How does it compare with reading to smaller numbers in places like Ilkley and Cardiff?
The experiences are very different. The people who came to places like Ilkley were more English academics than Somalis. It was strange not reading to so many of my own people. But the London reading (at The Brunei Gallery) had over 100 Somalis. As you say I’m used to big crowds at poetry readings in Somalia. To have so many people in the audience helps me to express myself. What has your impression of English poetry been while you have visited here? I discovered soon after I arrived here that if you think of English poetry and Somali there are massive differences in what seems to be expected from the poets. These are differences of responsibility. In Somalia the people have a high level of expectation from me as a poet and I as a poet have a responsibility to them. In England it seems that very little is expected from the poet. The English poet doesn’t seem to be writing for the people but instead he is writing for himself. This could be why not many people seem to be interested in Eng
