The Poetry Society

Jen Hadfield was commissioned by The Poetry Society and the Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, to write her poem, ‘The Lantern Fly’, inspired by an exhibition of paintings by the German artist and entomologist Maria Merian. She talks to Judith Palmer about the “jewelline, sparkling” natural world of her home on Shetland, and how Merian’s pioneering spirit and paintings inspired a poem in which death is represented by the lantern fly, “unable to find the person that it’s meant to be ministering to”. She also reads her poem 'Lichen'. To connect with more poetry, visit poetrysociety.org.uk