Keisha Thompson was the recipient of the 2023/2024 YSP/Laureate Fund Residency supported by the T. S. Eliot Foundation, which has been made possible by YSP Trustee and Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage.

Throughout her residency, Keisha focused on a triangle of themes – mathematics, identity and nature-connectedness, thinking specifically about the resonances between natural hair and the YSP landscape. In September 2023 Keisha celebrated World Afro Day with a weekend of events at YSP; in January 2024 she performed with the Light Organ; and in March she concluded her residency with a final performance and publication.

Throughout the year of her residency, Keisha spent time in the Park walking, wandering and writing. This time spent connecting with nature and exploring sculptures amongst the landscape inspired Keisha’s latest collection of poems – Dérive – which was published by YSP in March 2024 and is available to purchase from YSP Shop.

Keisha has curated a series of self-guided poetry walks for visitors to experience while at the Park, which are available to experience via the Bloomberg Connects app. Choose between four guided routes around the park, each with a different distance, duration and direction, all curated to encourage your mind and your body to wander.