Who are the best young poets today? Which new poets are most likely to become the defining voices of their generation? Two young editors, James Byrne and Clare Pollard, set out to answer these questions in Voice Recognition, a vibrant anthology introducing 21 of the most exciting young poets of the 21st century.

Voice Recognition showcases the work of a talented new wave of poets from Britain and Ireland who are just now starting to make their mark. None has yet published a first book of poems. All are likely to produce distinctively different debut collections in the next few years.

Influenced by poetries from across the world, and unafraid to take risks, all these poets are committed to extending and remaking the traditions of poetry in a fast-changing new millennium. Their poems show a lively range of styles and subjects – sometimes sexy, sometimes dark, but consistently brimming with vitality. The future of poetry begins here.

Jay Bernard • Emily Berry • Amy Blakemore • Siddhartha Bose • Ailbhe Darcy • Joe Dunthorne • Miriam Gamble • Sarah Jackson • Annie Katchinska • Mark Leech • Toby Martinez de las Rivas • Jonathan Morley • Adam O’Riordan • Colm O’Shea • Sandeep Parmar • Heather Phillipson • Kate Potts • Sophie Robinson • Jack Underwood • Ahren Warner • James Womack

Voice Recognition: JAY BERNARD

Jay Bernard is one of 21 poets included in Voice Recognition. Here she reads in the 'Roddy and the Pilots' event at StAnza, Scotland's international poetry festival, in St Andrews, on Friday 20 March 2009, featuring five poets who've published pamphlets with Tall-Lighthouse in their Pilot series edited by Roddy Lumsden. She reads 'Kid Moth', 'Lingerie', 'tongues in velvet' and 'And how will she smell?', which are all included in Your sign is cuckoo, girl (Tall-Lighthouse, 2008) or in Voice Recognition. Jay Bernard reads quite softly, so it may help to turn up the sound on this video.

Voice Recognition: EMILY BERRY

Emily Berry is one of 21 poets included in Voice Recognition. Here she reads in the 'Roddy and the Pilots' event at StAnza, Scotland's international poetry festival, in St Andrews, on Friday 20 March 2009, featuring five poets who've published pamphlets with Tall-Lighthouse in their Pilot series edited by Roddy Lumsden. She reads 'The Descent', 'I Heart NY', 'A Londoner's Love Song', 'Everything She Does Is Not Her Own Fault' and 'A Short Guide to Corsetry', most of which are included in Stingray Fevers (Tall-Lighthouse, 2009) or in Voice Recognition.

Voice Recognition: ADAM O'RIORDAN

Adam O'Riordan is one of 21 poets included in Voice Recognition. Here he reads in the 'Roddy and the Pilots' event at StAnza, Scotland's international poetry festival, in St Andrews, on Friday 20 March 2009, featuring five poets who've published pamphlets with Tall-Lighthouse in their Pilot series edited by Roddy Lumsden. He reads 'Manchester' and 'NGC 3949' from Queen of the Cotton Cities (Tall-Lighthouse, 2007) and 'Candle Moulds' and 'Silver Lake' from a new pamphlet, Home (Wordsworth Trust, 2009), some of which are included in Voice Recognition.

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