The bees buy and sell
—
The bees buy and sell.
It’s market day on Plum Street.
Pollen changes hands.
Discover poems from Simon Armitage's book, Blossomise
To celebrate all things blossom, we've gathered a selection of poems from Poet Laureate Simon Armitage's new book, Blossomise. Published in collaboration with Faber, the new book also includes illustrations by the celebrated artist Angela Harding.
To mark World Poetry Day on 21 March and our Blossom Week 20–28 April 2024, we've collaborated with Simon Armitage who's created a collection of poems and haikus inspired by the blossom season as part of the Blossomise project.
We commissioned these works as part of a long-term ambition to create an annual celebration of blossom and the arrival of spring. The collection was written to raise awareness around the role of nature in our lives, a selection of which is below. The illustrations that accompany the haikus were illustrated by artist Angela Harding, whose works also feature in Blossomise.
The poems in the book are used as lyrics for five new songs by Simon Armitage and his band LYR, which, as part of the Blossomise project, are being released as an EP of the same name.
A selection of haikus
Birthday
Nature told me
to close my eyes
for the big surprise.
I had visions of wild woods
in shindig mood,
blossom as fireworks
and fancy dress,
insects off their noddles
on high-grade pollen,
Planet Earth in party mode,
petals fizzing and frothing
like pink champagne.
Then Nature walked me
into the car park,
lifted the blindfold
and showed me a cherry tree
fit for the age.
Embarrassment. Rage.
Blossomise
Blossomise is a collection of blossom-inspired poems and haikus by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, with illustrations by Angela Harding. These works explore how blossom can bring a sense of hope to an increasingly urbanised world.
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