Nols Nathankski sits down with Adam de Salle.

Adam will not call himself a poet. He introduces himself as a Senior Library Assistant and an open mic performer, and leaves it there. Other people say the word behind his back.

He is a public librarian in south London, which he’ll tell you is not a job about silence at all it’s community work, and the last safety net for people falling through every other one. He runs his own open mic in a library and a castle.

He’s a fixture at Word Space, White Feather and our very own, Hold Space Open Mic. He came to writing through Burroughs and the cut-up, and he keeps Shakespeare, in his mouth the way other people keep their phone in their pocket.

This episode was recorded while he was in the middle of a heartbreak, and he does not pretend otherwise. What comes out of it is the grief that only love can produce.

Six poems, three three-minute written between them with prompts from @alicesayingstuff , and a lot of talk about libraries.

Find Adam on instagram @adamdesalle

Check out his open mic here –Events & Activities | Eltham Library | Better Libraries

Adam will be at Hold Space Poetry festival from the 1-5th October 2026.

To support the festival please donate at the link below

FUND OUR QUEER POETRY FESTIVAL IN A CRYPT – a Creative & Arts crowdfunding project in London by Nols Nathankski