Wolverhampton Literature Festival review: Poetry in motion for Liz Berry and Roy McFarlane

The two poets took to Wolverhampton's central library as part of the Literature Festival on Sunday.

Liz Berry was first to open up proceedings with a loud applause from the awaiting guests, before a hushed silence filled the room.

Liz, who started the poem 'Bird' from her award-winning Black Country poetry book, said: "It feels really lovely to be here because my mom spent her working life in the library and I spent time sat in the children's library next door discovering books.

"She's a lovely woman – although she's not come to this event.

"I grew up in Sedgley I always thought it was a beautiful accent and language and it's only when I left that I found the rest of Britain didn't feel the same.

"It became a mission to celebrate the beautiful voices and show what lovely, eloquent voices we have."

The poet was impeccable with her choice of words as she read her second poem, Bob Howler – a slang word for moths – which captured the gruff and told of the heart of the region.

Her soft, sorrowful, almost haunting voice resonated with the audience – willing them to reminisce about their own experiences growing up.

And then the second act stepped up and admittedly, I was nervous for him.

Liz was a tough act to follow and her style of poetry was both infectious and warm.

Roy stepped up, to applause once again, and told of a different story – one of how he found out he was adopted, and how he came to terms with how his mother gave him up.

It was poignant, heart-wrenching, and it was bold and more, it was nothing short of captivating.

The former Birmingham Poet Laureate and is presently the Birmingham and Midland Institute Poet in Residence told his tale to a captive audience.

The emotion was immediately present in his tone as he read 'The Wait of Knowing' which questioned everything about himself, before another poem revealed his mother had passed away – is words willing and hoping that poetry could somehow take the pain away.

Feelings lingered throughout his performance on this poignant theme, wanting to take the pain away from her last breath.

He said: "I would always come here when I was young and now I'm in Tipton.

"My journey follows a black man in the Black Country and finding out that I was adopted."

One man, after the performance, said he couldn't hear the words too well due to sitting at the back – but added that he 'heard the poetry', and I can only agree.

The poignant messages. which ranged from loss, hope and growing up, were told through the emotion of the storytellers.

The doors nearby kept opening and closing whilst the poems were read, which is my only criticism, but the crowd remained captivated throughout.

Staff at the end of the performance praised people for the more than expected turnout – with staff heading off at the start to find more chairs to keep with the demand.

The two poets were spellbinding through their own tales and I can only hope they return next year to share more of their pieces.