AMONG the plethora of poets arriving in Ledbury for the 14th Ledbury Poetry Festival is Jenny Joseph, author of one of the best known and most often quoted poems of our time, Warning, in which she famously declares: “When I am an old woman I shall wear purple, With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.”

There is no indication in the programme, however, of what she’ll be wearing when she joins Elizabeth Cook, author of the short epic Achilles on stage as they present their work, old and new.

Also reading his work this year is Christopher Reid, the winner of the Costa Book of the Year Award 2009 for A Scattering, a tribute to his wife Lucinda Gane.

Every year, Ledbury Poetry Festival offers surprises and delights, opening up the world of poetry and revealing – especially through the guests who pick their ‘desert island poems’ – how and why it is such a constant presence in so many people’s lives.

This year foreign affairs correspondent and broadcaster (presenting, among other things, Radio 4’s Moral Maze and The Choice) Michael Buerk comes to Ledbury to reveal the poems he prizes most highly.

Also in Ledbury to share his favourite poems is bestselling children’s author Michael Morpurgo, creator of Private Peaceful and War Horse, who will talk about the part that poems and stories have played in his life.

Morpurgo has also written the story of the official mascots for the 2012 Olympics.

Also this year, as festival director Chloe Garner says, “the Americans are coming”.

But these aren’t just any Americans – two of the biggest names in US poetry will be at the 2010 festival: Michael McClure and Billy Collins.

One of the five original beat poets, McClure, as well as writing many volumes of poetry, co-wrote Mercedes Benz with Janis Joplin.

Collins, American laureate from 2001 to 2003, is a poet who combines high critical acclaim with broad popular appeal, preferring the term ‘hospitable’ to ‘accessible’ for his poetry.

A series of four workshops with Billy Collins have proved one of the first big hits of the festival, selling out fast, as did Shakespeare in the Courtyard with Roger Lloyd Pack.

But, with 10 verse-packed days on offer, there is masses more to hear, see and take part in.

On July 11, there’s a chance to discover that poetry can make you Laugh Till it Hurts!

with Jo Bell – who arrives hotfoot from being Glastonbury Festival’s poetin- residence – Kate Fox, A F Harrold and Byron Vincent.

There’s plenty of interactive poetry action to be had, too, with opportunities to animate a poem, order a poem in the Poetry Pod, a quirkily converted 1950s caravan, or contribute your memories, fantasies, photos and more to Shedman’s living installation.

This year, to coincide with the festival, the Town Party takes to the streets of Ledbury when food, music and dance will combine with all the poetry in the air to create an unforgettable afternoon of fun and celebration for everyone.

Events run at venues across the town from July 2 to 11.

For full programme and booking details, visit poetryfestival.

com.