Passers-by with a penchant for poetry are in for a treat as a takeaway van with a difference comes to one of London’s most famous bridges.
The Poetry Takeaway – the world’s first mobile poetry emporium – will offer people passing Millennium Bridge free poems on any subject, penned by a team of 10 professional poets.
The event is being organised for National Poetry Day by bridge owner City Bridge Foundation, whose poet-in-residence, Cecilia Knapp, will be one of those wielding the pen.
The van will be in position at the southern end of the bridge, in front of the Tate Modern, on Thursday, October 3 from 10am to 2pm and 3pm to 7pm.
Giles Shilson, City Bridge Foundation chairman, said: “The Poetry Takeaway provides an innovative way of helping people experience the joy of poetry – in situations where they wouldn’t expect to find it.
“Bringing it to Millennium Bridge means some of the thousands of commuters, residents and tourists who cross or pass by the bridge every day will have the opportunity to take away a unique souvenir penned by one of our team of talented poets.”
People who’d like a poem need only drop in at the van and have a chat with one of the poets, who will write a poem for them or for a loved-one on a topic of their choice on uniquely designed paper.
Michael Bolger, Poetry Takeaway founder and ‘head chef’, said: “Having the opportunity to bring together a diverse line up of leading poets together for National Poetry Day has been a pleasure and a privilege. Yet again The Poetry Takeaway brings poetry to the people in a unique way.”
National Poetry Day events will be held across the country on October 3. More information is available at www.forwardartsfoundation.org/national-poetry-day. Information about the Poetry Takeaway is at www.thepoetrytakeaway.co.uk.
City Bridge Foundation is the 900-year-old charity that owns five Thames crossings including Tower Bridge, and London’s biggest independent charity funder.
