Laura Taylor
Updated: Mon, 19 Aug 2024 03:38 pm
Biography
Obsessed with words and language since her early childhood, Laura Taylor believes in the power of poetry as a means by which silent voices speak and hidden ears listen. She is a regular performer at festivals, gigs and fundraisers. Now in her prime, she understands fully the potency of kindness in a world intent on creating division. Her drabble pamphlet, Dear Audrey (and other drabbles) was published in February 2022. Her third poetry collection was published by Flapjack Press in August 2021. 'Speaking in Tongues' is a rallying call for action and challenges inequality, oppression and division with passion, objectivity, empathy and humour. It explores the slippery and inconclusive condition of language, the power of ideology, and the process of myth-making. This is politically astute, socially conscious and uncompromising poetry which explores the wellbeing of a diverse nation governed by a political and social elite and their culpability. “This is Taylor at her best. Her energy, anger and passion are apparent in every word. Her writing is urgent, powerful and her punches land. A must-have collection. Buy this book.” Emma Purshouse, Wolverhampton’s Poet Laureate “Poems to have a beer with, to sit round a fire and keep warm with, to rage against the system with, to take to the streets with.” Steph Pike, poet & activist “Tongues of fire in a time of plague. Raging against conspiracy theorists, defending the vulnerable, the homeless, the old, the hardest hit in the worst of times. A supremely clever working-class poet.” Attila the Stockbroker, poet & musician “If there was an equivalent of Masterchef for cooking words into exquisitely tasty and surprising dishes, then Taylor would win it. Hot. Flavourful. Authentic. Instant pleasure with a long, lingering aftertaste.” Janine Booth, poet & writer “At times forceful, at others lyrical … crosses from personal to political and cross-examines who we were and who we have become.” Winston Plowes, poet “This is Taylor’s best yet. Her language is lush and confident, and her range is limitless … wise, honest, funny, angry, mature and assured. This book is the tonic we all need.” Cathy Thomas-Bryant, poet & writer Her second collection 'Fault Lines', published by Flapjack Press in June 2018, contains a foreword by Professor Mike Thomas, former VC of UCLAN. Her debut collection 'Kaleidoscope', published by Flapjack Press in 2016, contains a foreword by Attila the Stockbroker. All three books may be purchased directly from Laura (signed if requested) via Paypal to laura_w_taylor@hotmail.com or from Flapjack Press here: https://flapjackpress.co.uk/products/laura-taylor Dear Audrey is available only from Laura via Paypal as above. Kaleidoscope book review by Dave Morgan: http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=57782 Fault Lines book review by Stuart Buck: https://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=80305 Laura also runs performance poetry workshops, duration 2 hours. Please contact her for more information and pricing. GIGS: 9th - 12th May - 0161 festival, Manchester 1st June - Nelson, Lancs. Palestine benefit. 24th - 26th May - Bearded Theory festival, Derbyshire 23rd August - Solfest, Cumbria (Palais de Phonix) REVIEWS: "One of the country's finest poets, both on the page and on the stage. A spirit at once empathetic and revolutionary. Real words for heartbreaking times, a call to action!" Attila the Stockbroker, poet and musician "'Fault Lines' is a poetic battle cry written by a woman who has learnt to suit herself. Laura Taylor’s poems fuse her fury, kindness and eye for the collective good. I’d like my teenage daughter to read these poems because, as women, we shouldn’t have to wait for middle age to claim the right to be ourselves." Alice Nutter, ex-Chumbawamba, screenwriter and playwright “If you have had the pleasure of seeing Laura Taylor perform these poems on stage, it may surprise you how well they work on the page as well. Or it may not. Great poetry can do both, and this does: with all its blood and brutality and anger and tenderness and empathy and insight and bitterness and hope, its lines that bite and rhymes that fight. There are