Local lore, language and listeners have inspired 13 poems on the theme of “home truths" to mark the 25th anniversary of the annual celebration of poetry and spoken word. All of the poems are part of the award-winning #BBCLocalPoets initiative, inspired by National Poetry Day’s 2019 theme of Truth.

From the elephants of Shropshire to the elvers of Somerset, these new poems offer insights into the “hidden truths” of the towns and communities of England, juxtaposing local lore with football chants, slang and pub names to map the idiosyncratic sources of pride across the regions. Each poet has tackled stereotypes from the ground up, adapting and replacing tourist board clichés to powerful effect. And, although each poem is different, running through all of them is a strong sense of generosity and gratitude.