Totnes Poetry Pop Up2!

Hi, Harula here!

It was such an exquisite privilege to spend that week in July surrounded by poetry books, all written and brought into the world by people I know, love, admire and could reach out to and contact instantly from my phone should I wish to, or the need arise. There was a tangible energy in the shop that grew through the week, and I know some of that energy was the whispering of those words between those covers, the electricity of poems meeting other poems, as the gathering grew with more books arriving each day.

Of course it wasn’t just about the books. Dare I say, they were the beautiful and supportive background to the constant human connections as familiar and new faces came to listen to the lunchtime readings, joined in with the workshops (some came two days in a row, making the most of the opportunity whilst only in Totnes for a visit) commissioned three minute poems that though personal, naturally spoke to universal aspects of the human condition and were therefore a genuinely moving experience, both to offer and, it seems, to receive. It wasn’t even just the human connections in the physical shop! Many joined in with the daily poetry challenges online, and their words were then typed up and hung on the washing line of fresh words in the window, or written in chalk on the challenge blackboard. Someone online even said, “Thank you Harula Ladd - do it again and I’ll try to be there in person next time!”

It won’t surprise you therefore, that I want to do it all again! In January 2026! Monday 26th - Saturday 31st January 2026 to be specific. For as a friend said, ‘I can't think of anything nicer in the depth of winter than sitting around sharing poetry.’

But I need your help!

Much as the shop was a great success, it did make a loss. That's ok, I knew that was possible and I've learned a lot, but I can't do it again that way. I need to at least break even. So, I will tweak the format a little, but all the elements will remain - workshops, readings, poems written to order and of course - books. I'd really love to raise the funds to pay the rent (£350 for the week in January), and also offer a thank you (if not a true fee, depending of course on how much we raise). For a one hour lunchtime reading every day (free for people to come and listen) from two poets (I really enjoyed hearing the extended sets) I'd love to raise a minimum total of £300 (ie £50 per day, i.e. £25 thank you to each poet).

If we raise more than the £650, then we may be able to make the whole thing free, including the workshops and the on the spot poems, and not need to ask for donations for those things, which I would truly love to fully gift, for that one week in January! Much more, and we could pay the poets more, and put some money aside to do it all again in the summer of 2026! Let's dream big!

Really happy to answer any questions you may have, and you can easily find me (Harula Ladd) on Facebook and/or Instagram, or visit my new website www.harulaladd.co.uk where you can find all the evidence of the joy of Poetry Pop Up Shop mark 1!

Together we can make the next one bigger and better - for the love of poetry!