wildflowers aplenty, but for clouds and daffodils, go elsewhere. This is poetry that does not just describe our world: it challenges you to change it. And it does so with such class.” Janine Booth, writer, poet, activist & Marxist motormouth "She takes the intensely personal and makes it universal. She takes the universal and makes it personal. She is riveting, inspiring, dead hard and incredibly soft at the same time. This is one of the best books of poetry I have ever read." Attila the Stockbroker, in Kaleidoscope "An outstanding and must-see live performer. The first time I saw Laura, I wasn't ready for what was to be delivered and felt like she'd nailed me to the ceiling!" Darren Poyzer, singer/songwriter "Laura Taylor is a one woman bundle of energy; gritty, mesmerising, a performance that grabs the attention of the audience to deliver a serious message with a typical Northern wit" by Dom Warwick, Rebellion Punk Festival YOUTUBE: Virtual Glastonwick 2021 Virtual Glastonwick 2020 Nativity '73, recorded at Housmans Radical Booksellers Tai Chi, recorded at Housmans Advice for Free, recorded at the Ham and Jam Coffeeshop, Preston revelations, recorded at The Dream, St Helens Dear Margaret, recorded at No Borders, Widnes INTERVIEWS: Write Out Loud: http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=57416 Art Saves Lives International: http://artsaveslivesinternational.com/2015/04/29/poet-laura-taylor-if-i-can-use-my-own-hard-times-to-make-art-and-share-that-widely-then-that-multiplies-the-cohesion-makes-us-all-stronger/ Under The Fable: http://underthefable.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/what-performance-laura-taylor-and-punk.html?spref=fb
Samples
All poems on blogs
All poems are copyright of the originating author. Permission must be obtained before using or performing others' poems.
Blog entries by Laura Taylor
In Gratitude (08/08/2024)
I’m Sorry I’m Not A Musician (02/02/2024)
in the dance (17/03/2023)
On Reflection (08/03/2023)
The Lie of the Ancient Mariner (03/03/2023)
Token Valentine Poem (14/02/2023)
I'm Not A Racist, But, and a couple of drabbles (14/10/2022)
Q (20/09/2022)
Simon Said (09/09/2022)
RBF (26/05/2022)
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Comments
Mon 21st Jun 2021 08:28
a two-fisted poet for sure!
?
It certainly does need nationalising, Laura.
Hey Laura! Thanks for stopping by at my profile! Yeap, I'm telling you spitting image! ? Congrats again! I'll be exploring your work! Thank you ?
Mae
RE my verse - "in bits"
Laura Taylor responce:
Wed 12th Nov 2014 09:55
"I meant to comment on this at the time - it's stayed with me. The panic, the confusion, the loss of control, the straining attempt to keep the real NOW, and not let go of it, not let it twist itself out of the grasp. It makes me think brain problems/injury/stroke/epilepsy. I become very anxious when I read it.
To make a poem of it - I do admire you for that. I love this one, Tommy."
My responce
Tue 3rd Feb 2015 20:23
"You have it in one Laura"
thanks for commenting on 'Phantoms' Laura - glad you liked it. One of those I didn't really appreciate myself as I wrote it - but when I read it back this morning I thought 'yeah - that works'.
Thanks for getting me onboard with this NaPoWriMo thing - I've enjoyed reading your daily quota and really enjoyed doing it myself. Hopefully this has kick started me down the poetry routes again - as I had drifted seriously off course since last October
Ian
I also laughed a lot at some of the lines that 'materialised' in 'Nature's Banquet' Laura - and definitely not one I would have written without the prompt. Glad it made you smile ?
thanks for commenting on 'elegy for a ghost' Laura - I know you've been through similar grieving and, as you say, it doesn't get easier with time ?
Ian
thanx for the comment on 'from the attic' Laura - yep stilling having a whale of a time - don't know what the feck i'm going to do on 1st May ?
thanx for the comments on my NaPoWriMo stuff - particularly 'Grit' I appreciate your support mate
Ian
Big Sal
Mon 21st Jan 2019 15:01
It's been nearly a year since I commented directly on your profile, so here's to another year of your work gracing the waves, and good luck on all your endeavors for 2019.
