Biography

Environmental educator, writer, singer, poet, and part-time trouble maker. Jennie B is all of these but still can't do cartwheels. She's been writing stories since she was about ten, and poems since 1995ish.

A classically trained singer, she has sung in choirs, two bands (one goth rock, the other goth folk), and also sings in the shower. She does weddings too, not necessarily Goth weddings.

Sporadic poetry and music performances over the last six or so years include: various Hammer & Tongue events in Oxford (including featuring in the 2008 final - I didn't win, but I did help save a duck beforehand), Hear the Word, the Arcane Festival, the Manchester Slamm (yes, that's right, two ms), West Midlands Vegan Festival and the London Vegan Festival.

Poetry published in 'The Nail' (2005, 2006), 'Best of Manchester Poets: Volume 1' (Puppywolf, 2010) and 'Electric Sky' (Bad Language, 2011).

She lives in the hub of excitement: Stockport and can also be found working in Lancaster and lurking in Cumbria. Her poetry and rants live here: http://jenbee.wordpress.com

She still finds it weird to write in the third person and will always hate liquorice.

Samples

I Don’t Shave

I have to admit it - although you may stare
But I don’t shave (and don’t wear underwear).
I do not remove my soft armpit fuzz
Why- coz I like it. It causes a fuss.

You may feel slightly queasy - I can feel your glare
That I don’t shave (and may forget underwear)
I do not delete the dark wisps from my feet
Why - coz I like it - I’m not that effete!

It’s liberating! Thank all your creases and all your bumps,
embrace your wrinkles, your crinkles and all other lumps
But if you pretend that you like it well, you’re a bunch of sycophants
just coz I’m fluffy and I don’t wear pants

Well.

Yes, I AM furry - I do proudly declare
Because I don’t shave (and yep - no underwear).
I don’t pluck my eyebrows, my lips or my arms
Why - coz I like it - hair causes no harm.

Whether you’re shaped hymenoptera, gazelle, gnu or bear
It’s not scary being hairy - just be who you are
So accept me. And love me. But you’d better beware
For I don’t shave and I’m not wearing underwear.

15th Feb 2005

Eudaemonic

Walk over here,
tell me you understand,
or pretend with your eyes:
lie to me.
(But softly, softly
I’m more sensitive than you know).
Then I’ll lose myself in you

Because I held you as your tears fell,
oh well, you certainly played me.
Sequins of sound on a black background,
soft thrum, a bass bee’s hum.
Chasing the rhythms in rivers
we float on together.
We drift on together.

We drift, we drift
ceaselessly
but the beat between us fades
and we can be lazy.

We drift, we drift
aimlessly,
moving until sleep-soaked morning.
We didn’t hear the warning.

I’ll walk over there,
tell you I understand;
no pretence in my eyes.
It will be no surprise.
But I digress, I don’t need to impress you.
Oh, I have more dignity than that.

So, I’ll get over this in time; I’ll be more sensible.
So, I’ll get over this in time; I’ll be more sensible.

Song lyrics with music by Vanessa Lewis/Sun Rose Blue (http://sunroseblue.com/), written late August – 29th November 2009.

All poems are copyright of the originating author. Permission must be obtained before using or performing others' poems.