Writers from Stourbridge and elsewhere in the West Midlands have contributed to a collection of poetry aimed at raising money for humanitarian aid in Syria, with the plea “that the inhumanity of dropping bombs on Syrian children stops right now”. The collection, Artists 4 Syria, uses the famous picture of a bewildered child in the ravaged city of Aleppo on its cover.

Eddy Morton, the Stourbridge musician, writer, promoter and activist, instigated a week of events at his venue, Katie Fitzgerald’s, to raise awareness and to raise money for the humanitarian effort. Music, yoga, meditation and sponsored walks all featured in the programme.

He also co-ordinated a book of poems, in conjunction with local publisher APS Publications, which was edited and published in 10 days. The resulting collection is a powerful cri de cœur from a diverse group of writers.

That there is a lack of “big name poets” among the contributors is part of the message of the publication. Publisher Andrew Sparke said at the book launch: “If Stourbridge can do this in 10 days, why not Birmingham, why not Manchester, Exeter, Edinburgh?”

Poets and other contributors represented in the collection are Andrew Sparkes, Daniel Round, Dave Reeves, David Muir, Eddy Morton, George Jarrett, HR Beasley, Henry Egg, Ivan Norris, Jim Ryan, Kokumo Noxid, Kyle Parsons, Lee Benson, Lottie Woodward, Matthew Caldwell, Michel Henri, Robert Stanfield, and Szeder Edes.  

Proceeds from the book are going to humanitarian aid on the ground in Syria in support of the White Helmets, a volunteer civil defence organisation that has been operating in rebel-held areas of Syria. You can get hold of a copy of the book here