Adrian Johnson. Photo: Louisa Griffiths
We interviewed Adrian to find out more:
How did you get selected as Birmingham Poet Laureate?
I posted off four of my poems, without my name at the bottom, and got a call to interview, along with four others, for the job.
How did you feel when you were told you had been successful?
I was thrilled and daunted by how good the 13 previous laureates have been, then remembered 'they did it their way' as Mr Sinatra sings it, and so shall I.
What does the title mean?
The title of Birmingham poet laureate is an honorary position. My little Oxford dictionary also explains that a laureate might expect to 'be wreathed in foliage of a bay tree as an emblem of victory or distinction.' What a treat!
What will you be doing?
I'll be writing a lot of poems about what it is to live and come from around here, the middle lands in 2009/10. I've always lived in the middle of England, a place where the poet John Clare kicked poems out of the ground and a place where Roy Fisher said 'Birmingham's what I think with,' so between those markers I'll play with what the city has to offer and report back. I also plan to post short poetry films on youtube and blogs each month throughout the year. I like the idea of bringing all the regional and city laureates for poetry to Birmingham too for a huge gig and party, with some help from the major coach operators at Digbeth coach station.
Why does Birmingham have a Poet Laureate?
The city has a poet laureate because of the commitment the library staff have to modern poetry and the enthusiasm the city has for voices and stories which everyone can share and enjoy. There's also a young Birmingham poet laureate (India Miller - watch out for her) and we'll be working together along the way.
How long will you hold the post for?
It's a job, without a salary, for 12 months from National Poetry Day onwards.
What are you hoping to achieve during your term?
I want to explore the city and celebrate some of the public and private moments of the city at work and at play. I also want to be poet in (occasional) residence at the Digbeth coach station before, and after, it re-opens. It's a place of such drama, emotion and yearning - amidst the clouds of diesel fumes. It may not be quite the same as Alan de Botton's stint in terminal 5, but, hey, it's ours!
How long have you been an Arts Council employee?
I've worked with the Arts Council for twelve years, based in the West Midlands office in Birmingham.
How do you combine your work as a writer with your day job?
I squeeze it in around the primary day job, mostly - like so many other great poets, storytellers and novelists around the country.
Why do you think poetry is important?
It's a spell against the dark and at its best it says what you might wish to have said, briefly, with its own in built rhythm and musicality.
How do you think poetry is relevant to the world today?
When you're down, or excited, it's incredible how a poem wriggles out and speaks up. Love letters, text messages and obituaries keep it alive. So do great publishers, Bloodaxe books for one, and the spoken word poets like Moqapi Selassie, Martin Glynn, Big Bren, Emma Pursehouse, Dreadlockalien and Roz Goddard just a few of the great poets that make this city and region hum and fizz with life.
Can anyone be a poet?
Yes, in the same way that anyone can be a fire eater and a tight rope walker - it takes enthusiasm and a bit of practice.
Where can people find out more information?
Check the Birmingham City Libraries web site and look out for news of a new blog page and youtube channel for some of my new work and others I'd like you to check and admire, along the way.
