Poetry at the IEL

The International English Library is home to a diverse and ever growing collection of poetry and aims to host a variety of events focusing on this genre.

Please email Richard Ettinger - poetry@international-library.de

2025 IEL Poetry Events

July 2025, and the IEL were proud to collaborate with the English Theatre Düsseldorf in their "Between the Lines" project! Bringing together students from Görres-Gymnasium and Gymnasium am Geroweiher to explore the spaces between the lines, write, produce and then perform their own spoken words!

Open Poetry Events at the IEL.

Please follow our events' page and social media channels for future events!

This Is Why We’re Late was an intimate poetry gathering that sits somewhere between a confession and a quiet riot.

Expect stories that start soft, then sting.

And metaphors that arrive right on time, even when nothing else does.

This is an open mic-style event, where you're invited not only to listen, but to share your own poetry too, whether it’s a finished piece, a voice note from your phone, or something scribbled down ten minutes before you walked in. All voices are welcome.

Whether you're performing or just taking it all in, this space is for the overthinkers, the feelers, the ones still figuring it out, together.

It won’t be perfect.

But it’ll be honest.

You are invited - late, yes, but exactly on time

2024 IEL Poetry Project: Düsseldorf x Reading

In 2022, the International English Library attempted to launch a Poetry Program as part of the Reading Weekend celebrations held to commemorate 75 years of friendship between Reading, UK and Düsseldorf, Germany. In 2023 the organisation was delighted to co-opt Richard Ettinger to help further this youth initiative. Supported by the Landhaupstadt Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University and with in-kind support from the Reading Borough Council Library and the Reading Düsseldorf Association, workshops facilitated by poet, David Spittle, have been held in both towns. Scroll down to learn more about the workshops and watch some of the creative outcomes!