One of the final events of Poetry Parnassus was a PTC Celebration Reading featuring Al-Saddiq Al-Raddi, David Shook, Jo Shapcott, Mimi Khalvati, Reza Mohammadi, Ribka Sibhatu and Clare Pollard.

The poetry of seven poets translated by the PTC, each selected to represent their country, was read in translation and in its original language.

The event began with Ribka Sibhatu from Eritrea reading in Tigrinya and Italian with Mimi Khalvati (representing Iran) reading Ribka's translations.

We then heard poems by Conceição Lima from São Tomé and Príncipe (sadly absent) read in Portuguese by Poetry Parnassus Translator in Residence, David Shook, and in English by Clare Pollard. Clare and David also read a poem by Corsino Fortes from Cape Verde who couldn't come to London.

Al-Saddiq Al-Raddi from Sudan read 'Poetry and I' by Mbarka Mint al-Barra' from Mauritania (another poet unable to travel to London) with the translation read by Mimi Khalvati.

Reza Mohammadi from Afghanistan read his poems in Dari alongside Jo Shapcott (representing Great Britain) who also read one of her brilliant translations of Farzaneh Khojandi from Tajikistan, with Reza reading the original Tajik.

The event ended with Al-Saddiq Al-Raddi reading alongside his translator, Sarah Maguire, PTC founder and director, who also hosted this very warmly received event.