Centuries have passed since the great mystical poets like Rumi, Kabir, and Blake created works that allowed readers glimpses into higher, transcendent worlds, and yet their tradition continues with a new generation of writers who elevate their words through spirituality.

Join us for a special evening of modern devotional poetry hosted by Muneera Pilgrim and with verse from Clare Shaw, Tommy Evans, Aviva Dautch, Sukina Pilgrim and Shazea Quraishi, a group of contemporary poets whose work uplifts, inspires, and awakens readers to a divine sense of openness.

Explore the true power of poetry with this evening of modern-day artists connecting deeply with an ancient, soul-awakening art form that is greatly needed in today’s world of uncertainty.

This event is supported by Amal (a Saïd Foundation programme).

About The Host

Muneera Pilgrim

Muneera Pilgrim is an international Poet, Cultural Producer, Broadcaster and co-founder of Poetic Pilgrimage. Muneera conducts workshops, shares art, guest lectures, and finds alternative ways to educate and exchange ideas. She contributes to BBC’s Pause for Thought and is an artist associate with The English Touring Theatre.

 

About The Poets

Aviva Dautch

Dr Aviva Dautch is Executive Director of Jewish Renaissance, the UK’s national Jewish arts and culture magazine. She is also a published poet and is currently a mentor and co-translator for the Arts Council England funded publication scheme Exiled Writers Ink.

 

Tommy Evans

Tommy Evans is a multidisciplinary creative based in London whose critically acclaimed body of work encompasses music, poetry, film and design.

 

 

Shazea Quraishi

Shazea Quraishi is a Pakistani-born Canadian poet and translator. Her poems have appeared in publications including The Financial Times, The Guardian, Modern Poetry in Translation and Poetry Review.  Her latest collection is The Art of Scratching (Bloodaxe Books, 2015) and she is adapting her chapbook The Courtesan’s Reply (flipped eye publishing, 2012) as a play.   

Headshot of poet Clare Shaw

Clare Shaw

Clare Shaw has four poetry collections with Bloodaxe; their latest collection Towards a General Theory of Love was awarded a Northern Writer’s Award and was published in May 2022. Clare is Co-Director of the Kendal Poetry Festival and a regular tutor for Wordsworth Grasmere and the Arvon Foundation. Clare is also a mental health trainer with a particular interest in trauma, creativity, and wellbeing. In collaboration with Winnie M Li, Clare was the recipient of a Royal Society of Literature, Literature Matters Award in 2019, creating workshops and a free online resource for survivors of trauma.