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There are moments in life—especially for children and young people—when speaking up feels daunting, when silence seems easier, safer, quieter. But poetry reminds us that voices are never small. Every word carries weight, every expression has the power to shift a classroom, a community, even the world.
This Is Not a Small Voice is a stunning new anthology that celebrates the richness of language and the courage it takes to be heard. While it shines a spotlight on Black poetry, its heartbeat speaks to all of us: the call to claim our space, to articulate what matters, to step forward with conviction and clarity and courage.
To read these poems is to be reminded that finding your voice is not just a personal act, but a profoundly human one. It is how we make ourselves known. It is how we say: I am here. I matter. I will not be silent.
For the children in your life—and perhaps for yourself too—this anthology might be the nudge needed to speak, to write, to sing, to share. Because no voice is ever a small one.
With 100 carefully curated poems, it invites families to explore the beauty, resilience, and depth of Black voices — from icons like Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, and Gwendolyn Brooks to contemporary stars such as Amanda Gorman, Caleb Femi, and Joseph Coelho.
The collection spans themes of hope and struggle, joy and pride, home and family, music and food, identity and belonging. Each poem both celebrates and reflects, offering insight into the complexity and vibrancy of life through the lens of Black experience. New work from writers like Nikki Grimes and Carole Boston Weatherford highlights the evolving legacy of Black poetry.
Vibrantly illustrated by Jade Orlando, this book is more than a collection — it inspires courage, nurtures empathy, and reminds readers of all ages that their voice matters. Whether shared aloud or savoured quietly, This Is Not a Small Voice champions self-expression, identity, and the enduring power of storytelling.
Say How You Feel
When I'm sad
It feels like the sky is crashing down,
like the oceans are rising
and the ground is swallowing me up.
All is dark and cold.
When I'm nervous
it feels like my heart
is going to lightning-strike out of my chest,
like my skin is raining,
like my belly is a mudslide.
When I'm happy
My cheeks feel like rose buds,
my tummy glows with sunlight,
my shoulders are a forest breeze.
When I'm excited
my toes are ants,
I'm a river bubbling
and an air current of wishes,
my smile could explode the sun
Joseph Coelho
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Courage in a Poem
Celebrate bravery, empowerment, and self-discovery with Courage in a Poem, a vibrant anthology encouraging children to embrace who they are — from facing fears and celebrating heritage to exploring individuality and body positivity.
Featuring poets like Naomi Shihab Nye, Nikita Gill, Elizabeth Acevedo, and Chief Dan George, with illustrations by Annalise Barber, Mariana Roldan, Masha Manapov, and Nabila Adani, each page invites reflection, reading aloud, and connection with the power of words.
A joyful introduction to poetry, Courage in a Poem champions creativity, courage, and self-expression for young readers. Available from us here.
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From London to Shropshire
Last week Patrizia, the manager of our Oxford Street bookshop visited the team
in Bishops Castle. It was a lot of fun showing her our original bookshop and café, and the pill production unit, where all our poetic concoctions are brewed!
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Macmillan and the Poetry Pharmacy
invite you to celebrate National Poetry Day
with us!
Join us on Oxford Street for an evening with maybe more Joy than Calm (as there is cake and prosecco), to celebrate the publication of the final two titles in our acclaimed Poetry Prescription series published for National Poetry Day on Thursday October 2nd.Curated by Poetry Pharmacy creator Deb Alma, these beautiful hardbacks bring together poems to soothe, inspire and uplift. We'd love you to come and celebrate with us! Book your £5 ticket here.
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A month of autumnal prompts to
inspire a joyful writing habit
1st - 31st October 2025
Online
The Wild Words course is designed to ground your creativity in the turning year and help you build a sustainable, daily creative habit, drawing inspiration from the natural world around us.
It’s a month-long course of prompts and exercises sent directly to your inbox every day in October, starting on the 1st. There are no set timings—just open the emails at your own pace. (For convenience, prompts are sent at 8am each day). You can spend as little as ten minutes or a couple of hours on each prompt, making it entirely flexible to fit your life.
The course is suitable for writers of prose, poetry, or creative non-fiction, or anyone curious to explore a mindful, joyful, and low-pressure creative practice.
If you have any questions, please contact Rhiannon at crhooson@gmail.com.
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A gentle walk with poetry readings, beautiful views of the Shropshire hills and tea and cake to finish
Saturday 4th October 2025,10:30-1pm
Bishops Castle
Join poet Jonathan Davidson for a Poetry Walk starting and finishing at The Poetry Pharmacy Lab in Bishop's Castle.
