Joe Williams

Biography

Joe Williams is an award-winning writer and performing poet from Leeds. He tells tales of lost love, people in pubs, and how not to dispose of the bodies of family members, with the occasional moment of crushing heartbreak just to keep you on your toes. His debut poetry pamphlet, ‘Killing the Piano’, was published by Half Moon Books in September 2017, followed by the verse novella 'An Otley Run' in November 2018. His poems and short stories have been included in anthologies published by Otley Word Feast Press, Indigo Dreams, Stairwell Books, Picaroon Poetry and Beautiful Dragons Collaborations, in magazines such as Prole, Strix, Dream Catcher, The Poet’s Republic and Sarasvati, and on poetry websites including Picaroon Poetry, Riggwelter, Algebra of Owls and I Am Not a Silent Poet. His work has appeared on the Guardian’s website and was awarded third place in the 2016 Sheffield Communities Live poetry competition, judged by Ian McMillan. He performs regularly at events around Yorkshire and beyond, and comperes at poetry and open mic nights. He has appeared at several major literature festivals, winning the prestigious Open Mic Competition at Ilkley Literature Festival in 2017. He was also runner-up at Ilkley in 2018, was awarded 2nd place in the Sheffield Sharrow Festival Poetry Slam in both 2016 and 2017, and was commended in the Poetry at the Parsonage Slam 2016.

Samples

Killing the Piano (Chosen as WoL's poem of the week, 30/04/18: https://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=77424) We tried to save you with small ads. "Free to good home, must collect" but nobody called. We tried schools and churches, community centres, but none were prepared to accommodate you. No room for the past, no use for tradition, and each back turned was another key condemned. Once we dragged you a hundred miles north, and later a hundred back, my faithful friend as I learnt how to play, from 'Three Blind Mice' to 'Für Elise' and the 'Nut Rocker'. But for years you stood, lid down, barely touched, except by the clumsy fists of children, bashing a blind fortissimo, untroubled by rhythm or melody, unaware that every good boy deserves favour. For years you stood, an obstacle, an inconvenience, silently slipping out of tune. It fell to me to strike the killing blow, consign you to the fate we’d tried to swerve. Behind the crack of splintering walnut I could hear a heart breaking. - Old Fred They know what he drinks, and that he likes it in a glass with a handle. They know he never comes in on Tuesdays. They know where he sits, and how all of his stories have changed over the years. They know his kids and grandkids, although they’ve never met, and on the day that he doesn’t show up they know who to call. - I’m in Love with Keeley Donovan I’m in love with Keeley Donovan, weathergirl extraordinaire. I love her figure-hugging dresses, cheeky smile and silky hair. I love the way she can’t stand still, rocks back and forth, sways side to side. I love the fact she’s just a very tiny little bit cross-eyed. I’m in love with Keeley Donovan. I hate it when Paul Hudson’s on. I’ve sat through half a boring hour of garden gnomes and knit-a-thons, then he shows up and my heart sinks. All I want is lovely Keeley. I switch him off, I couldn’t give a toss about the forecast really. I’m just in love with Keeley Donovan. She’s the sun that warms my heart. She’s the storm within my soul, the bolt of lightning through the dark, but Keeley – I don’t think that you and I can ever be together, if you don’t stop banging on and on about the bloody weather.

Gigs

Saturday 28 September: Off the Ground Coffee, Middlesbrough Guest poet at Black Light Engine Room, with Zoë Sîobhan Howarth-Lowe, Paul Waring and Andrew Talbot https://www.facebook.com/events/650624218763749/ Thursday 3 October: Chapel FM Arts Centre, Leeds Write Across Borders - Leeds/Dortmund 50 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/write-across-borders-part-2-leedsdortmund-50-tickets-71946514963 Saturday 5 October: Ilkley Arts Studio, Ilkley (4.30pm) 'An Otley Run' at Ilkley Literature Festival (double bill with Elizabeth Poynter) https://www.facebook.com/events/1301939683317861/ Wednesday 16 October: The Court House, Mansfield Guest poet at Holding Court Thursday 17 October: The Chillingham Arms, Heaton, Newcastle Guest poet at the Stanza, with Hannah Welfare and The Honeybees https://www.facebook.com/events/579540345910057/ Thursday 14 November: Doncaster Brewery & Tap, Doncaster Guest poet at Well Spoken Wednesday 20 November: The Leeds Library, Leeds Guest poet at Chelping Wednesday 26 February: Bar Loco, Newcastle Guest poet at Newcastle Literary Salon

Links

Website: www.joewilliams.co.uk An Otley Run: www.anotleyrun.com Facebook page: www.facebook.com/haikuhole Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeWilliamsPoet YouTube channel: https://tinyurl.com/joewilliamsyt

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

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