New poetry trail launched at National Memorial Arboretum to honour memories of those who fought on VJ Day
A new trail around the nation's place of peace and remembrance is set to honour the memories of those who fought and fell in the Second World War through a series of audio poems.
Arji Manuelpillai, Poet-in-Residence at the National Memorial Arboretum, has created a series of ten powerful new poems exploring incredible stories of bravery, sacrifice, and service in the Far East during the Second World War.
Running until November 16, visitors to the Arboretum can follow the new free ‘Poetic Reflections’ trail through the Far East zone, listening to Arji’s poems while standing alongside the memorials that helped inspire them.
This new activity forms part of the Arboretum’s ‘The Year Was 1945...’ programme, commemorating 80 years since the end of the Second World War, first in Europe and then in the Far East.
Mr Manuelpillai said: “Harrowing stories, beyond my previous comprehension, tempered by those of hope, connection and resilience have inspired this series of poems.
“You will encounter poetry of various forms and structure, some written in the first person, and others that connect more personally to my own experience as a British Asian.
"Each piece attempts to help you experience something that information, memorials and plaques cannot - a feeling, a wondering, and a different perspective.”
Visitors can collect a ‘podcatcher’ audio device handset from the Welcome Desk, enabling them to scan a pod at the memorials along the trail route to access a recital of each of the poems.
Transcripts of all the poems will also be available from the Welcome Desk.
Rachel Smith, head of Learning and Participation at the National Memorial Arboretum, said: “With thanks to our brilliant Poet-in-Residence, Arji, these ten new impactful poems are a powerful addition to our year-long ‘The Year Was 1945…’ programme, encouraging visitors to reflect on the sheer enormity of what people endured in the Far East during the Second World War.
"Through poetic storytelling, we’re able to honour the remarkable acts of sacrifice and service that took place 80 years ago."
The Arboretum also said that while Poetic Reflections is open to all visitors, the poems explore complex themes, reflecting the gravity of wartime experiences and human suffering and has recommended that this content may be more suitable for adults and older children.
