Biography

I write poetry, prose and plays and also lead writing workshops for adults and children and give readings from my work, (poetry and fiction.) My first poetry collection, Hobby Horses Will Dance, was published in October 2014; a collection based on myth, folklore and nature. I am pleased to say that it is now in ebook form in the library at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art . My second collection Not Exactly Life features poetry all about women, from life, art, history and fiction and Over By Christmas a poetry/prose collection was written and collated specifically for the Wilfred Owen Festival which took place in Oswestry in November 2018 and where I was pleased to be invited along as a guest speaker. Plays do take up an ever increasing part of my time and my new play 'Any Other Day' will be part of Buxton Festival Fringe in July 2022.

Samples

The Arts and Crafts Movement, From 'Not Exactly Life', The Arts and Crafts Movement It went with the territory and I think she wore it well, her dress of ink. The butterflies, lions, trees and verses, intricately, intimately shown. She was unstoppable, twirling and contorting from a circus trapeze, this was how Maud Wagner could delight her audience, would hold them spellbound but gasping for more. At the end of her act she would receive rapturous applause, her head held high on five strands of pearl choker. Her craft was learned and measured. Her body a gallery’s art displayed, and at the tattoo parlour, she could see a queue already forming. A celebration of Maud Wagner, circus artiste and travelling tattooist. ------------------------------------------- As a Child... I saw... January open her eyes on the year, Perfect and bright. Watched as geese skeined across A February sky. Marvelled at the antics Of hares as they boxed and danced Across a spring meadow. Picked milkmaids, daisies and Buttercups for a mother's bouquet. caught the 'sugars' of Willowherb and wished. Told the time with a 'dandelion clock', Not knowing how fast the time Was running on. Smelt the woodsmoke of Autumn, and watched it colour the days And ease winter silently into place. No decision needed. But now... Seasons merge, spring comes too soon, Too wet, too hot. And why? Weren't we present at all? And so... I saw in my childhood what My children may not see, My grandchildren may not know, And my only lasting gift may be regret. Margaret Holbrook.

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

Blog entries by Margaret Holbrook

In a Valley of Many Ash Trees (10/04/2020)

Universal Time Co-ordinated: June 30th 2015 (19/06/2015)

Hobby Horses Will Dance (28/11/2014)

It Must Be The Taste (23/03/2014)

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