilia Knapp, will be joining forces with The Poetry Takeaway for National Poetry Day. The Poetry Takeaway’s iconic van will be stationed nearby one of London’s bridges, and Cecilia will join the masterful chefs to create you a poem in a matter of minutes. Further details will be posted to the Foundation’s socials (X/Instagram).
Cecilia will also be headlining at The Poetry Café for ‘Count Me In,’ an open mic event with poems all on the theme of ‘Counting.’ Sign-ups for the three-minute slots are available at the door and are on a first-come, first-served basis.
Another open mic opportunity for young poets will be taking place online via Zoom in a Young Poets Takeover. Open mic participants are again invited to read poems on the theme of ‘Counting’ and the event will feature readings from recent winners of the Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award and writing challenges on Young Poets Network.
National Poetry Day is also the occasion when The Poetry Society announces the winners of the Stanza competition inspired by the theme of ‘Counting.’ Judged by Rachel Long, the selected poems will be unveiled on the website and social media during the day.
Educators can join a National Poetry Day CPD session on The Poetry Society’s network, Cloud Chamber, on 26th September from 4:30-5:30, and a new resource for National Poetry Day is now available. Any schools interested in inviting a poet to visit through our Poets in Schools service can send an enquiry form to our education team at educationadmin@poetrysociety.org.uk.
Finally, The Poetry Society is supporting poet Laura Mucha in her Guinness World Record attempt for the largest multi-venue poetry lesson, with a targeted 60,000+ students.
A SPACE CALLED GATIS
by Phil Hill
There is so little noise here,
you can hear the full signature of the wind
Amongst the abandonment ,
the occasional outcrop of
flower beds , a Marquee, a slide and water pumps
Invisible is the ghost of the of the fabric machinery
of a long demolished Coutaulds factory
You sense your own solitude
In the company of
The trees and greenery which seem taller here
Their shadows lingering larger
Their roots somehow deeper
In a semi circular formation looking
Down on where I am at
Yet this deceptively large space doesn’t betray
The nearness of the green metallic fence
Which hems it in tightly on all sides and
Fending off the the urban sprawl
As I empty myself of the urban mindset in the abandonment
Of this abandoned space.
