six poets. six saints. six walks.
queer saints is a series of urban poetry walks tracing the lives of queer figures who lived, loved, suffered, and created in london. each walk is led by nols nathankski, founder of make poetry weird again, and takes a different poet as its subject and its guide.
the six walks:
— william blake — soho and lambeth — oscar wilde — chelsea and the strand — quentin crisp — fitzrovia and soho — francis thompson — westminster and the embankment — w.h. auden — bloomsbury — derek jarman — southwark and beyond
each walk lasts approximately two hours. at each significant location, nols will read from or about the poet — their work, their life, their witness. participants are invited to write in response, on the move, in whatever form feels right. there is no pressure to share.
the walks are quiet, attentive, and unhurried. they are not tours. they are acts of witness.
all six walks will contribute to a forthcoming anthology and podcast series where your work can be featured.
what to bring: comfortable shoes, a pen, a notebook, an open mind. booking: walks can be booked individually or as a series.
QUEER SAINTS IS AN EXPLICITLY QUEER SPACE
These walks exist because queer poets walked these streets before us. We ask everyone who joins us to hold that with care.
· Use people’s correct names and pronouns. If unsure, ask or use they/them.
· Do not assume anyone’s identity, sexuality, or relationship to their queerness.
· Queerphobia, transphobia, racism, ableism, and discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated — on the walk, in communications, or in public statements about the series.
· Do not photograph or record other participants without their permission.
· Sharing what you have written is always optional. You will never be required to read aloud.
· This is a witness space, not a critique space. No feedback is given on anyone’s writing.
If something makes the walk feel unsafe, speak to Nols directly. You will be heard.
nols@makepoetryweirdagain.com