Flotsam
Flotsam - debris not deliberately thrown overboard that is eventually washed up and deposited on the shore for the nosey wanderer to pick over and collect.
This is a collection of well written pieces that this nosey wanderer has scavenged from the high tide line of the internerd.
Michael Morpurgo imagines migrant story for BBC
BBC
The mass drowning in the Channel on Wednesday has served as a reminder that the migrants trying to make the perilous journey to the UK are people with hopes and dreams, desperate to find a place they can call home.
Click here
At Play
By Amita Basu
Fairlight Books
Over the airport the sky yawns wide, grey-brown with rainclouds gently weeping. As we land from Mumbai, this wide prospect dismays me. Has Calcutta grown up too?
Click here
The Language Exchange
BBC
The Language Exchange is a place where poets and scientists meet to share language & ideas and create new work. This week Daljit Nagra meets Erica McAlister.
One of Daljit Nagra's earliest poetic memories was reading 'The Fly' by William Blake. Here he goes to the Natural History Museum to meet Senior Curator and fly expert Erica McAlister to find out more about the life cycle of the fly, and ask why we have so many negative thoughts and feelings towards this amazingly various and useful small creature.
Click here
The Continental Literary Magazine
The Continental Literary Magazine is a quarterly English-language literary magazine launched by the Petőfi Cultural Agency. The magazine focuses on the literature of Central Europe with the aim of creating a platform for contemporary Hungarian and Central European fiction writers to stake out their place in the English-reading world and, in particular, the North American literary market.
Click here
Alicia Keys
NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert
June 17, 2020 | Abby O'Neill -- On a brisk February morning, Alicia Keys, full of effervescence, entered NPR through the loading dock wearing a canary yellow faux fur coat. During our ride to the fourth floor, she joked about how she hadn't been invited to play at the Tiny Desk. That, of course, wasn't exactly true. We worked on and off for years to make this moment happen, and I can say wholeheartedly that it was worth the wait.
Click here
Slam-O-Vision
Cities of Literature
Welcome to the spoken word version of Eurovision, hosted by the Cities of Literature — where each City slams their way to the grand title Slamovision Champion!
In 2021, Slam-O-Vision is back in its third year. This year’s winner will be revealed in November in collaboration with in collaboraton with Québec City of Literature. This year there is also a public vote… start clicking!
Click here
Joy Oladokun
Tiny Desk (Home) Concert
Clad in a denim jacket, Joy Oladokun shines a light on the subjects of grief, politics and life in America via the lens of someone who looks and loves differently. Standing firmly in her vulnerability, the first-generation Nigerian American opens her studio performance with "if you got a problem," a sweet ballad that pledges unconditional friendship through the lonely and the messy times.
Click here
Rachel McCrum
Poetry Lit! November
Last Friday we had Rachel McCrum - Poet as featured reader for Poetry Lit! and it was a blast! In case you missed it (or wanna rewatch), here's the video. Enjoy!
Click here
Not About Heroes
Adapted from Siegfried Sassoon's work by Stephen MacDonald
BBC
First World War Poets, Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen meet for the first time in this dramatised account.
"This war is not about heroes... It's really about boys of 19 being shot in the throat and dying before they've had time to live - and to learn why. The people who throw away those lives for their own glory - or profit - or both. I think it's about the annihilation, the wanton destruction of everything we love."
click here
Sophie Duker
Live at the Apollo
BBC
Sophie Duker on why it's OK to say the word "black".
Duker was born in London to first-generation immigrants from West Africa. Her mother is from Cameroon and her father is from Ghana.[3] She studied French and English at Wadham College, Oxford.[4] She joined the Oxford Imps in her first year at university.
click here
A Night on the Tarn
by Guy Jones
A night or two on the a campsite by the Tarn in the South of France, Remembered.
by Guy Jones
Ferment
by Gail Webb
DIY Poets
Gail Webb performing Ferment from her debut pamphlet: The Thrill of Jumping In.
Art by Nigel
Available from: “The Thrill of Jumping In “ available to buy through the publisher https://www.bigwhiteshed.co.uk/shop
Profits go to Maggie's cancer treatment centre, Nottingham.
click here
For the Love of George
by Guy Jones
Fairlight Shorts
Each week, we pick a short fiction piece from our Fairlight Shorts archives to feature as our story of the week. This week, we’ve chosen a story about biology by Guy Jones.
‘For the Love of George’ explores the difficult choices that we must make.
