Welcome to Leeds Line by Line, an anthology created for Leeds Lit Fest 2026 and inspired by the many stories, places and people that make Leeds what it is. The anthology is wonderfully eclectic, ranging from iconic buildings and football to markets, shopping, art, streets, ginnels, squares, wildlife, history and personal memories. As editor, it has been a privilege to encounter so many different perspectives on the city and to see Leeds reflected through such a rich variety of voices. Together, these pieces create a portrait of a city that is constantly evolving while remaining deeply connected to its communities.
Alongside the anthology, we also created a collaborative community poem, gathering contributions at two sessions held at Headingley Library and at the Leeds-themed open mic hosted by Soundbites. The open mic attracted a standing-room-only audience as poets, both new and experienced, shared their work. The atmosphere was full of energy, sparking conversations about poetry, creativity and Leeds itself. Some of those poems have found their way into this anthology. The community poem is included here and was also shared through Headingley Library and on this Heartlines website. We hope the anthology captures something of the character, creativity and community spirit that make Leeds such a great place to live, work in and visit.
The poems below are those contributed to the anthology by the members of the Heartlines writer’s group. A free PDF download of the complete anthology available at Leeds Line by Line anthology 2026
Liz McPherson. June 2026.
Contents
Linda Marshall
Recurring moons
Barbara Lawton
Relocated
Liz McPherson
Leeds Central Library, Reference Department, 8.30 p.m.
On taking a walk in your lunch hour
Malcolm Henshall
Could have been anywhere
Marching on together
Rosie Cantrell
City or country
Collecting the parish magazine subscriptions
Eileen Neil
City of Stone
Turner in Leeds
Myrna Moore
Legacy
The Way We Were
Bill Fitzsimons
Chapeltown
Hearts and minds
Jackie Parsons
Outsider syndrome
Marie-Paule Sheard
Motorway City of the Seventies
Howard Benn
Ermelai
Community poem – various authors
Dear Leeds. Community Poem