Joelle Taylor, winner of TS Eliot poetry prize

[daringdoris]

and she's not afraid of the word woman!

I'd never heard of her but she was featured on Front Row tonight. I didn't quite catch all of it but what I did sounded great.

joelletaylor.co.uk/

It's not available to listen to yet but here's the link:
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00139cw

I've just been watching a clip - amazing poetry. Really breathtaking.

Good to see a loud, proud butch lesbian winning such a prestigious prize. Congrats to her.

Congrats to her! I saw the shortlisted authors' pics and, given the climate, saw a female who I thought might be a transman. Not that I would begrudge a transman their place at all, but it was refreshing to see she's a butch lesbian talking about a woman's body and a lesbian's experience - that she doesn't shy away from that, and nor did the judges.

Oh thanks for sharing. I’d not heard of her, I’m a bit of a poetry ignoramus (I like John cooper Clarke), but she’s very exciting!

Really positive to see her supporting trans women and non binary poets as well:

The aim of this blog site is to begin an archive of women’s voices. Some of the poems on the site are written by women who have not written before and who I have found through masterclasses, and others are from known poets. The idea is not only to create a library of women’s poetry but to also assist on the networking of those poets. This blog is ongoing. It will not end.

If you identify as a woman or have been mis-gendered as a woman and you would like to submit to this site, please send:

The poetry you wish to be featured (with focus on issues effecting women, non binary and trans communities)
A short biography of your work including bibliography
Links to website and blogs where you can be found
A photograph (non compulsory)
The poems you want to be featured (with a focus on issues effecting the women’s, non binary and trans communities)

www.joelletaylor.co.uk/blog/?p=341

Ah that’s a shame. Never the less, she’s very interesting and I’m pleased to see butch lesbian representation in the mainstream.

Fantastic, thank you. hadn't seen her before.

It is wonderful to see a role model for butch women.

It really is, vivarium. And such layered, strong poems. Will be seeking out more.

JT on her work and being a butch lesbian.

Thanks for posting that Arabella - Wow how articulate and incisive she is. I know that shouldn’t be surprising from a poet, but I’m so used to platitudes and a narrow range of views from spoken word poets.

Off to buy her book I think.

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000j8qr

Another programme on Joelle Taylor