Biography

I write poetry, prose and plays and lead writing workshops for adults and children and give readings from my work, poetry and also fiction. My first poetry collection, Hobby Horses Will Dance, was published in October 2014; a collection based on myth, folklore and nature. My second poetry collection Not Exactly Life was published in September 2017 and all the poems feature women, from life, film, fiction and history. A new collection, Over By Christmas is due out in May 2018. (WWl theme) I am pleased to be a guest at the Wilfred Owen Festival in Oswestry in November this year. Received an Honourable Mention at the Ovation Theatre Awards in October 2012. Was a winner at the Gi60 One Minute Play festival in June 2013, at Halifax. My poetry has been published in several anthologies, most recently the Schooldays and Best of British anthologies, both from Paper Swans Press. My poetry has appeared in the SLQ, Orbis, The Dawntreader, The SHOp, Reflections, Areopagus, The Journal, Sarasvati, the Caterpillar, The Wilfred Owen Journal, Napalm and Novacain, Jellyfish Whispers, Three Drops from a Cauldron, and The Beltane print edition, Pyrokinection, The Poetry Shed Quirky Christmas 2015, The Poetry Shed 22/4/2016 and The Poetry Shed Christmas 2016. I was a runner-up in the (2014) Wilfred Owen Association Poetry prize, and commended in the Festival of Firsts poetry competition in July, 2015.

Samples

The Arts and Crafts Movement, From 'Not Exactly Life', The Arts and Crafts Movement It went with the territory and I think she wore it well, her dress of ink. The butterflies, lions, trees and verses, intricately, intimately shown. She was unstoppable, twirling and contorting from a circus trapeze, this was how Maud Wagner could delight her audience, would hold them spellbound but gasping for more. At the end of her act she would receive rapturous applause, her head held high on five strands of pearl choker. Her craft was learned and measured. Her body a gallery’s art displayed, and at the tattoo parlour, she could see a queue already forming. A celebration of Maud Wagner, circus artiste and travelling tattooist. ------------------------------------------- As a Child... I saw... January open her eyes on the year, Perfect and bright. Watched as geese skeined across A February sky. Marvelled at the antics Of hares as they boxed and danced Across a spring meadow. Picked milkmaids, daisies and Buttercups for a mother's bouquet. caught the 'sugars' of Willowherb and wished. Told the time with a 'dandelion clock', Not knowing how fast the time Was running on. Smelt the woodsmoke of Autumn, and watched it colour the days And ease winter silently into place. No decision needed. But now... Seasons merge, spring comes too soon, Too wet, too hot. And why? Weren't we present at all? And so... I saw in my childhood what My children may not see, My grandchildren may not know, And my only lasting gift may be regret. Margaret Holbrook.

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