Arts
To celebrate National Poetry Day’s 25th anniversary, join British-Indian writer, artist and poet Nikita Gill as she reads and discusses her favourite poems, and the lines of poetry that speak truth to her. With a huge online following, Nikita uses Instagram to share her work where she has over 500k followers (@nikita_gill (https://www.instagram.com/nikita_gill/?hl=en) ). An ambassador for National Poetry Day, her words have captivated hearts and minds all over the world, and become a force for social change. Sharing and discussing poems including Tell all the truth but tell it slant and They shut me up in Prose by Emily Dickinson, and her own poem Indescribable Unbelonging, she talks about the variety of responses to her poems across the world - from making people feel less alone to her words being used in women’s marches - and how poetry can be a lifeline in giving women a voice. Touching upon the Indian songs and stories from her childhood, she explores her shifting ideas of home and belonging, and the rise of online platforms in making poetry more accessible and allowing people to be heard. Tell Me The Truth About Life: A National Poetry Day Anthology, curated by Cerys Matthews, is published by Michael O’Mara Books. Share poems that speak a truth to you via Twitter using #TellMeTheTruthAboutLife.