'BRISTOL: A POETIC CITY' An Anthology of New Poetry to Mark the 250th Anniversary of the Death of Thomas Chatterton

Thomas Chatterton (1752-1770) was a Bristol born poet who is mainly renowned for having died young – at the age of seventeen. Although at the time it was thought to have been suicide, it is now mostly believed that his death was accidental.

What we do know is that his brief and troubled life and his works influenced Romantic artists of that period (approx. 1780-1830).

The poet has been immortalised in a painting by Pre-Raphaelite artist Henry Wallis called ‘The Death of Chatterton’ (1856), which hangs in Tate Britain, London. In it we see his young lifeless body lying on a bed. He’s on his side facing the viewer, but his eyes are forever closed. His skin is marble white, almost grey – a stark reminder that he’s dead, although his flaming red hair and colourful breeches are aglow with the light pouring in from the open window above the bed.

2020 marked the 250^th anniversary of Chatterton’s death, so in order to commemorate this date twelve UK poets (six from Bristol) were commissioned to respond in verse to the painting and to Chatterton’s legacy through Lyra – Bristol Poetry Festival. The resulting anthology also includes a new poem by Bristol City Poet Vanessa Kisuule.

Here is a snapshot of the talent on display in the book:

Caleb Parkin shouts to the dead poet “Chatterton, look! Your window is open. Call to us.”

Emily Berry reminds us that “When someone dies it is important to explain”.

Anthony Anaxagorou asks “Who has ever said a hateful thing to that will never speak; …”

Fran Lock wonders at “…, the glammy swoon of dying.”

Tom Sastry importantly reflects that “…dying is not art/ no-one does it well”

Theresa Lola questions “Perhaps you wanted your poems to fly/ out of the window”

Josie Alford portrays the poet as “hair abundant with bright violence,/ arm tumbles to the floor,”

Rebecca Tantony describes Chatterton’s poetry as “… - strange emotions, rumbling,/ loud trembles…”

Keith Jarret challenges us with “How we love to ventriloquise the dead!”

Malaika Kegode observes the form of the poet as “Inevitably beautiful -/ like a body becoming/ poetry through inaction.”

Rachel Boast puts herself in Chatterton’s shoes “Ill-treated in life, and in Art, here I am, backlit/ posed as a pietà, …”

Chris McCabe gives the poet a voice in an imaginary dialogue “- Over tyme my reputation will solidify with clarity.”

In her new poem titled ‘Tommy 2020’ Vanessa Kisuule creates a modern day Tommy, who finds Chatterton in his local library and draws a significant parallel between them “Tommy finds/ Chatterton./ and pissed off,/ just like him.”

Get your free book, which is published by Bristol Cultural Development Partnership, at Bristol Central Library or Bristol Cathedral.

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