Jurassic Coast poet publishes pamphlet of poems and prose

'Jurassic Coast Poems East Devon' - the poetry pamphlet written by Jurassic Coast Trust poet in residence Sarah Acton. Picture: Contributed. (Image: Archant)

Jurassic Coast Poems East Devon has been written by Sarah Acton, the Jurassic Coast’s poet-in-residence.

Comprising new poems about the western end of the World Heritage Site, it was inspired by Sarah’s roving East Devon residency in 2017.

She’s ‘pleased and excited’ that the poetry pamphlet is now finished after several months’ of work.

“The poetry and prose are inspired by the local landscape and East Devon museum collections, after my four-month residency this summer spent in Sidmouth, Beer, Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton,” she says.

“I had full access to the local museum collections, and the volunteers really brought historical characters and stories to life with their passion and knowledge. The pamphlet is a snapshot of what stories claimed me as I walked the landscape where they happened.

“It has been a month of peeling away layers to find what energies lie beneath this well-heeled tourist haven.

“At the heart of the Regency town’s history I found the patience of ochre Otter Sandstone rock, fast-crumbling Mercia Mudstone, and also the smell of fish, together with the soulful ghosts of all the fishermen past who have been connected to settlements here.

“You may wonder what this has to do with geology and the features of the natural landscape, but I’ve realised when walking and listening to the coastline, and considering the communities shaped by it, that everything is connected.

“Thanks to all of the East Devon Museums who looked after me so well, opening their doors and minds to see what might happen when a poet came to visit.”

Sarah’s residency continues next year into West Dorset.

n Printed on recycled materials, there are 150 limited edition, numbered and signed copies of Jurassic Coast Poems East Devon available, at £6 each. Details: blackvenpress@gmail.com.