Based in Somerset, UK
Origins
The Fire River Poets group was set up in Taunton in 1988 by a small number of enthusiastic poets led at that time by John Jarrett to serve Taunton and the surrounding area. The name comes from the River Tone that runs through Taunton and appears to be a corruption of the word tan, which meant fire in ancient Celtic. As the Tone is hardly a fiery river, this may seem puzzling, but it is a river that used to flood every year and it often took on a reddish colour from the soil it carried with it from its source.
The group has always fluctuated in size as people join and leave, but has had an average of 8 to 10 regular members from the time it was set up and a good many less regular members who attend when they can. It continues to flourish in Somerset and the surrounding area..
Our Approach
The purpose in setting up the Group was to offer a forum for active poets interested in improving their work and gaining feedback in a supportive environment.
Poets in the local area who want to improve their technique and are willing to share their fascination
The Fire River Poets group was set up in Taunton in 1988 by a small number of enthusiastic poets led at that time by John Jarrett to serve Taunton and the surrounding area. The name comes from the River Tone that runs through Taunton and appears to be a corruption of the word tan, which meant fire in ancient Celtic. As the Tone is hardly a fiery river, this may seem puzzling, but it is a river that used to flood every year and it often took on a reddish colour from the soil it carried with it from its source.
The group has always fluctuated in size as people join and leave, but has had an average of 8 to 10 regular members from the time it was set up and a good many less regular members who attend when they can. It continues to flourish in Somerset and the surrounding area..
Our Approach
The purpose in setting up the Group was to offer a forum for active poets interested in improving their work and gaining feedback in a supportive environment.
Poets in the local area who want to improve their technique and are willing to share their fascination
and enjoyment of writing poetry are very welcome. However there are limits on the size of the group due to the size of our venue.
We have no ‘Manifesto’ or commitment to a particular fashion or movement in poetry, but encourage wide reading of both traditional and contemporary work.
Members write in a variety of styles and on a wide range of subjects. All styles are welcome; no viewpoints are excluded. All we ask is that everyone is treated with equal respect and be given the opportunity to develop their ideas and technique in their own way to develop an individual voice.
Over the years, members have given poetry readings (both locally and around the country) and published two anthologies. Some of our members have had collections published; some enter competitions regularly and a number have won prizes. However, none of these activities is compulsory and many members are content to write for the pleasure of sharing their writing with like-minded people.