Message to my 16-year-old self by Rachel Burns

And we end our set of poems about change of identity with one that our guest editor, Degna Stone, says "is a change that feels familiar, the move from idealistic teen to cynical grown up..." Home from the late shift serving lobster and guinea fowl to the rich folk at The Stile Restaurant.   I rub … Continue reading Message to my 16-year-old self by Rachel Burns

Yorkshire by Kathryn Metcalfe

Guest editor Degna Stone chose this poem saying "I like the way the changes that occur to the speaker in this poem are caused by the landscape and by a reaction to or against the generation that came before."  Kathryn herself says "the poem is about how identity can be shaped by our background and where … Continue reading Yorkshire by Kathryn Metcalfe

Challenge by Dominic Nelson-Ashley

Guest editor Degna Stone was attracted to this poem because it shows "the ever changing relationship between a parent and child. The challenge of responding to someone who is constantly evolving to find their place within the world." I knew she was a girl before she arrived. Didn’t have to tell me. A father knows … Continue reading Challenge by Dominic Nelson-Ashley

That’s Not Me by Suzy Bromwich-Alexandra

We're just past the halfway point of our 'change of identity' poems, selected by guest editor Degna Stone. Here's her take on That's Not Me - The defiance of not letting circumstance or the expectations of others define you comes through loud and clear in this poem. And who can resist a poem that references … Continue reading That’s Not Me by Suzy Bromwich-Alexandra

Call-out for poetry submissions!

I'm delighted to announce the last of our three guest editors - Clive Birnie of Burning Eye Books! He's given a lot of thought to what aspects of change, and of poetry, he'd most like to see from all you fab writers out there, and he says this: I am interested in the effect of … Continue reading Call-out for poetry submissions!

Human Conflict by Rob Etherson

An introduction by our guest editor, Degna Stone: This piece asks more questions than it answers. Mostly it asks us to think about how our ties to our identities influences our ideas of those who are not like us. The thing that makes this piece unusual are some of the identifiers that are revealed at … Continue reading Human Conflict by Rob Etherson