The ‘Love Your Town: Words on the Way’ Poetry Trail, a key feature of the Love Your Town events held last February, has wrapped up, spotlighting the outstanding literary talent of North East Lincolnshire. The project has celebrated local voices, showcasing poems that capture the essence of the area and the diverse experiences of its people.
Between Saturday 8th February and Saturday 22nd February, the trail offered a series of poems displayed in retailers across the three towns. Participants were invited to search for the poems and find a clue within the writing, to be entered into a prize draw.
The trail invited local people to submit poems about their town, 50 of them were then selected to be displayed in shop windows across North East Lincolnshire, turning the streets into a living anthology of community creativity. From heartfelt reflections to light-hearted humor, the poems encapsulated the spirit of the region, with winning works chosen for their ability to resonate with a wide range of emotions and experiences. The six winning poems are now being displayed in Immingham Library, Cleethorpes Leisure Centre and The Fishing Heritage Centre in Grimsby for the next month.
Alex Dunham, co-founder of REDSAIL, shared his thoughts on the project and the winning poets:
“Deciding on the winning poems was a challenging process, and that in itself is a testament to the incredible talent uncovered by the Words on The Way poetry trail.
“The range in tone, style, and character of the poems received was vast, so we (Alex and co-founder Sam Dunham) picked six poems that made us laugh, smile, and reflect in their own way,”.
“Whether it was the grit and honesty of Stephen Meek’s You Were Not Born, the charm and humour of Fergus Campbell’s If I Were a Chip, or the childhood joy present in Amiya’s Adventures in Grimsby & Cleethorpes – all these poems made us proud to be from North East Lincolnshire.
“All the winners, and entries sent to us during this process, are a passionate reminder of what poetry should be – created, shared, and loved by everyday people. Sam and I are humbled by the incredible response to this project, and we urge all participants (and newcomers!) to continue writing and reach out to us in the future.
“REDSAIL will continue to find new, exciting ways to hear your words on the way.”
The Love Your Town: Words on the Way Poetry Trail has proven to be more than just a celebration of poetry—it is a testament to the power of community and the importance of storytelling in all its forms.
All the poems are now available online: Discover North East Lincolnshire | Love Your Town Poems – Discover North East Lincolnshire
For further information on REDSAIL and upcoming poetry projects, follow REDSAIL on social media.
The Love your town events were funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
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