Best wishes, Laura.??
thanks for the comment on 'a wound that never heals' mate - yes - I feel I'm labouring the grief a bit in my writing - but it helps to get it down and share it
Ian
Hi Laura. I too love a turf fire. I worked on a farm in north west Ireland for a couple of summers in my teens, and in the farmhouse we cooked on a turf fire. I also worked in the bog, gathering the turf - hard work! I recently contributed to a "Scent Memories" project, and wrote a piece about the smell of the turf fire based on those summers.
thanks for the comments on 'ub quiz theory' Laura - yes, I'm bitter - because life seems to want to make things as easy as possible for folk these days - rather than test their true mettle - I know who and what I am - and I don't need google to answer for me
Ian ?
As any right thinking person should be! Thanks for commenting :)
Ta Laura- High praise indeed. ((blush)) Tommy
Big Sal
Mon 29th Jan 2018 03:28
I quite enjoy your recorded performances and poetry, you truly stand out.
<Deleted User> (18118)
Fri 27th Oct 2017 18:44
Hi Laura, thanks so much for your comment on my poem The Bound Bird.
It was great to hear from you.
Hannah
Just read walk to the shops on David r mellor
Blog street scene... you got that recorded.. you would drliver it with real verve
You grab the subject matter by the throat Laura and shake the words out into the sphere. ..poetry with edge
Hello you! Thanks for commenting on Glaswegian. Can't seem to write anything much these days so it was nice when that one came to me.
How are you? X
Re; marsden competition results; i didnt win...but its writing the poem and entering thst counts.... not winning ... smiley face emoji
<Deleted User> (18118)
Thu 5th Oct 2017 12:37
Hello Laura, thank you so much for your comment on my poem Strong Vulnerability. It's a double thank you because it led me to your poem Dear Margaret.
A stunning performance. Very strong.
So sorry to hear of the passing of your father.
Indeed a very special relationship.
I look forward to discovering more of your work.
Hannah
<Deleted User> (9882)
Sun 25th Jun 2017 11:13
ayup cock! cast yer mincer's on me recent 'deddy' to you
and see if its chuckleworthy enough for thee ?
Rose ?
Hello Laura .. thanks for your kind comment. Not a happy subject but I wrote it quickly to get my thoughts out of the way, it's easy to go on dwelling on sad news for ever .. Cheers!
Miss Alexandra Fiona Swarbrick
Tue 9th May 2017 18:28
Laura
I am so sorry, I couldn't afford to travel to Liverpool last Tuesday.
Hope to see you around ?
Teenagers.
And females not so young either. The saddest sight I ever saw on a tram was a young girl/teen putting on make-up until her whole face looked like an audition for clown-school, a full paste job with a clear outline that completed the mask effect.
I'm sure she thought she was much prettier. And she looked ghastly. Actually ugly. Sometimes I HATE the 'beauty business'; the deliberate exploitation of youthful vulnerability and the degradation of charming, natural beauty.
And those perfume commercials! I almost growl at the TV, wanting to throw a heavy pot through the screen. They are obnoxious!
sorry mate - missed your comment on 'Cold Hearted' - glad you liked it - hoping to revisit the place soon
Ian
Hi Laura. Thanks so much for your congrats on POTW. A wee bit of the old kudos goes a long way! I hope you enjoyed your trip down south. The home fires are definitely burning. Trouble is I found some queen wasps on a lot I ordered, and they ended up flying round the lounge!
Happy Xmas m'lady. x
Ray
thanks for commenting on 'Rosetta...' Laura - I remember you also liked the companion piece to this that I wrote when Philae 'touched down' on the comet a year or two ago ('Philae shakes the hand of God'). Feels like there should be a third in m me to make up the trilogy at some stage - hopefully that battery will come back to life... :-)
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David RL Moore
Tue 27th Aug 2024 14:29
Hi Laura,
I watched your reading of "Revelations" again today, It always gets me, lump in the throat kinda thing.
I very much admire William Blake...so this really appeals to me.
I hope you are well.
David