Ripples is a regular online magazine to which Suffolk Poetry Society members contribute to share their poems, as well as present and discuss favourite poems by other poets.
Ripples was born when we were locked-down and prevented from meeting all but those in our immediate households – a time of much loneliness, fear, and sadness during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Poems – both serious and comic – began to pour in, and the best of these were published in the magazine. The poems show the range and quality of poetry written by our members.
In celebration of this and also the 70th anniversary of SPS, 70 of the best poems from the more than 200 that were published in Ripples have been selected here.
Here are links to the photographs taken during the live day of the festival on Saturday, 13 May 2023: Workshops, Afternoon, Open Mic, Evening.
“I have only just read the last copy of ‘Twelve Rivers’. It’s such an enriching magazine. The articles, the poetry, the graphic design make it a delight to hold, read and enjoy. I thought the review of your pamphlet by Antony Johae captured my experience of your work.”
Patricia P SPS member
“As usual I am reading Twelve Rivers from cover to cover, and marvelling at the quality and diversity of its contents, as well as the quality of printing and design. If there are any magazines to compare with it, I am yet to see them. The supporting articles about poets and their verse give an extra dimension that is most welcome.”
John GSPS member
“… I should like to congratulate the editorial team for producing such excellent reading matter with Twelve Rivers and Twelve Rivers Ripples during the pandemic – keeping us in touch and feeding our imaginations in the most stimulating way and much appreciated by those of us who live alone and are currently in lockdown.”
Jill RSPS member
“I have extended my membership to cover my 90th birthday. Receiving “Twelve Rivers” and the collection of poems from other members has been a constant delight.”
Maureen SSPS member
The Ripples is a real lifeline for me, I look forward to it every week [Ed. actually fortnightly]. Thanks for it.
Nina RSPS Member
“I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed and was enjoyably surprised at the two events of the festival that I came to, I thought they were really interesting. And if the rest of it was like that it was a very good festival. … I truly enjoyed them. And, well that’s… high praise from me…”
Jill E DSPS member on the 7th Festival of Suffolk Poetry