Enjoy!
click here
The Poetry Detective
BBC
This is a show about the poems we carry with us. The poems that speak to us so strongly that we return to them in times of confusion, fear, loneliness or joy. Some of us might choose to scribble a couple of lines on a Post It and stick it to the mirror. Some of us mutter them under our breath like a mantra. Some of us ink them permanently into our skin. Some of us find that lines come back to us, unbidden, across the decades - and transport us to another time and place.
click here
Sami Imas
Sami On Side is my Facebook Space for Free Expression.
This may include Poetry relating to Gender, Politics and Personal opinion.
click here
One Fine Day
by David Byrne
The Marginalian
One Fine Day: David Byrne Performs His Hymn of Optimism and Countercultural Anthem of Resistance and Resilience with the Brooklyn Youth Chorus
click here
Girl Walking Across Europe
by Poets For Refugees
“Girl Walking Across Europe” by Poets For Refugees was created as an Act of Welcome and inspired by The Walk, a project in which a huge puppet will walk across Europe to highlight the plight of refugees. Seventeen East Midlands based poets walk through this video poem that shows how kindly a refugee could be treated on arrival, as opposed to the reality.
click here
Matlock Bath by the Sea
PsychicBread
The World Famous Inland Seaside Resort of Matlock Bath.
Featuring
Mark Gwynne Jones (words)
Nick the Hat (banjo)
John 'Beano' Thorne (drum)
Deb Rose (keys)
click here
Ndukwe Onuoha
Ndukwe Onuoha is a copywriter by day and a poet by design. He has shared the stage with some of Nigeria’s best-known performers, and across different platforms around the world. To date, His latest album, Nwa Chukwu was inspired by questions about his Igbo identity as well as his own journey to self.
click here
Clio of the Depths
by Fay Roberts
This piece was written in October 2017, from of an Allographic workshop about animal poetry with Robin Lamboll. Sea Angels are, essentially, marine snails that ditched their shells a long time ago to glide through the water with their "wings".
click here
Undone
by Richard Salsbury
Fairlight Books
I arrive just after 6pm, wheeling my suitcase up the long gravel drive from where the taxi dropped me off. The drive curves, so the house only comes into view gradually – a Georgian mansion with tall, many-paned windows and squat chimneys. Steps lead up to a portico with Doric columns that looks like it belongs to a Greek temple rather than a house in the Berkshire countryside.
The house is flanked by gigantic mature elms that have somehow escaped the ravages of Dutch elm disease. From here I can see the beginning of the gardens, which look to be extensive and immaculately cared for. In a word: ostentatious.
click here
Bad Kisser
by Leanne Moden
At The Poetry
Leanne Moden - Poet bringing the funny and leaving everyone thinking, ‘am I a bad kisser?’
Winner of 2021 Srciptstuff Poetry Slam
click here
Whiskey Relief
by Camille McCawley
Derby Poetry Festival
The third of the Bearded Badger Publishing & Books poets Camille Poet performing at Word Wise as part of the Derby Poetry Festival
click here
The Last Move
by Susan Davenport
Fairlight Books
Susan has written stories since childhood, but has only recently started to submit anything for publication. She has had a monologue produced on stage in London and has written a novel, The Fall of a Correct Man, a black comedy set in contemporary London and communist Czechoslovakia between 1950 and 1970. She is now working on a second novel and is completing a project combining sculpture and writing called ‘Women in Boxes’.
‘The Last Move’ follows a couple’s relationship as they prepare to move house.
click here
A series of Haiku
by Kim B Miller
Kim was crowned Poet Laureate of Prince William County, Manassas & Manassas Park, Virginia on Oct. 24, 2020 by the Prince William County Arts Council. Kim is the First African American Poet Laureate for Prince William County, Manassas & Manassas Park, VA. She will be Poet Laureate Oct. 2020- Oct 2022.
click here
Running the Line
by Dan Corry
Fairlight Books
Dan wrote many short stories in his twenties – and had one published as a result of a competition in a PEN New Writing collection (edited by Alan Massie). After that his writing energy mostly went into writing reports, speeches and White papers, as well as newspaper articles. Only in the last few years has he taken up short story writing again. And he is enjoying it!
‘Running the Line’ focuses on a father-son relationship at a Sunday football game.
Enjoy!
click here
My Flag
by Manjit Sahota
1st place at the 4th Annual Derby Poetry Festival Performance Poetry Slam.
Originally from Nottingham, Manjit S Sahota is the co-founder of Poets Against Racism.
He has performed on stage and hosted Linton Kwesi Johnson and shared poetry and political debate with rapper Lowkey.
Manjit enjoys the chance to bring his brand of poetry to spark conversation and engage with people from all cultures and backgrounds.
