Marking World Poetry Day
From Vera Brittain to Wilfred Owen: online memorial of First World War poems created
To mark World Poetry Day, Culture Secretary Maria Miller today called on the public to record their favourite First World War poem in tribute to those who served.
The Culture Secretary has recorded by contemporary Welsh poet Owen Sheers, and is also joined by Culture Minister, , , historian , actor and Poems on the Underground founder , who have also lent their voices to the online memorial.
Maria Miller said:
Poetry has the potential to connect us to people, places and ideas. The guns of the First World War eventually fell silent, and grass grew over the trenches, but the bravery and sacrifice of individuals and nations lives on in war poetry. By recording or simply listening to a war poem today, we can remember these stories and learn from the powerful lessons they tell.
The poems recorded range from iconic to lesser-known works with the aim of broadening people鈥檚 knowledge of war poets. Three Wilfred Owen poems feature, 鈥楧ulce et Decorum Est鈥�, 鈥業 saw His Crimson Mouth鈥� and 鈥楾he Soldier鈥檚 Dream鈥� as does 鈥楾he Troop Train鈥� by Vera Brittain, which is read by her daughter Baroness Shirley Williams.
鈥業n Flander鈥檚 Fields鈥� was chosen by , a housing support worker for the YMCA. The poem has special significance for the charity because its haunting image of wild poppies growing between rows of crosses inspired YMCA worker Moina Michael to promote poppy-wearing for remembrance.
Alongside the more popular poets, participants also selected works by female and international poets that may be new discoveries for listeners. Historian Mary Beard recites 鈥楴ew Year 1916鈥� by Ada Harrison, Judith Chernaik has selected 鈥楥onscientious Objector鈥� by Edna St Vincent Millay and reads 鈥業 Know The Truth鈥� by Russian poet Marina Tsvetaeva.
Get involved
To take part, get on , record yourself reading your favourite First World War poem and tweet with a link to the recording using #WW1poetry. We鈥檒l have a listen, share it across our channels and add it to our . Alternatively, just tweet us the name of your favourite poem and why with the same hash tag. Let鈥檚 get as many people as possible talking about First World War poetry on World Poetry Day.
Find all the poetry readings on our .
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