38. Special Episode - Latitude 2019 with Nadine Shah and Hannah Jane Walker

In this special feature length episode, recorded live at Latitude Festival, Nadine Shah and Hannah Jane Walker talk about the poems that have been friends to them. This is our first live show episode and features work by Philip Larkin, Elizabeth Alexander, Salena Godden and WB Yeats. We had a brilliant time as part of The Listening Post at Latitude Festival 2019 and are delighted to be sharing it with you, through The Poetry Exchange Podcast. Discover more about Latitude and dates for next year's festival here: https://www.latitudefestival.com Nadine and Hannah are in conversation with The Poetry Exchange team members, Michael Shaeffer and Fiona Bennett. You can find out more about the brilliant work and art Nadine and Hannah create here: www.nadineshah.co.uk www.hannahjanewalker.co.uk Hannah reads the gift reading of 'Days' by Philip Larkin. Nadine reads the gift reading of 'Pessimism is for Lightweights' by Salena Godden. ***** Days by Philip Larkin What are days for? Days are where we live. They come, they wake us Time and time over. They are to be happy in: Where can we live but days? Ah, solving that question Brings the priest and the doctor In their long coats Running over the fields. ***** Pessimism is for Lightweights By Salena Godden Think of those that marched this road before And those that will march here in years to come The road in shadow and the road in the sun The road before us and the road all done History is watching us and what will we become This road is all flags and milestones Immigrant blood and sweat and tears Build this city, built this country Made this road last all these years This road is made of protest And those not permitted to vote And those that are still fighting to speak With a boot stamping on their throat There is power and strength in optimism To have faith and to stay true to you Because if you can look in the mirror And have belief and promise you Will share wonder in living things Beauty, dreams, books and art Love your neighbour and be kind And have an open heart Then you're already winning at living You speak up, you show up and stand tall It's silence that is complicit It's apathy that hurts us all Pessimism is for lightweights There is no straight white line It's the bumps and curves and obstacles That make this time yours and mine Pessimism is for lightweights This road was never easy and straight And living is all about living alive and lively And love will conquer hate.