American poetry has always been immensely inspiring for me. So it’s thrilling to be co-curating a new project in partnership with The Rothermere American Institute in Oxford and Kelly Writers House in Philadelphia.

Postcards to the Past: (Re-) Writing the Poets’ Archive, will see contemporary poets from the US and UK (including me) respond to the incredible poetic resources in the PennSound archive.

This ‘remarkable online archive of poetry readings’ hosts a dizzying array of current poets plus historic recordings. These include Yeats’ booming musical voice (with atmospheric crackles), Basil Bunting intoning Wyatt and Whitman, Rachel Blau duPlessis revivifying Keats, Maggie Nelson, Lorine Niedecker, Alice Notley – too many amazing writers to mention. You’ll need to check them out for yourself!

The project will result in a chapbook and hybrid transatlantic reading. There will also be an opportunity for members of the public to take part in a related writing workshop.

I’ve already started dipping into the archive and am loving discovering new voices as well as historic recordings. You can enjoy the archive yourself here.