When the words come a knockin’
“The more I step out into nature, the more poetry reveals itself. Getting outside is a necessity, like breathing, and essential for me to keep going forward with my writing and to be well-balanced. I do not feel that humanity and nature are separate but intrinsically connected, and this belief is reflected in my poems.” Zurich-based poet TAK Erzinger on how poetry has changed her life.
Poetry: T.A.K. Erzinger
“flowers oblige / extending their opening hours / and still leaves fall like stars / a colouring of comets …” —Zürich based poet T.A.K. Erzinger.
2018 Poetry Competition Winning Poems
Read the winning poem by Canadian poet Bruce Meyer, as well as all the shortlisted poems from The Woolf’s Inaugural Poetry Competition.
2018 Poetry Competition: Judge’s Report
“Those “bone birches”, with their touch of Plath, seem to tremble at the prospect of tomorrow. One can see the resemblance between bridal gowns, laden down birches and dejection: brides left standing at the altar of the war.” Read our judge Padraig Rooney’s comments on the poems in The Woolf’s Inaugural Poetry Competition.
Meet the poets: 2018 Poetry Competition Shortlisters
“The painting is unique because Thomson captures the snow not as white dabs but as infinite digressions of white points …” Canadian poet Bruce Meyer writes about the inspiration for the poem that won The Woolf’s Inaugural Poetry Competition.
In Conversation: Elizabeth Boquet
“… ‘high and mighty’ could refer to the mysterious source of poetry. In my case, I have no idea where it comes from, or when it ‘might’ show up. I imagine it floating around up ‘high’ somewhere, looking for a safe place to land. My role, as a poet, is to remain aware and available, ready to write should it choose to come to me.” Switzerland-based poet Elizabeth Boquet.
Poetry: Karin Kaminker
“In waves / it came / brought on / by the empty garden bench / among the willows …” Karin Kaminker is a Geneva-based poet, and we feature two of her poems in this issue.
Spoken Word: Beginnings by Claire Doble
“Get out on the highway! Rouse the rabble, have a dabble. Who am I … to start something?” Zürich-based poet Claire Doble responds to the theme of ‘Beginnings’ with a spoken-word poem.
Between the Acts: Emily Bilman
Three poems by Emily Bilman The Corn-Cradle Steered by the swallows, we plant our tents on the land, the cradle of corn, olive, sage, fig and barley. In the wild thorn and thistle fields, I tend the goats, as they bolt against the shrubs, ejecting stones as they slip downhill, an indigo cloak screening my skin from the arid swirling dust. Along sombre shades of path, darkness slowly descends upon the sand-fields. A yellow-eyed leopard...
Between the Acts: Poems (on Plunder)
Geneva-based poet, Sue Le Mesurier’s response to the theme ‘Plunder’
Current Theme
To hear about upcoming issues, workshops and events
2018 Poetry Prize winners
Short Story Competition Winners 2017
