Lemn Sissay

I'm trusting Lemn won't mind my re-posting this from his recent Facebook posting as it is so damn cool.

And Lemn is cool. What a fine poet and person. Lemn has been travelling the globe of late - which included a reading at Budleigh Salterton, so truly global [!] - bringing great pleasure and joy to a whole world of people. His poetry readings are entertainment in its broadest and most exhilarating sense: passionate, hilarious, intense, thought-provoking, humble, political, personal. If you ever get the chance, go and see him.

Lemn has also been in the press most recently for his drama adaptation of Benjamin Zephaniah's book Refugee Boy, with his play version being shown now at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds [until 30th March]. Reviews have been universally positive.

And when the next choosing of our poet laureate comes round, let's get genuinely radical. Let's have both Benjamin and Lemn sharing the role, a Both Black Poets departure from tradition. Can you imagine, a Black Bond and a Black Poets Laureate?! Far out.