World Book Night 2024 – In Praise of Birds

A copy of Naomi Shihab Nye's poem 'The Sweet Arab, the Gentle Arab' next to a copy of Picasso's dove of peace which is flying across swirls of red, black, white and green as a representation of the Palestinian flag.

My thanks to artist, writer and publisher Jeremy Dixon for sharing the open callout from WBN2024 and WBN United Artists for a postcard exhibition organised by Sarah Bodman and Linda Parr at The Centre for Print Research, University of the West of England (UWE). The theme for WBN2024 is In Praise of Birds. WBN United… Continue reading World Book Night 2024 – In Praise of Birds

Poetry, Pimm’s and Punch at Trowbridge Museum Friday 17 May, 5.30pm – 6.45pm

Close up of handstitched red-covered pamphlet 'One Deliberate Red Dress Time I Shone' by Josephine Corcoran. Text reads 'design, creation, and stitch by Maria Isakova Bennett

I'm thrilled to have been asked to take part in this year's West of England Festival of Textiles (WEFT) which is held biannually at Trowbridge Museum. I'll be talking about and reading poems from my pamphlet One Deliberate Red Dress Time I Shone at Trowbridge Museum on Friday, 17 May, 5.30pm - 6.45pm. Tickets for… Continue reading Poetry, Pimm’s and Punch at Trowbridge Museum Friday 17 May, 5.30pm – 6.45pm

On Being Elsewhere

An open notebook on a table by a sash window on which can be seen a small stack of books

I haven't blogged here for a while. It's partly because WordPress isn't such a great platform to blog on anymore - forgive the *moan* but it's nowhere near as easy to use as it used to be - and it's partly because I've been busy elsewhere doing lovely things. Last year, I published two poetry pamphlets with… Continue reading On Being Elsewhere

Guilt and Empathy

Colours of the Palestinian flag created from soil, flowers and leaves and arranged on a white page. Text reads 'Free Palestine'

It's been one month since members of Hamas broke through the Gaza-Israel barrier and killed 1400 Israelis, as well as taking over 200 people hostage, including children. Since then, Israel has continually bombed Gaza, resulting in over 10,000 Palestinian deaths, including over 4,000 children. The Palestinian-Israeli conflict didn't begin on October 7, of course, although… Continue reading Guilt and Empathy

October Notes

A path covered in fallen golden leaves leading towards greenish trees

Unfortunately, I'm a bit ill at the moment. I had to miss a scheduled reading in Brighton on Thursday which I'm very sad about. I hope to be able to read there another time. I've written a post on Substack with links to poems that have kept me going in the last two weeks, and… Continue reading October Notes

One Deliberate Red Dress Time I Shone

Close up of handstitched red-covered pamphlet 'One Deliberate Red Dress Time I Shone' by Josephine Corcoran. Text reads 'design, creation, and stitch by Maria Isakova Bennett

I had wonderful time in Liverpool launching my limited edition, handstitched pamphlet One Deliberate Red Dress Time I Shone at the Open Eye Gallery. A massive thank you to writer and artist Maria Isakova Bennett, founder of the Coast to Coast to Coast project, who makes the very beautiful poetry journals for the winners in… Continue reading One Deliberate Red Dress Time I Shone

September and ahead: some workshops and readings

Sunflowers growing in posts outside a sash window by a crumbling white painted brick wall

It's been an enjoyable and busy few months since my pamphlet Love and Stones was published by Live Canon Poetry at the end of May. I feel lucky to have been invited to read in some beautiful and welcoming places where I've made new friends and had fun chatting all things poetry at some great… Continue reading September and ahead: some workshops and readings

New Poetry Workshops in Bradford on Avon

A framed chalkboard on which has been written 'Coming Soon. The Make Space. Classes and Courses. An area for creative people to take part in and learn.

I'm thrilled to be teaching some new poetry workshops at The Make Space, a dedicated learning and making space in Bradford on Avon, near the Tithe Barn. The Make Space is part of and next to the wonderful artisan shop Stone, Paper, Scissors. My first workshop runs across two weeks, on Tuesday mornings 10.30am -… Continue reading New Poetry Workshops in Bradford on Avon

One month of ‘Love and Stones’

Josephine Corcoran reading on stage at a lowlit venue. In the foreground a picture of her book Love and Stones

It's been just over a month since the publication of my pamphlet Love and Stones, my first publication in five years, and it's been exciting to do readings again. With my fellow Live Canon pamphleteers, Isabella Mead and Matt Bryden, we had a great launch at The Bedford in Balham, on one of the very… Continue reading One month of ‘Love and Stones’

Two poems from ‘Love and Stones’ at New Writing (UEA)

Over the Town by Marc Chagall. Two people holding onto each other and flying over a town.

I have two poems from my new chapbook Love and Stones on New Writing, an online project showcasing new writing from alumni, staff and students from the University of East Anglia (where I completed my MA in Creative Writing in 1997). I'd recommend that you read the poems on a laptop or similar, if possible,… Continue reading Two poems from ‘Love and Stones’ at New Writing (UEA)