Beyond The Acorn Door

The aim of this book is to introduce young adults - and perhaps older aspiring poets - to a diverse range of modern poetry from both local and international voices, offering inspiration and guidance as they begin their own writing journeys. The idea for the project emerged at last year's Rainham Poetry Festival, when one poet remarked to an organiser that "most young adults and teenagers rarely encounter contemporary or even modern poetry on the school syllabus." From this, the suggestion arose to create an anthology that showcases the wide variety of poetic styles that exist today - highlighting that poetry doesn't have to rhyme or revolve around traditional themes like daffodils.

To date, the festival has been made possible through the support of a generous patron, but we are eager to see it continue to grow. For many attendees, these events provide their first meaningful exposure to modern poetry.