Using a circular route, we will stroll along small roads and footpaths, stopping now and then to hear some poems read aloud in the open air. Copies of poems – by various carefully selected poets – will be provided, although participants are welcome to bring along short poems of their own to share.
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A gentle walk through Literary London
to restore and inspire
Sunday 12th October 2025, 9.50-12pm
Finishing at Oxford Street Poetry Pharmacy
Join Liz Ison on a journey of exploration through literary St James, uncovering the hidden histories and stories of London’s writers and poets such as William Blake, Lord Byron, Samuel Pepys and Ignatius Sancho.
We’ll be bringing poetry and literature off the bookshelves and outside by spending time in one of the capital’s most beautiful parks, St James Park, seeing how the combined power of poetry and parks can help us to relax and unwind, before further literary wanderings through the districts of St James and Piccadilly, ending up at the Poetry Pharmacy in Oxford Street.
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Meet the editor of 100 Poems to help you relax
 Poetry Prescriptions with Liz Ison
Sunday 12th October 2025, 2-3pm
Oxford Street
Drop in
Pop in to our Oxford Street Poetry Pharmacy to meet poet Liz Ison, editor of ‘100 Poems to Help You Relax’ & pick up your own complimentary healing poetry prescription. No need to book - just pop in!
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Join award-winning novelist, poet and broadcaster Salena Godden to celebrate her latest collection
Thursday 16th October 2025, 6-7pm
Oxford Street
Join us to celebrate the paperback launch of Salena Godden’s powerful poetry collection With Love, Grief and Fury. Salena will be reading from the book, which moves between love and loss, truth and resistance, offering poems that comfort, inspire, and ignite hope.
Over thirty years after she first stormed the UK poetry scene, Salena has created her most audacious and definitive collection yet.
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Explore the richness of our
inner and outer landscapes
Sunday 2nd November 2025, 10.30-3pm
Bishops Castle
Join poets Roz Goddard and Jane Commane for a poetry spa morning of workshops and readings. We will explore the richness of our inner and outer landscapes where new creative ideas can spontaneously arise and be used for experiments in writing poetry.
“Roz Goddard is one of my favourite poets and Small Moon Curve shines with all that I admire in her poems: mystery, beauty, deep tenderness and a willingness to venture into the dark and light it with love.” – Liz Berry
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Join Tom and Rozi for an intensive poetry weekend
Join Tom Hirons and Rozi Hilton for a weekend intensive in the territory of what they call the Feral Angels of Poetry: poetry with its blazing head in the cosmos and its feet in the muck and murk of this world. Immersive, alive, embodied and richly experiential, these are not your average poetry weekends.
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Personalised poems crafted on a vintage typewriter
Jen is an award-winning poet and creative copywriter who transforms feelings, memories and ideas into heartfelt, personalised poetry. At her regular drop in events at the Poetry Pharmacy on Oxford Street, she crafts bespoke poems live on her trusty vintage typewriter, capturing individual stories and emotions and turning them into unique keepsakes.
“Jen is an exceptionally talented writer. Her poetry conjures such vivid images that transport you somewhere else, and the way she puts words together is a beautiful art in itself.” Ceri, Poem recipient
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From travelling as the Emergency Poet, to opening
the world's first walk in Poetry Pharmacy
Join our own Deb Alma in conversation with local poet Juliette Hart, discussing Deb's journey from the Emergency Poet to the Poetry Pharmacy. The event will include a live poetry consultation and some readings from The Poetry Prescription anthologies, including poetic cures for life’s ailments.
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Hear from speakers, panel members and poets who are redefining poetry’s role in wellbeing and professional practice
The Poetry in Business Conference explores how poetry can inspire leadership, creativity, and wellbeing in the workplace. Through talks, panels, and live readings, leading thinkers and poets will share how language can help organisations embrace uncertainty, nurture resilience, and build human-centred cultures.
As part of the conference, our very own Deb Alma will be joined by the CEO of LUSH, Mark Constantine, to explore how poetry can serve as an unexpected but powerful tool for thoughtful decision-making in business. Expect an interesting conversation about the creative role poetry can play in both life and leadership.
Take a look at our Poetry in Business Conference 2025 bookshop.org list of recommended titles from speakers at this inaugural and ground-breaking conference.
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Join two brilliant authors for a talk on animals, wonder, and the path to a kinder world
Join authors Jay Griffiths and Gareth Howell-Jones for an inspiring evening exploring the healing power of animals and the simple wonders of the natural world. From hedgehogs to everyday encounters, they invite us to reimagine our place in nature with humour, hope, and heart. Discover new ways to nurture ourselves, our communities, and the planet.
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Thank you so much for reading.
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