Oxford Poetry Library

28/05/2026

TOMORROW - it's only ever our second last Hip Crowd!

That's right, we're seeing off May with our penultimate mid-day open mic. Bring your music, your words, your babe(s) in arms, or just your very excellent self down to the Library for a cosy shindig.

Find us at the usual time (11:30pm, or 11:00 for performers), with the usual free tea and coffee, bringing the usual excellent vibes. Let's make it a good one - see you there!

26/05/2026

Quick reminder that This Is Just To Say, our monthly open mic, returns to OPL in a week (2 June)! We're so excited to welcome Daniel Sluman on the theme of INTIMACY. Gather in...

All the info you need is here: https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/event/this-just-to-say-spoken-word-open-mic/ but reminder that sign-ups to perform start from 7, and readings begin at 7.30 at The Community Works. Tickets in advance are not required for this event. See you there!

19/05/2026

Announcing our featured poet and theme for This Is Just To Say in TWO WEEKS — 2 June! We're so excited to welcome Daniel Sluman, who has chosen the theme 'intimacy' — so let's get together.

Daniel is a poet and disability rights activist. He co-edited the first major UK Disability poetry anthology Stairs and Whispers: D/deaf and Disabled Poets Write Back and he has had four poetry collections published by Nine Arches Press. His most recent book is ‘Pain Songs’ and his prior collection ‘single window’ was shortlisted for the TS Eliot Prize.

18/05/2026

THIS WEEK! We're unravelling histories and exploring the material of living at this exclusive reading, on 23 May at 7pm in The Community Works. Join poets, Mona Arshi, Troy Cabida, Nina Mingya Powles, and Jennifer Wong for a reading that delves into the myriad personal and collective worlds, where you find stories of survival and loss; of ecological crisis and the material of living; memories of the sensous in all its skin and glitter; and the complexity of our inner selves.

This is not one you'll want to miss, so get your tickets for this Saturday now. Tickets are £5 (£2 conc) and available at the link below

An evening of poetry exploring identity, memory, and collective worlds.

17/05/2026

The Hip Crowd will be 3 years old on Friday 26th June and this will also, we're sad to say, be our last ever session!

But don't worry, you can come join us on Friday 29th May at 11:30am for the usual cosy, oxytocin-fuelled daytime entertainment in the usual spot.

Celebrate our last 3 wonderful years with us by coming along, bringing your baby or just yourself! Tell a friend. Be there or be square! 😘

15/05/2026

Reading Circle returns TOMORROW! Join us from 2-4pm at The Community Works for an afternoon of poetry sharing and discussion.

People who never read poetry don’t write poems that are worth reading – Wendy Cope   If you’re keen to find a way in to reading and appreciating poetry, discover new writing, and open your min…

11/05/2026

This month, we're absolutely thrilled to be hosting 'Unravelling Histories & The Material of Living', exploring the themes of identity, place, and the messy business of living. We'll be joined by four readers, and we've been spotlighting each one over the past week, and can't wait for them to grace our stage.

Jennifer Wong is the final exciting guest reader we'll be shining a light on! Jennifer Wong is author of Light Year (Nine Arches Press, 2026) and 回家 Letters Home (Nine Arches Press, 2020) which received the PBS recommendation, and pamphlets including time difference (Verve, 2024).

Come hear Jennifer read on 23 May at 7pm at The Community Works! Get your ticket now to avoid disappointment!

An evening of poetry exploring identity, memory, and collective worlds.

10/05/2026

TOMORROW! 7pm at The Community Works—Getting Started With Poetry returns! GSWP is our friendly free series of guided sessions for anyone looking to try their hand at writing poetry. Make sure you book a slot at the ticket link below!

You can find more information about the event here: https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/event/getting-started-with-poetry-40/ and the ticket link here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/getting-started-with-poetry-tickets-879008186147?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&_gl=1*ch59qr*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTgzNTk3OTM0Ni4xNzY0NDEyMTg5*_ga_TQVES5V6SH*czE3NjQ0MTIxODkkbzEkZzAkdDE3NjQ0MTIxODkkajYwJGwwJGgw

Whether you’ve never written a poem before, have just started to write, or aren’t sure if what you’re writing is poetry, this monthly workshop is a chance to carve out some time for writing. In eac…

08/05/2026

A reminder that Getting Started With Poetry, our workshop series for beginners with verse, returns on Monday at 7pm! Attendance is free, but we ask that you reserve a ticket so we can keep track of numbers.

You can find more information about the event here: https://oxfordpoetrylibrary.com/event/getting-started-with-poetry-40/ and the ticket link here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/getting-started-with-poetry-tickets-879008186147?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&_gl=1*ch59qr*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTgzNTk3OTM0Ni4xNzY0NDEyMTg5*_ga_TQVES5V6SH*czE3NjQ0MTIxODkkbzEkZzAkdDE3NjQ0MTIxODkkajYwJGwwJGgw

Whether you’ve never written a poem before, have just started to write, or aren’t sure if what you’re writing is poetry, this monthly workshop is a chance to carve out some time for writing. In eac…

08/05/2026

Final reminder - The Shape of Poetry to Come is tomorrow, 2pm-4pm!

No matter your writing experience, you're welcome to come join us as we explore a new poetic form each session.

Grab tickets here:

Unlock new ways of writing by joining us for this workshop series all about writing poetry in form!