My poem about Stephen Lawrence at The Morning Star

Posted on September 11, 2013June 22, 2016 by Josephine Corcoran

My poem Stephen Lawrence isn’t on the National Curriculum was published in the Morning Star newspaper and can be read here.

The poem came about at the end of 2012 when two men were found guilty of Stephen Lawrence’s murder in 1993 (some details about the case here) and I was trying to explain events surrounding the murder to my son, who was ten at the time. I sent the poem out to various magazines and competitions but it was always rejected until Jody Porter, Poetry Editor at Well Versed, the poetry section of the Morning Star, accepted it.

I had also included the poem in my submission of 24 poems to Templar‘s Poetry Pamphlet Competition so I was delighted when Alex McMillan from Templar wrote to tell me that he would like to include it in a forthcoming anthology of best poems submitted to the competition.

I’m proud that this poem will be published in several places and I hope that more people learn about and remember Stephen Lawrence.

15 thoughts on “My poem about Stephen Lawrence at The Morning Star”

david coldwell September 11, 20132:47 pm Reply

Congratulations Josephine. I’ve also had a couple of poems selected by Templar and hoping to get to the festival (work commitments allowing). Looking forward to the winning pamphlets.

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1. Josephine Corcoran September 11, 20133:15 pm Reply
  
  Thanks, David and congratulations to you, too.
  
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David J. Bauman September 12, 20135:19 am Reply

Congratulations on your publishing successes and upcoming reading opportunities.

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1. Josephine Corcoran September 12, 20137:17 am Reply
  
  Thanks, David. The poem means a lot to me and I’m so grateful to the editors who’ve published it.
  
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  1. David J. Bauman September 12, 20137:37 am
    
    It’s a powerful piece.
    
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Valerie September 12, 20136:48 am Reply

Congrats, Josephine. A moving poem, beautifully done

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1. Josephine Corcoran September 12, 20137:18 am Reply
  
  Thanks, Valerie. It’s an important poem to me and I’m glad I kept it sending it out there.
  
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jay eagle September 12, 201311:53 am Reply

god I love the poem, big congrats for it being accepted 🙂 xx

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1. Josephine Corcoran September 12, 201311:56 am Reply
  
  Thanks, Jay. Some poems matter more to us than others, I know that this one means a lot to me.
  
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jaynestanton September 12, 201312:06 pm Reply

Congratulations, Josephine! It’s a great feeling when poems that mean a lot to us find a good home.

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1. Josephine Corcoran September 12, 201312:39 pm Reply
  
  Thanks for your kind words, Jayne.
  
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Robin Houghton September 16, 20139:10 am Reply

Fantastic, Josephine – I saw your poem on Facebook – it’s very strong, very moving – congratulations on the Morning Star and the Templar anthology too.

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1. Josephine Corcoran September 19, 20138:26 am Reply
  
  Thanks very much, Robin.
  
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JosieHolford April 24, 20211:01 pm Reply

I really like the poem. Has that wonderful combination of simple quotidian detail and deep emotional resonance. Thank-you.

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1. Josephine Corcoran April 24, 20215:20 pm Reply
  
  Thanks so much for saying so, Josie. Much appreciated. This poem is in both my pamphlet (‘The Misplaced House’, tall-lighthouse, 2014) and my full collection (‘What Are You After?’ Nine Arches Press, 2018).
  
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