Jenny Mitchell
@jennymitchellgo
Winner of the Gregory O'Donohue Prize, the Poetry Book Awards etc. 3 poetry collections - 'Map of a Plantation' on the syllabus at Manchester Metropolitan Uni. Widely published. Poetry co-editor for the Morning Star.
I've just been recognised on Facebook as a Top Fan of @wcorklitfest.bsky.social. I think it's because I responded to lots of their pictures. Whatever the reason, I get a special (virtual) badge, and what could be better than that? Here are pix of Bantry in West Cork to show some reasons I'm a fan.
I'll be a featured performer at the Poetry for the People annual event on July 26th. There's an open mic and free entry. Hope to see you all there. Retweets appreciated. 🔦
My modest book signing during the @wcorklitfest.bsky.social reminds me of helping Maya Angelou as she signed a thousand books years ago. She managed 999 & then went into Diva mode. It was quite a challenge & a lesson to keep smiling. Many thanks to Cammy @ Bantry Bookshop for all her great support.
Sometimes performing poems by heart can be nerve wracking, but it always seems to change the atmosphere somehow. Here I am at the @wcorklitfest.bsky.social going into a 'dream state' as I bring the words out. I'm still processing the amazing feedback from the kind audience. 💚
Here I am signing books for Michelle and Eric after performing at the wonderful @wcorklitfest.bsky.social. Michelle asked a great question about ancestors, transmissions & land. It's great to talk to people about poems after years spent writing them in a dark garret. Hugh thanks to #Bantry Bookshop.
Here I am at the @wcorklitfest.bsky.social reaching out to the audience with my words. I might be sharing 'Jamaican Cinderella', in the latest issue of Southword.
Here I am in sunny Cork with the wonderful Damien, Director of the @irishwriterscentre.bsky.social . We’re at the packed @wcorklitfest.bsky.social I’m performing tomorrow and facilitating a workshop. Hope to see you all there. 🦋
I'll be reading poems from the anthology 'Everyone Started Singing', @wcorklitfest.bsky.social on July 16th with @daraghfleming.bsky.social, Imasha Costa ad Gerry Murphy. My workshop, 'Poetry and Community', is in the evening. Hope to see you all there. 🌿 www.westcorkmusic.ie/literary-fes...
Delighted to have two Highly Commended poems in the wonderful 'Southword' from the @munsterlitcentre.bsky.social . Look forward to sharing the poems here soon. 🌿
Wilberforce has a contested reputation but I recommend the Wilberforce House Museum. I used it & other resources to do research for 'Map of a Plantation', winner of the Poetry Book Awards. indigodreamspublishing.com/jenny-mitchell @mainlymuseums.bsky.social www.hullmuseums.co.uk/wilberforce-...
Delighted to be facilitating a FREE poetry workshop at Barking Learning Centre on the 22nd June with the wonderful Pen to Print. Booking details below. Hope to see you there. Retweets appreciated.🌿 @madeleinefwhite.bsky.social
'The People of the Other Village' by Thomas Lux Sometimes a poem says it all...
I devour biographies as real lives offer great stories for fiction. This book about the Redgrave family turns out to be about the career of Tony Richardson, Vanessa Redgrave's 1st husband. I wrote to the publisher who, to my surprised, has offered a free book by way of apology. It pays to complain.
If you're in the south London area on March 21st why not come down to @bellhousedulwich.bsky.social for some poetry? Hope to see you there...🔦
The date's getting closer (March 21st) so if you want to take part in a low-cost, high-class poetry workshop look no further. Hope to see you there...
'My friends, both white, turn pink to see me point, but he is keen to speak.' - from 'Country Marks' My poem, recently published in 'FROM HERE TO THERE', is a true story of a cab ride years ago. Hope you enjoy reading it. 🌿
Call to the Poets! If you want to attend a low-cost online poetry workshop in March watch this space! More details soon...
Delighted to share my poem 'Looking at the Benin Bronzes' from the mighty anthology 'From Here to There'. Also sharing the learning resource I developed and wrote for the British Museum on using poetry to teach challenging histories. Retweets appreciated: www.britishmuseum.org/learn/school...
@greenbeltfestival.bsky.social The Festival last year was FANTASTI, and I was delighted to facilitate a workshop on Poetry and Hope for 76 people (see pix below). I hope to send in another proposal this year...
'Why I Memorise My Poems' Many thanks to @finishedpoetry.bsky.social for publishing this poem.
I went to @greenbeltfestival.bsky.social yesterday to facilitate a workshop on Poetry and Hope, expecting 6 people to turn up. In the end, 76 wonderful poets came to share their skill. I loved every minute & hope they did too! Many thanks to the wonderful organisers and volunteers.🌿
@greenbeltfestival.bsky.social I'll be hosting a workshop on Poetry and Hope on the 21st August at 1.30pm in the Village Hall. Look forward to seeing you there.
Delighted to have won the Southword Subscriber's Prize with my poem 'Overproof Jamaican Rum' about legacies. 🌿
Delighted to be the Inaugural Poet-in-the-Community for Cork City Libraries. We're going to celebrate with a poetry party with open mic on the 26th June. More details below. Hope to see you there! 🌿
Delighted to have been invited to a symposium @exeter.ac.uk to share a paper about my poetry. Wish me luck as I code switch between poetry and prose. 🌿
When a government constantly goes after people on benefits you know something's wrong. Sharing this poem from @poetryscotland.bsky.social again especially for @Keir_Starmer. @culturematters.bsky.social uk.news.yahoo.com/benefits-pay...
Jamie Foxx says on Graham Norton that Quentin Tarantino ordered him to 'act like a slave' for the film 'Django Unchained'. How the audience laughed! But what does a slave act like? Perhaps my poetry collection offers a few thoughts. www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/jami...
Here I am filming the course 'Jane Eyre & the Foreigners' @massolit.bsky.social with the wonderful Amber Perry who took the pic of my front cover for 'Write On!' . pentoprint.org/product/see-... The course looks at xenophobia & racism in Charlotte Bronte's 'classic' novel. More details soon.
#Poetry, Passion and Power: Here's an article about the way words can connect us through history and a shared sense of identity. Hope it says something to you. 🌿 pentoprint.org/product/see-...