Helen Calcutt

Biography

Helen Calcutt is a writer, dance artist and journalist. Her first collection of poetry, 'Sudden rainfall' was published by Perdika Press In September 2013. – “an experience both delightful and deliberately unsettling. Working where all is movement, where the apparent solidity of the world is disturbed by the sure spotlight of intense metaphysical probing , Calcutt’s radical diction and subtle vigour combine to teach us exactly what “happens when light changes” - Perdika Press, 2013 On Helen’s poetry: Greta Stoddart – “Very beautiful, challenging, angular, fluid; her poems weave an unusual, almost alchemical spell ” Peter Brennan, Perdika Press – “A distinctive at best, and in the best sense, uncompromising voice…” Glyn Hughes – “Illuminating” Dic Edwards - "Almost monumental" Gary Raymond, Wales Arts Review - "Helen has a distinct critical voice….she manages to merge passion with a restrained critical eye, and comes to her subject armed with a diverse range of cultural interests. Helen makes that difficult transition from artist to critic, whilst retaining the artistry that makes her insight so important in the first place." Notable journal publication can be found in The London Magazine, The Lampeter Review, Poetry Scotland, Helen Ivory’s Ink Sweat and Tears, the anthology Bugged, even the official Hansard for U.K. parliament, among others. She also writes critically for the Wales Arts Review, the Birmingham Mail, and The Birmingham Press. Helen is currently writer-in-residence of the Clent Hills, in association withThe National Trust, one of the first residencies of this kind.

Samples

Prologue I came out over the roof a red girl covered in a cling of soot rubbed off cloud. Not quite the awkward keel of the sun; nor the sunlit hymn of roads before golden traffic. With my smeared painted head waiting to be present as Moon is a priest a tome, a light mistaken for a way. Wind’s brief interlude Level with mist, light brushes the dark barrow, tent clouds over Humber. Fields heel the deep unending weather. Stripped back to enamel light and meadow-wheat, the seven breeds of waters. Each valley sculpted, ironed under three goads that threaten to snap and blow in the ether. And who is banging her hooves together? Like windchimes in dirty light who lops the brick, startles the foals? – scattering stars around a farmhouse. The tunnel’s deep, empty. Wind empties skyline of wasp, troubled locust. The horizon and its hairy feet.

All poems are copyright of the originating author. Permission must be obtained before using or performing others' poems.