This is the proof of my review of Pheng Cheah’s What is a World?, recently published in a special issue of Seminar (54.2. Pheng Cheah’s What is a World? argues for the “world-making” power of literature. Taking on the might of recent debates in world literature, Cheah argues that literature has the capacity to redefine (rather than …
Author Archives: Rachel Bower
Poem: Postnatal Ward
I was delighted to hear that my poem, ‘Postnatal Ward’ was awarded fourth prize last weekend in the York Literature Festival Poetry Prize 2018, judged by Andrew McMillan. Hannah Copley’s brilliant poem, ‘Haworth 1855’, won a well-deserved first prize in the competition. All of the winning and commended poems have now been published on the …
Review: Vahni Capildeo
This is the proof of my review of Vahni Capildeo’s Measure of Expatriation, published in the most recent issue of Stand Magazine 216, (Vol. 15.4, 2018) Capildeo, Vahni. Measures of Expatriation. Manchester: Carcanet, 2016. ISBN: 978 1 784101 68 8 128pp This stunning collection by Vahni Capildeo has been rightly celebrated for its complex exploration of migration, exile, …
#Not All Women
One hundred years ago, on 6 February 1918, the Representation of the People Act 1918 was passed, which allowed property owning women over the age of 30 the right to vote. Over the last few weeks there have been many events to mark the centenary of some women getting the vote. There have also rightly …
Flambard Prizewinners’ Anthology 2017
I was delighted to have a few of my poems included in the Flambard Prizewinners’ Anthology 2017. Here is “Fruit”, “Stones” and “Track”:
Tone Deaf
My poem ‘Tone Deaf’ was published today by Atrium Poetry. These are the first few lines – go and check out their site to read the whole thing and lots of poems by other excellent writers… “Before you were born I was tone deaf silently mouthing songs at funerals afraid of voicing my breath. But you …
Tony Harrison’s Unblinking Eye
This is the proof of an article originally published in Stand Magazine 15.3 (2017) At the end of April 2017, poets, directors, academics and publishers came together to celebrate the remarkable work of Tony Harrison on his eightieth birthday at the British Academy in London. The range of tributes was impressive: from Lee Hall’s moving account of how …
The power of words
There’s a great write-up of the Verse Matters anthology in the Yorkshire Post this week. Yvette Hiddleston says There is a huge diversity and range of work here, all imbued with a forceful sense of the potential power of hope and humanity, dialogue and empathy. It is an important, healing book for our divisive times. …
They’re at it
I’ve been writing a poem a day over Christmas for #12DaysofForm and wrote a little sonnet from the speeches of Mhairi Black MP. Not my usual style but it’s an important subject… #fixuniversalcredit
Verse Matters Anthology Available Now!
The Verse Matters anthology has landed! It looks fabulous and is now available to buy from Valley Press. All royalties go to ASSIST Sheffield who work with destitute asylum seekers, and the Archer Project in Sheffield who support homeless and vulnerable people. Featuring new writing from: Nick Allen, Charlotte Ansell, Catherine Ayres, Liz Berry, Jacob Blakesley, Laurie …
New poems
There are some lovely poetry journals around, and I’ve had the pleasure of publishing in a few of them this month. My poem “Note to a Neighbour” was published this month in the sparkling “Ice and Snow” issue of The Writers’ Cafe Magazine #3. They’ve got a call out for their next issue, “Time and Space”, so check …
Rachel Bower 