Image Credit: Birmingham TreePeople – www.birminghamtreepeople.org.uk
Poems have been read out and attached to newly planted trees in honour of writer and poet Benjamin Zephaniah.
The 65 readings were carried out in Burbury Park in Birmingham on Saturday, following a competition co-ordinated by charity Birmingham TreePeople. It formed part of the Zephaniah Forest project and came after trees were planted during the winter in memory of the nature-loving poet, who died in December 2023 aged 65.
Charley McDermott, of Birmingham TreePeople, said the poems would be laminated and tied to the trees to prevent disturbing or damaging them.
“His legacy is just being here – people showing each other love,” said his wife Qian Zephaniah. “We look after the trees to show the love to nature.”
“He would have loved this,” added his sister Millicent Springer. “He would have been running around the trees and doing his poetry because Benji was just a nature lover and loved people. This is a beautiful tribute to him.”
The chosen poems were announced as winners of the Trees Please, Poetry Please competition, named after one of Zephaniah’s works.
The judging panel consisted of Ms McDermott, Zephaniah’s youngest brother David Springer and local poet, performer and film-maker Zakariye.
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