New recruit and Spoken Word Boot Camp graduate Emily Downes reflects on creating pop-up poetry with the TWP team at two special events this year…

In summer 2025, Hartlepool Borough Council offered Tees Women Poets the use of the beach huts in Seaton Carew for creative activities, and I was lucky enough to be involved. I had the idea of getting prompt words from passers-by and writing them their own poem within ten minutes. This might sound intimidating, but actually, something about the external prompts and time limit seemed quite freeing! I knew I  wouldn’t have time to overthink or agonise over word choices. 

In Seaton, I set up a table and a little sign offering free poems. I had a stack of prompt sheets for punters to fill in. Now, I work in student support at a university, and have had plenty of experience organising activities with little-to-no uptake. There’s a lot of trial and error. So my expectations around community engagement were low. However, I was still setting up my table when I was first approached by a lovely older couple making the most of a day of chores. They weren’t keen to write on the form, so I used it to take notes while I chatted with them. When they collected their poem, they were delighted and gave me a massive hug. I had several more people stop by while I was there, including a fairly gruff kickboxer and a mother and baby on a day out. Each interaction felt special – the members of the public were so open and so pleased to have their very own poem. I think it’s rare to have something that’s truly ‘free’ offered these days. I wasn’t asking for their personal data or getting them to sign up to anything. That may be part of the magic!

When TWP were asked by Redcar & Cleveland Council to take part in memory gathering for the re-opening of the Boating Lake, I thought this could be a good opportunity to run the activity again. I adapted my prompt form for the occasion, dressed up as Rosie the Riveter (the TWP mascot), and set off to meet the other poets at TunedIn! Redcar. Again, my expectations of the public engagement were modest, and again they were blown out of the water!

I was chatting and scribbling for the whole event and, with a specific focus in mind – memories of Redcar and the boating lake – people seemed even more willing to share. I spoke to lifelong residents, those who’d moved to the area, young, old, and everything in between. It was such a nourishing creative experience and I felt privileged to have helped preserve people’s memories. To anyone considering doing something similar, I’d definitely recommend giving it a go! You can adapt it to work in a way you’re comfortable with (e.g., no rhymes, fully rhyming, four lines only). Something about the activity seems to facilitate real connection with strangers, and it’s genuinely a really special experience. 

Emily and her fellow pop-up poets Carmen Marcus and Aisha Lama will be back with their typewriters at Saltburn Ice Trail on Saturday 13th December, this time commissioned by Borderlands to bring some first-time poetry to families as part of The First Verse community engagement programme – all part of the lead-up to the first South Tees Poet Laureate in 2026!