His mission is clear:
Love Poetry. Hate Bigotry.
click here
Meet The Artists
Simon Marshall
2nd place at the 4th Annual Derby Poetry Festival Performance Poetry Slam.
I am a playwright, poet and creative facilitator based in Derbyshire.
My work investigates place, identity and sexuality.
I am currently seeking a producer for the future development of Bonfire, a new dance-theatre piece exploring the threats young LGBTQ+ people face online for the sake of affection.
click here
Between the Lines
by Anna Sharpe - Jones
Joint 3rd place at the 4th Annual Derby Poetry Festival Performance Poetry Slam.
I'm a freelance artist, roles include: actor, writer/poet, entertainer, theatre-maker, director, singer/musician, workshop facilitator, tutor and life mode
click here
Aedificatrix
by Jennifer Raynor
Joint 3rd place at the 4th Annual Derby Poetry Festival Performance Poetry Slam.
“Aedificatrix” is part of the Tales of Derby Women Past collection of poems commissioned for the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site Great Place Scheme. It is written and performed by poet Jenny Raynor, filmed on location at Derby Cathedral.
click here
Journeys End
by Guy Jones
A tale of semi retirement in Dartmouth, in mid summer, when the pubs are open and the seagull are flying.
by Guy Jones
The mass drowning in the Channel on Wednesday has served as a reminder that the migrants trying to make the perilous journey to the UK are people with hopes and dreams, desperate to find a place they can call home.
Click here
Over the airport the sky yawns wide, grey-brown with rainclouds gently weeping. As we land from Mumbai, this wide prospect dismays me. Has Calcutta grown up too?
Click here
The Continental Literary Magazine is a quarterly English-language literary magazine launched by the Petőfi Cultural Agency. The magazine focuses on the literature of Central Europe with the aim of creating a platform for contemporary Hungarian and Central European fiction writers to stake out their place in the English-reading world and, in particular, the North American literary market.
Click here
June 17, 2020 | Abby O'Neill -- On a brisk February morning, Alicia Keys, full of effervescence, entered NPR through the loading dock wearing a canary yellow faux fur coat. During our ride to the fourth floor, she joked about how she hadn't been invited to play at the Tiny Desk. That, of course, wasn't exactly true. We worked on and off for years to make this moment happen, and I can say wholeheartedly that it was worth the wait.
Click here
Welcome to the spoken word version of Eurovision, hosted by the Cities of Literature — where each City slams their way to the grand title Slamovision Champion!
In 2021, Slam-O-Vision is back in its third year. This year’s winner will be revealed in November in collaboration with in collaboraton with Québec City of Literature. This year there is also a public vote… start clicking!
Click here
Clad in a denim jacket, Joy Oladokun shines a light on the subjects of grief, politics and life in America via the lens of someone who looks and loves differently. Standing firmly in her vulnerability, the first-generation Nigerian American opens her studio performance with "if you got a problem," a sweet ballad that pledges unconditional friendship through the lonely and the messy times.
Click here
Last Friday we had Rachel McCrum - Poet as featured reader for Poetry Lit! and it was a blast! In case you missed it (or wanna rewatch), here's the video. Enjoy!
Click here
Sophie Duker on why it's OK to say the word "black".
Duker was born in London to first-generation immigrants from West Africa. Her mother is from Cameroon and her father is from Ghana.[3] She studied French and English at Wadham College, Oxford.[4] She joined the Oxford Imps in her first year at university.
click here
A night or two on the a campsite by the Tarn in the South of France, Remembered.
by Guy Jones
Gail Webb performing Ferment from her debut pamphlet: The Thrill of Jumping In.
Art by Nigel
Available from: “The Thrill of Jumping In “ available to buy through the publisher https://www.bigwhiteshed.co.uk/shop
Profits go to Maggie's cancer treatment centre, Nottingham.
click here
Each week, we pick a short fiction piece from our Fairlight Shorts archives to feature as our story of the week. This week, we’ve chosen a story about biology by Guy Jones.
‘For the Love of George’ explores the difficult choices that we must make.
Enjoy!
click here
This is a show about the poems we carry with us. The poems that speak to us so strongly that we return to them in times of confusion, fear, loneliness or joy. Some of us might choose to scribble a couple of lines on a Post It and stick it to the mirror. Some of us mutter them under our breath like a mantra. Some of us ink them permanently into our skin. Some of us find that lines come back to us, unbidden, across the decades - and transport us to another time and place.
click here
Sami On Side is my Facebook Space for Free Expression.
