Deeply Rooted - A Poetry Retreat

Join poetry Roz Goddard and Jane Commane for a poetry spa morning of workshops and readings. We will explore the richness of our inner and outer landscapes where new creative ideas can spontaneously arise and be used for experiments in writing poetry.

10.30- 11.45 Jane Commane introduces the day and leads All Things Growing poetry workshop

11.45-12.00 break

12.00- 1.15 Roz leads a short meditation and leads The Guest House workshop

Lunch 1.15 - 2.00 - please bring your own lunch

2.00-3.00 - Jane Introduces Roz. Roz reads from Small Moon Curve, followed by in-conversation, questions, cake and signing of books.

All Things Growing:

In this workshop with Jane Commane, we'll explore how poetry can be both uplifting and unexpected, with poetic guidance from the fruiting and flourishing green world. we'll look at ways in which poems might arrive when we learn to tune in to detail, and what will bloom when we give it space and permission. We will find inspiration growing in all kinds of places, whether beautiful or ordinary, and all points in between. The workshop will encourage you delve deep in sensory language and draw it richly into your writing.

The Guest House

When we enter a place of spaciousness and think of our lives as being held in a field with no boundaries we can bring kind attention to everything that arises. Everything becomes interesting - we can engage with all emotions, feelings and thoughts when we allow space around them and invite them in. In this workshop with Roz Goddard, we will use Rumi’s poem, The Guest House, as a way of exploring our inner landscapes. Using reflection, meditation and journalling we will enter our own rich field of experience to discover the raw material from where poetry can vividly emerge.

“Roz Goddard is one of my favourite poets and Small Moon Curve shines with all that I admire in her poems: mystery, beauty, deep tenderness and a willingness to venture into the dark and light it with love.” – Liz Berry

Roz Goddard is a poet and teacher. Her latest poetry collection is Small Moon Curve, published by Nine Arches Press. Previous short collections have been published by The Emma Press and Flarestack Poets. She was a finalist for The Moth Poetry Prize in 2022 and works as a poetry mentor for The Poetry Society. She is currently training for ordination in the Triratna Buddhist Order. She is a former poet laureate of Birmingham.

Jane Commane is director/editor at Nine Arches Press, co-editor of Under the Radar magazine and co-author of How to Be a Poet. Her debut poetry collection, Assembly Lines (Bloodaxe, 2018) was longlisted for the 2019 Michael Murphy Memorial Prize. Her poetry has featured in Staying Human (Bloodaxe) as well as in The Guardian, and on BBC Radio 4. She is a Writing West Midlands’ Room 204 writer, and in 2017 was awarded a Jerwood Compton Poetry Fellowship.

Refreshments will be available all day

Please note this event is being hosted a few days up the hill from the bookshop, at 10 Market Square close to the Castle Hotel as it's a more accesible venue.

Do let us know if you need to use our single Blue Badge parking space.