Online Poetry Events Showcase the Power of Hope

On 24 September 2020, Salford poet ‘J’ Ahmed hosted an online poetry evening called Words of Hope, which formed part of Greater Manchester’s Month of Hope. The event, which is available to watch back  Facebook, brought together people from across Greater Manchester to share inspirational poems and music.

This is the second Words of Hope performance evening held during the Month of Hope, which runs from World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September to World Mental Health Day on 10 October. The month of activity aims to prevent suicide and take the subject out of the dark by encouraging people to talk openly about suicide.

‘J’ continues to organise virtual events, featuring poetry readings from a wide range of people who have found that writing, reading and sharing their poetry helps them through difficult times.

Performances from previous events are available to watch online and everyone is encouraged to follow GM Words of Hope on Facebook for future events. If you are interested in finding out more or performing at a future event, please message ‘J’ through the Words of Hope Facebook page.

To bring in the new year, ‘J’ has written a new poem to remind us all to remain hopeful and to celebrate the power of poetry.

Poetry 2021

Let there be more poetry

In twenty twenty one

Let the words like light

Brighten the days

Like rays of sun.

Let this be the year

When soulful rhymes

Help overcome;

The o’so many challenges

Which have left us

Cold and numb.

Now, in twenty twenty one

Let the rhymes revive

The strength and perseverance

Which help us all to thrive.

Let’s write and share,

Let’s show we care,

And be there – we are hope;

Minds that find

Our hopeful rhymes

Help bind

And help us cope.

And as we search

For words in verse

Which hopefully ring true,

And provide the light for sight

And help to see us through,

We’ll conjure

From, each place we come,

Our inner depths for you

Poetry all through the year

Then more

In twenty two.

‘J’.Ahmed

Watch GM Words of Hope Poetry evening on Facebook