Three burgeoning poets, Kauser Kahn, Susie Wilkes and Eunice Thomas are delighted to present their work at an exhibition for the Old Fire Station Café. Culminating from a series of online creative writing workshops facilitated by Hamish Hollis-Hill, Arts for Wellbeing Coordinator at Crisis Skylight Oxford, these poems are a mixture of both individual and collaborative contributions crafted throughout the sessions.

Initially hesitant to write poetry, participants started the sessions without any expectations other than to find connection during periods of isolation. Just a few months on, they have now found their own poetic voices, each one as unique as it is authoritative.

The themes explored in Transformation include identity, humour, personal interests and an array of subtle emotions that show depth and meaning on multiple levels. The exhibition title was chosen to reflect participants’ transformation into poets, as well as the transformative themes seen throughout these poetic examples. With a mixture of playfulness, exasperation, joy and discomfort, the poems remind us of the more important aspects of life, some more overlooked than others. We invite audiences to hear the poets’ voices; to feel their pains and their joys as they laugh and share tales of sorrow.

The Arts for Wellbeing provision at Crisis Skylight Oxford provide a range of creative and developmental opportunities for participants. Crisis is a homelessness charity that works directly with people experiencing or at risk of homelessness across England, Scotland and Wales.