Armistice Poetry Gala

Marking 100 years since the Armistice in November 1918, Hay Festival Press is publishing an anthology of specially commissioned poems from countries that participated in World War One.

 Modern-day poets have chosen a poem written by a First World War contemporary writer and have responded with a new work of their own.

Readings at Hay from these commissioned poets included Owen Sheers, who chose Wilfred Owen; Tishani Doshi responded to a letter from Kala Khan to Iltaf Hussain; Ulrike Almut Sandig selected Wilhelm Lehmann (translated by Karen Leeder); Evelyn Schlag referenced Georg Trakl (also  translated by Karen Leeder); Mererid Hopwood echoed Hedd Wyn, and Margaret Atwood was inspired by John McCrae’s In Flanders' Field.

 At Hay Festival the poems represented Wales, Canada, Germany, Austria and India; the collection, published this autumn, will include writers from Russia, France and Australia.

Pictured left to right: Owen Sheers, Valerie Rouzeau, Ulrike Almut Sandig, Evelyn Schlag, Mererid Hopwood, Tishani Doshi, Margaret Atwood