Join us at York Cemetery on Sunday 17 May 2026 at 2pm for a special afternoon of poetry, reflection and conversation as part of the York Dead Good Festival.

Beginning at the Harriet Centre, this relaxed poetry walk will be led by Clive Dawson and invites visitors to experience the cemetery through words, memory and nature. Guests are warmly encouraged to bring along a favourite poem of their own to read aloud in this peaceful and atmospheric setting.

York Cemetery has long inspired quiet reflection. For some, it is a place to visit loved ones, leave flowers and pause in remembrance; for others, it offers space for solitude, contemplation and connection with the natural world. With its winding paths, mature trees and abundant wildlife, the cemetery provides an evocative backdrop for poetry, storytelling and shared experience.

During the walk, Clive Dawson will recite Bluebell by Anne Brontë, reflecting on the emotions and experiences behind the poem. Written during a difficult period in Anne’s life, the poem explores loneliness, resilience and the comfort found in nature through the image of a solitary bluebell.

The event forms part of the wider Dead Good Festival programme taking place at York Cemetery, which also includes live performances at the Pritchett Chapel from acoustic folk trio Steam Pigeon and other performers. Festival organisers describe the event as being “about getting people talking about death in a positive way”, encouraging open, thoughtful and creative conversations around remembrance, life and loss.

This welcoming event is open to everyone, whether you are a poetry enthusiast, a lover of literature and history, or simply curious to experience York Cemetery in a different way. Come along to listen, share and enjoy an afternoon of poetry in one of York’s most unique and tranquil green spaces.