The Guest Poet for the 25th JAGS Poetry Festival in 2010 was Stephen Knight.   Winner of the Eric Gregory Award, as well as Forward Poetry Prize for the Best Single Poem, Stephen teaches creative writing at Goldsmiths College, University of London.  In the afternoon he worked with nearly 40 girls in Years 7 to 9, developing unusual and imaginative ways to describe things by the use of the metaphor and imagery.  Those who came to his workshop after school, had the chance to hone their powers of concise and clear storytelling, by drawing on significant details and memories.

 

On hearing the collection of 60 poems in the evening, Stephen said how struck he had been with the powerful quality of the girls' writing.  A rich range of subject heightened by vivid images, and expressed with  fluency and maturity, was a fitting way to mark twenty-five years of Poetry Festivals at JAGS.  As he commented, it was impressive; long may it last.  For the full Poetry Anthology 2010.

 

 

 

 

17 January 2011