An amazing night, for the second time, at the National Gallery this year. These commissions couldn’t have been more fun. I’ve felt so supported, so relaxed, joined this time by poets Stan Dimitrov, Matt Sokulsky, Rushika Wick, and art historian Fiona Alderton, and curator Joseph Kendra. We had a proper blast, huge crowd, great galleries and some great readings. Here you can watch the video of the entire event, and below, my two readings.

I wrote and read new poems on Goya’s Wellington (a hero of mine) and Sorolla’s The Drunkards (at Joseph’s urging)

I had with me, for the second time, a crocodile pointer (dagostini) and on my final reading I dedicated the work to Joe, who I had met seconds before, and found him hushing people who were loudly talking during our unamplified reading. Joe is the best. As is all the lovely folk, many friends, many new to me, who came to celebrate this format of live ekphrasis. The next is at the end of June…