As World War I has come to represent war in essence (at least for Western Europe), so Armistice Day represents peace. I think it is worth our while, as thinking and intentional beings, to give some proper consideration to peace, as more than just an absence of killing, persecution, and forced flight. For peace to grow and flourish, people must consciously recognise peace, its full potential and power.

I have asked each guest poet to choose a poem from World War I, and to make a response in the form of a poem that may be part of creating a vision of peace as it can and will be lived. A couple of the poets have a visual-art element to their work and will be working with that.

There will be an open mic, a raffle to help fund costs, an auction of a week's stay (your choice of date) in an Italian trullo, and a collection for an amazing charity, Peace Direct.

Two local veterans will take part in the open mic, and there will be a small exhibition of the work of one of them.

About the Poets:
Jenny Lewis: 3 collections, 2 with Oxford and Carcanet; 2 chapbooks with the Iraqi poet Adnan Al-sayegh; poems and articles in prominent journals, awards including New Writer Prize and Hawthornden Fellowship; works with music and dance; teaches poetry at Oxford University.

Jalina Mhyana: founding editor of the literary journal Rock Salt Plum Review, several times nominated for a Pushcart prize, three poetry collections, editor for a Tuscan literary journal. Identified as ‘one to watch’ by an online culture magazine.

Paul Surman: Oxfordshire poet, much loved by other local poets for the delicacy and freshness of his vision. His first collection, Places, was recently published, his second is on the way, and his poetry has been widely published in journals.

Eva Wal: Eva is a force of nature, really. She combines poetry with visual and kinetic art in constantly surprising and delightful ways; she builds; and she is at the heart of the group of Bonn poets who welcomed a group of poets from Oxford last summer, and produced some delightful collaborations.

Merryn Williams: many books published, including four poetry collections; an introduction to Wilfred Owen’s life and work; literary adviser, Wilfred Owen Society; founding editor of The Interpreters House poetry magazine. Shoestring are publishing her Selected Poems next year.

Pat Winslow: originally an actor, she has produced seven poetry collections, won several awards for poetry and for short fiction, is an experienced ‘writer in residence’ in prison and hospitals; she runs writing workshops, storytelling sessions, and is a humanist celebrant.

Songs from Patrissia Cuberos, originally a soprano in the Colombian National Opera company, long settled in Oxfordshire where she leads choirs, teaches singing and tango, creates, directs and performs in dance/music/drama vignettes.

A Syrian refugee will also be there to read some of her poems; and a Lebanese engineer, settled here, who has lived through war in her home.

Louise Larchbourne, organiser: I belong to two Oxford poetry groups; I organise ‘Poetry at the Ashmolean’, a bi-monthly event in which local poets are invited to write on a theme and on an object in the Ashmolean, then take part in a public reading in the museum. I’ve had poems published in three anthologies and a few online journals. I am also an actor.

The venue:
The town hall, Beckley; in collaboration with The Abingdon Arms, a community-run pub, committed to putting on really engaging events of many kinds, involving the local community. They have an excellent PA system and are very supportive of the arts. The lovely location is easy to find by car, being about 2 miles past Barton and the Oxford ring road. You can book lunch at the Abingdon Arms from 12.00. NB it is booking only.