Personal stories inspire poetry

Research for the book was carried out in 2007

Bath Spa University lecturer and poet, Lucy English has written a book of poetry based on people she met across Somerset.

She asked people she met a simple question 'Why are you here?' and wrote poems based on their answers.

Accompanying her was photographer Sally Mundy who took pictures of the people she met.

Lucy and Sally spent three days over the summer months in 2007 visiting towns and villages across Somerset.

Miracle Man Mervyn

"We met this really nice guy who owned a bookshop in Nether Stowey and he calls himself Miracle Man Mervyn because he raises money to send over to a children's home in India.

"We had a long conversation with him and it turned out he had emphesemia, so that was quite touching that he was still running his bookshop and still raising money."

Dorset Farmers Widows

This poem is based upon a meeting with a group of women out for the day in Minehead.

You can see more of Lucy's work by visiting her website. Her book, 'Why are you here?' will be launched as part of the Bristol Poetry Festival 2009.