Commonwealth Poet Laureate

The Commonwealth Poet Laureate is an honorary, two-year post that places the imaginative power of poetry at the heart of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Appointed by the Commonwealth Foundation’s Director-General—the principal agency for arts and culture in the Commonwealth—the Laureate serves as a creative advocate: crafting commissioned poems for key Commonwealth moments, advising on the Foundation’s and wider Commonwealth arts strategy, and sparking dialogue among citizens, governments, and civil-society partners.

Each poem gathered here is more than a literary work; it is a bridge between cultures, an invitation to listen, and a call to reflect on the shared challenges and aspirations of 2.7 billion people. From climate justice to freedom of expression, from personal histories to collective futures, the Laureate’s verse captures the living pulse of the Commonwealth and gives voice to those who might otherwise remain unheard.

Bookmark this collection to follow new commissions as they premiere and discover how poetry can connect hearts, challenge assumptions, and imagine a fairer, more inclusive world.