New news:
Oh, how to choose. Poetry continues to embed itself in my life with a relevance and a vitality I could never have predicted.
"in the dark times
Shall there also be singing?
Yes, there shall also be singing
About the dark times" (Bertold Brecht)
As someone who works in education, criminal justice and health services, I know these are dark times indeed, with services - and folding and disintegrating around us. And with them, communities and lives.
But some great stuff has been happening for me as a writer. Possibly the greatest of all has been the experience of working alongside Lily Mosini. What else? I'm continuing to work alongside Louise Crosby, a good friend and a great artist who has produced some fabulous etchings of my work over the past five years. And the famous Master Joseph Shaw and I are planning to write a series of poems on the Chucklebrothers.
When I first met Lily Mosini and her partner Elia several months ago, I was meeting two people whose commitment to truth – to speaking out - was beyond anything that I’d ever come across before. Lily is a poet. Elia is a journalist. Both spoke out against the Iranian regime and its brutality. As a result both had to flee Iran after the uprisings in 2009; seeking asylum here from prison and torture. However, on arrival in the UK, they were detained in British prisons for five months and were refused leave to remain by the Home Office - who have denied that Lily was or is a political poet and Elia was or is an activist! Their case is still pending …. Lily is a fantastic writer (and performer) in Farsi, and an increasingly confident writer in English. I have been working with Lily, translating some of her work, writing poems inspired by her work and her story; and reading her own translations. The poems which resulted from our work together have been published several journals including Magma and Exiled Ink. In February 2011, in conjunction with Chapman and Scarecrow, I organised the first of a series of “Voice Recognition” events, at which various poets and performers share a stage with Lily. George Szirtes, Clare Pollard, David Tait and various others donated their time immense talent. The event was, predictably, a sell-out success, and one of the most powerful performances I’ve ever witnessed. There’s a second event coming up in conjunction with the “Writing on the Wall” festival in Liverpool on April 19th. Read Lily’s work on the poetry page; and read about her case on http://eliaandlily.wordpress.com/ Lily’s voice deserves a wide audience; and the things she writes about deserve an audience. And also if we listen to Lily’s voice, we can become part of the evidence that she is indeed a poet; and we can support her case to stay here in the UK. Sign the petition; send a letter of support; show that poetry matters; people matter.
Slightly older news:
In 2010, poetry took me to new heights. Or streets. My nephew, the famous Master Joseph Sebastian Shaw, suggested that we write some poems together on the theme of Coronation Street, which, along with chips, form two of his top two reasons to be cheerful. We did exactly that, and they were great (you can read them on the poetry page), so we sent them to Coronation Street. Who promptly put them up in the Green Room for the characters to read. After some lovely feedback from the lovely Hayley, we were invited for a VIP tour of the street. Not only did we walk its hallowed cobblestones; we also toured behind the scenes; and met all of our favourite characters. I have never been so excited in my life!!!!!! thanks Corrie!!!! we love you!!!!!
Alongside Phil Thomas ( a very good man indeed), I'll be the new creative editor at the relaunched Asylum - Magazine for Democratic Psychiatry. It's new, it's exciting and whether you're interested in critical perspectives on mental health, or whether you want to read some fantastic poetry, prose and other creative reflections from new and old writers grappling with psychiatry and other forms of madness, you should check it out. And feel free to send in your stuff for consideration.
Old news:
I have gone over to the other side!
Yes, I have only gone and started writing prose!!!! 'Six Women Poets' - Anne Caldwell, River Wolton, Nell Farrell, Char March, Suzanne Batty and myself - have put together on a collection of prose pieces on the theme of the relationship between mothers and daughters. You can read more about "Some Girls' Mothers" and order your copy on http://www.route-online.com/routev7/default.asp?idno=400
"Some Girls' Mothers" was officially launched at a sell-out event in Chesterfield on March 5th. You can watch a recording of me doing my performance-thing on
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLB1WdRM9p8
And what's more - I wrote a play! "That's not the way to do it" follows the structure of a traditional Punch and Judy show to critically examine the concept of personality disorder. I've been working with the very excellent Shoestring Theatre company http://www.shoestringtheatre.org.uk/, who recently performed "That's not the way to do it" to not one but two wild and rapturous audiences in Leeds' Carriageworks on January 30th 2009.