Linda Cosgriff

Biography

Mother, Wife, Christian, Poet, Blogger, Optimist - never quite sure which one I am on any given day. I've been writing all of my life and had my work performed at the Everyman Theatre, Liverpool; Stockport Art Gallery; Bramhall Hall; on BBC Radio Merseyside; and at various local community groups. I deliver free writing workshops around Stockport on a regular basis. As a community poet, I am Poet-in-Residence for Stockport Women's Networking Group and Writer-in-Residence for Friendly Fridays, a popular Stockport community group, and Arc, a Stockport mental health charity. Amongst other things, I have had work published online, in text books, and a number of anthologies, including all three of puppywolf's 'Best of Manchester Poets'. I have been placed in several competitions, including for an English Pen competition, sourced through Write Out Loud. I was part of WOL's Bolton Arts Trail, with three poems displayed in the shops. I have a haiku on Mars and my first collection, Hormoanal, was published in 2019 by Matthew James. My latest collection, Tales From The Rainbow Nation, is published by Seven Arches.

Samples

Published in In Protest: 150 Poems For Human Rights, October 20, 2013: In The Tradition Of The Star This poem is censored. I cannot mention ____ _______, a banned person; ______ _____ or _____ ______. Their organisation, ___ ___, may not be discussed under the current State of Emergency. I cannot include a photo, share details, describe actions. I give you blank space: in protest. Bolton Arts Trail, 15-21 June, 2012: My Bed I like one fluffy pillow A duvet that billows Brushed cotton sheets Thick socks on my feet And a warm man aft To block the draught Published in Best of Manchester Poets Volume 3, March 2013: Tsetse Rat Poor rat and your pedestrian end: was it death by cat? I hope it was old age; you fell asleep. Dark comfort in your long rest. Dangerous praise to resent your passing, forlorn corpse; scorned by heels and prams and bicycle wheels. Sleep peacefully, rat, on your dull part of the dirty path; curled like an idle moon.

Publications

Tales From The Rainbow Nation, Seven Arches Publishing (2024) https://sevenarchespublishing.co.uk/Book_Details/Tales_From_The%20Rainbow_Nation.html Hormoanal, Matthew James Publishing (2019) https://lindacosgriff.wordpress.com/bibliography/ Wholly Man (Free Download) (2022) https://lindacosgriff.wordpress.com/bibliography/

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

Blog entries by Linda Cosgriff

She Chooses (25/06/2022)

Hate on Tap (18/07/2019)

Hormoanal (28/01/2019)

Half-Asleep (25/06/2018)

Zimbabwe, November 2017 (20/11/2017)

What We Do (14/10/2017)

Martin Thinks I'm Catholic (14/06/2017)

I Looked At Evil (23/05/2017)

On Censorship (17/03/2017)

Dear Donald Trump (14/10/2016)

Read more entries by Linda Cosgriff…

Blog link: https://www.writeoutloud.net/blogs/lindacosgriff

Favourite Profiles

Stockport WoL

Helen Kay