A night at the library with the UK Poet Laureate

The sold out event, part of Portsmouth City Council’s Bookfest, was a homecoming for the former Portsmouth Polytechnic student and a double celebration. Fans packed out the venue to pay homage to the library’s 50th birthday, but also to Portsmouth’s 100 year anniversary as a city. “This place grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go,” said Portsmouth Poet Laureate Sam Cox, who was also reading her work. “The city becomes part of your story.”

Armitage is in agreement; although he admits that when he first arrived in Pompey in 1983 he was “Bemused; homesick; a long way from Yorkshire.” Wondering around feeling lost; he often walked to the seafront and “Just gazed at the sea. As someone born a long way from the water, the sea has always had a sort of otherness to me.” It delights him to come full circle now. His recent poem ‘Theatre of the Sea’ is alive in the elements, physically embedded into the sea defense wall at Southsea Seafront. “When I was a student I studied Geography and experimented with poetry. Now I’m a poet putting words into the new geographical landscape.”

A treasure trove and a lifeline

Armitage is in the midst of a ten-year tour of the UK’s libraries. The tour is his way of gathering support and paying his respects to these democratic, civic institutions that are “Free to everyone; built on kindness and trust.”They feel part of a dying breed in some ways. Armitage agrees: “Libraries have been a soft target for cuts these last few years, and we have lost many libraries or they are now run by volunteers.”

But Armitage argues they remain more important now than ever. “Libraries aren’t just about books. They are about knowledge, communication, and community. They are a vital means of access and provision. The internet and wifi is expensive; not everyone can afford it, or own a smart phone or mobile. Not everyone has access to newspapers, music, friends.” He continues: “I was on a housing estate in the North a few years ago and there was a Paddy Power, a vape shop, and a library. That was it. So the library hub had to be a creche, laundry, hot meals, company… it was everything the community needed it to be.”

Plot twist - libraries aren’t just about books

Caring for others and offering people a space to be heard was a thread that linked Armitage and his fellow poets and librarians last night. Joining Armitage on stage were Portsmouth's own Poet Laureate Sam Cox, a passionate poet and headteacher, Majid Dhana, a Portsmouth‑based spoken word poet whose powerful work about grit and resilience has been inspiring school children across the city, and Ted Hughes Award winner and performer Maggie Sawkins. Finally the Poet Laureate himself treated his fans to some of his famous and favorite poems, from Blossomise, Dwell and anecdotes from the much loved Walking Home and Walking Away.

Poetry cuts through the noise

As Portsmouth announced a call out to find a new Poet Laureate for 2026-2028, and the first ever Portsmouth Youth Poet Laureate, what came across was how the simplicity of poetry can cut through the noise. Simon said: “It’s clear from what we have seen tonight, that when someone spends time putting some chosen words together, it means something. Poetry is for everyone too. Not many of us can write a book or a song, but we all have language and words.”

For more on BookFest and Portsmouth libraries visit https://librariesandarchives.portsmouth.gov.uk/public-library-service/whats-on/events/