This may include Poetry relating to Gender, Politics and Personal opinion.
click here
One Fine Day: David Byrne Performs His Hymn of Optimism and Countercultural Anthem of Resistance and Resilience with the Brooklyn Youth Chorus
click here
“Girl Walking Across Europe” by Poets For Refugees was created as an Act of Welcome and inspired by The Walk, a project in which a huge puppet will walk across Europe to highlight the plight of refugees. Seventeen East Midlands based poets walk through this video poem that shows how kindly a refugee could be treated on arrival, as opposed to the reality.
click here
The World Famous Inland Seaside Resort of Matlock Bath.
Featuring 
Ndukwe Onuoha is a copywriter by day and a poet by design. He has shared the stage with some of Nigeria’s best-known performers, and across different platforms around the world. To date, His latest album, Nwa Chukwu was inspired by questions about his Igbo identity as well as his own journey to self.
click here
This piece was written in October 2017, from of an Allographic workshop about animal poetry with Robin Lamboll. Sea Angels are, essentially, marine snails that ditched their shells a long time ago to glide through the water with their "wings".
click here
I arrive just after 6pm, wheeling my suitcase up the long gravel drive from where the taxi dropped me off. The drive curves, so the house only comes into view gradually – a Georgian mansion with tall, many-paned windows and squat chimneys. Steps lead up to a portico with Doric columns that looks like it belongs to a Greek temple rather than a house in the Berkshire countryside.
The house is flanked by gigantic mature elms that have somehow escaped the ravages of Dutch elm disease. From here I can see the beginning of the gardens, which look to be extensive and immaculately cared for. In a word: ostentatious.
click here
Leanne Moden - Poet bringing the funny and leaving everyone thinking, ‘am I a bad kisser?’
Winner of 2021 Srciptstuff Poetry Slam
click here
The third of the Bearded Badger Publishing & Books poets Camille Poet performing at Word Wise as part of the Derby Poetry Festival
click here
Susan has written stories since childhood, but has only recently started to submit anything for publication. She has had a monologue produced on stage in London and has written a novel, The Fall of a Correct Man, a black comedy set in contemporary London and communist Czechoslovakia between 1950 and 1970. She is now working on a second novel and is completing a project combining sculpture and writing called ‘Women in Boxes’.
‘The Last Move’ follows a couple’s relationship as they prepare to move house.
click here
Kim was crowned Poet Laureate of Prince William County, Manassas & Manassas Park, Virginia on Oct. 24, 2020 by the Prince William County Arts Council. Kim is the First African American Poet Laureate for Prince William County, Manassas & Manassas Park, VA. She will be Poet Laureate Oct. 2020- Oct 2022.
click here
Dan wrote many short stories in his twenties – and had one published as a result of a competition in a PEN New Writing collection (edited by Alan Massie). After that his writing energy mostly went into writing reports, speeches and White papers, as well as newspaper articles. Only in the last few years has he taken up short story writing again. And he is enjoying it!
‘Running the Line’ focuses on a father-son relationship at a Sunday football game.
Enjoy!
click here
1st place at the 4th Annual Derby Poetry Festival Performance Poetry Slam.
Originally from Nottingham, Manjit S Sahota is the co-founder of Poets Against Racism.
He has performed on stage and hosted Linton Kwesi Johnson and shared poetry and political debate with rapper Lowkey.
Manjit enjoys the chance to bring his brand of poetry to spark conversation and engage with people from all cultures and backgrounds.
His mission is clear:
Love Poetry. Hate Bigotry.
click here
2nd place at the 4th Annual Derby Poetry Festival Performance Poetry Slam.
I am a playwright, poet and creative facilitator based in Derbyshire.
My work investigates place, identity and sexuality.
I am currently seeking a producer for the future development of Bonfire, a new dance-theatre piece exploring the threats young LGBTQ+ people face online for the sake of affection.
click here
Joint 3rd place at the 4th Annual Derby Poetry Festival Performance Poetry Slam.
I'm a freelance artist, roles include: actor, writer/poet, entertainer, theatre-maker, director, singer/musician, workshop facilitator, tutor and life mode
click here
Joint 3rd place at the 4th Annual Derby Poetry Festival Performance Poetry Slam.
“Aedificatrix” is part of the Tales of Derby Women Past collection of poems commissioned for the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site Great Place Scheme. It is written and performed by poet Jenny Raynor, filmed on location at Derby Cathedral.
click here
A tale of semi retirement in Dartmouth, in mid summer, when the pubs are open and the seagull are flying.
by Guy Jones
