As Staffordshire Poet Laureate, it was my great honour to interview and work with the shortlisted applicants of the Young Poet Laureate role alongside the currency Young Poet Laureate Harry Fletcher.
After a riveting workshop held at Staffordshire History Centre, where each young writer took part in writing to a number of prompts, including freewriting and ekphrastic prompts, shortlisted poets then performed their poetry to us to show off their fantastic live reading skills. Harry and I then undertook the difficult task of deliberating who would be placed in the role of 2025-26 Staffordshire Young Poet Laureate.
Harry Fletcher quote
“On National Poetry Day, we hosted a celebration of live readings to welcome our new Young Poet Laureate, Pearl Dutton-Knight. We were joined by previous poets laureate Dawn Jutton and Mel Wardle Woodend, as well as previous Wolverhampton Poet Laureate Kuli Johli and Offas Press’ Cherry Doyle.
We heard poetry from the shortlisted young writers and opened the room up to an open mic from members of the poetry-lobing public!
We commend all shortlisted poets on their talent and motivation, and earnestly encourage all the young writers to continue with their fantastic poetry! “
Staffordshire Libraries said in an Instagram post of the evening;
“Pearl was welcomed into the new role by outgoing poet Harry Fletcher who reflected on his achievements during his amazing year of poetry. There was a wonderful atmosphere supporting young poets and enjoying a rich mix of poetry (and song!). Thank you to everyone who took part & a big thanks to Scarlett and Harry for hosting – we wish Harry all the best for his next adventure and huge congratulations to Pearl!”
We are happy to share some poems frrom both our new Young Poet Laureate, and some of the shortlisted young writers!
Pearl Knight-Dutton
The City
Guitar strings softly ring
To the finches countermelody
The mellow magpies sing
To the pedestrian percussive stomp
A symphony of past, present, future.
The past is in the floorboards, that have seen the smoky ages of witches and spells
The past is in the virtuosic stone carvings, telling ethereal tales of dawns
unspeakable
The past is in the jaunty cold cobbles, pounded by horses, hooves, and marred by
local ales
The 3 spires dominate over the vastness of the sun and moon and sky
The ladies standing tall, radiating godly light
Stained glass windows cast a myriad of hues
Enigmatic glows capturing the city in delight
Treasures hidden behind the innocence of a bookshop,
But a sacred power beckons.
A spell entrancing, grappling, a lust for knowledge
Printed from A-Z, a gulchin for the plaques
A master’s legacy, behold.
As the sun tires and sleeps, the moony crystallic reflection
Tickles the soothing trickle
Gifted from the stone man to the flowers.
Man giving to nature; rare, priceless
Flowerbeds swaying in appreciation, thankful
For Lichfield.
-Poems from the shortlisted young writers
Ben Foxcroft
Children See More”
I once saw a crack
in the pavement
and thought maybe
something was trying to escape—
a root,
a ripple,
a hidden word.
Mum said,
“It’s just the frost,”
but I knew
some things split
because they want to grow.I saw a girl
offer her seat on the bus—
no words,
just a small move
that felt like a quiet promise
to someone who needed it more.
She didn’t smile.
She didn’t know
it was the kindest thing
I’d seen all day.
Maybe she still doesn’t.
Once, a puddle
held a piece of sky.
I told them—
the clouds were floating in it—
but they laughed
and called me dreamy.
The next day,
the puddle was gone.
The sky stayed.
I watched a shadow
climb the wall
as if it had somewhere to be.
I think time moves like that—
quiet,
slow,
and only noticed
when you stop playing.
They say
children imagine things.
But maybe we just
see the parts
that adults forget—
the shimmer
on the edge of normal,
the meaning
tucked behind small things.
We don’t grow out of it.
We grow around it,
like trees bendingto fences
but never forgetting
the sky.
And one day,
when it’s quiet,
we’ll remember
what it felt like
to see
without asking why.
Not more, exactly.
Just
differently.
Just
deeper.
Ryan Liam Owen
In the Staffordshire.
It’s what we’re known for
Born in here, breathed here.
From Chatterley to the globe
We lead what we are
Coal is our name tag
Our identity
They say sunshine follows thunder
But can you do it on a rainy night in Stoke?
Better yet are you valiant?
Like Wilson, Debrah and those before.
Vis unita Fortior
United strength is stronger.
We are the backbone,
The spine of our country
From our efforts,
Our family.
Won’t you join us?
Love us?
The knot unites.