Dear Versopolis friends,We may not know the weather in your part of the world, but it seems like many of us are experiencing a rather rainy interlude before summer. The good thing is, moody vibes can serve as great inspiration to invite poetry into our everyday lives. In this newsletter, we would like to introduce you to a few ways in which Versopolis can assist you in achieving just that.

Take us along on your walk through the park by tuning into our podcast, or delve into the captivating articles featuring last week's Versopolis authors in focus – both of whom are talented Georgian poets. And of course, there's more! We are here to support your monthly poetry intake.Best regards,
your Versopolis teamVERSOPOLIS PODCAST #4Poetry and ecologyThe climate crisis can be a source of both indifference and anxiety. What is poetry’s role in navigating through it? Can environmental poetry evolve into a political movement that invigorates climate activism? What can we learn from non-Western cultures, and what is deep ecology? How can we restructure our societies beyond the myths of the individual and the collective to create a ‘new tribalism’, akin to what was once found on pirate ships? These questions are explored by poet and writer Jan Škrob in conversation with Dr Mitja Drab.>> Listen here

AUTHORS OF THE WEEKGeorgiaUnder the broken part of the sky
Second-hand techno

While I recognised the influence my mother had on my desire to write, I also acknowledged that it was a weird part of who I am. The spell she cast on me was not one of manipulation, but of love, and I could not bring myself to reject that.>> Read article
The disappearing other
The future of queerness in literatureLiterature is a world of conditionalities, and time and space are among them. If a set of texts can determine the culture, then it’s crucial to create the alternative readings of them – subversion can trigger the reader to rethink the culture and therefore rethink and debunk its hierarchical model.>> Read article

JUNE FESTIVALSTbilisi, Genoa, Rotterdam, BerlinJune in Europe is a vibrant tapestry of poetry festivals. The month commenced with Tbilisi International festival of Literature. The festival embraces the digital realm, enabling people from all corners of the globe to access their events. We highly recommend watching the poetry readings featuring Versopolis's traveling authors, Simon Ó Faoláin and Carmien Michels.

As the festival fever spread, the enchantment of poetry reached the shores of Genoa, Italy, where the Genoa International Poetry Festival will be stirring the hearts of attendees until the 18th of June. This month we introduced a new member into the Versopolis family, the esteemed Dutch Poetry International. Held in the picturesque city of Rotterdam, the festival embraces the rich heritage of Dutch poetry, captivating audiences with its diverse range of voices and themes.

Meanwhile, this week, Poesiefestival Berlin will serve as a momentous occasion for festival directors within the Versopolis family to gather and exchange ideas, forging deeper connections between festivals and poets.
>> Find the upcoming festivals

INTERNETIONAL POETRY FESTIVAL DIRECTORS' MEETINGVersopolis at Poesiefestival BerilnPoesifestival Berlin, a globally significant poetry event organized by Haus für Poesie, joined Versopolis in 2021/2022. The 24th edition of the festival, titled "No One Is an Island," fosters a dialogue between diverse poetic traditions and languages. Starting in early June, the festival features pop-up poetry readings, discussions, workshops, and thematic explorations of contemporary issues. Esteemed guests, including renowned Versopolis poets Athena Farrokhzad, Radna Fabias, and Charlotte Van den Broeck, will be present at the festival.Notably, Versopolis made its presence known at this year's event through the participation of platform coordinator Aljaž Koprivnikar in the annual international meeting of poetry festival directors, aimed at fostering partnerships and future collaborations. Running until June 16, Poesifestival Berlin is celebrated for intertwining cultural identities and poetic traditions, promoting unity through the written and spoken word.

MOVED BY VERSOPOLISGaia Ginevra Giorgi and Iva DamjanovskiWhat does it really mean to be a Versopolis poet? Gaia Ginevra Giorgi and Iva Damjanovski shared their latest experience after visiting Barcelona Poesia and Cork International Poetry Festival. 

"Versopolis as a platform should, in my opinion, continue in the direction of facilitating and disseminating contemporary poetry in all its forms and declinations and knowing how to invite artists who share a common gaze, perspectives and positionings," says Gaia Ginevra Giorgi.
>> Stroll down their memory lane

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