Shirley May

Biography

SHIRLEY MAY Poets Profile Shirley May, winner of the North West Poetry Slam in October 1999 has performed at prominent venues across the North West. She runs writing workshops for local festivals, schools, and for Manchester Leisure Services. She is presently a mentor working for Manchester library Services and is a member of the Speakeasy collective She is a popular poet who has performed across the North West region including The Yard Theatre, The Pankhurst Centre, The Green Room and Liverpool's Everyman Theatre Shirley along with the other female members of the black writers group (Identity) at Common was a part of a very successful tour of the North West with their performance poetry show called SISTA TALK.. She has run creative writing workshops for young people together with Pete Kalu at Moss Side Powerhouse Youth Centre and at several other Youth venues. She has worked with Cheshire Social Services and Help The Aged to work with older people on a creative writing project in 2001 – 2002 called I will wear purple . Between 2003- 2004 extensively worked with young people on poetry projects in schools, local theatres and youth centre’s at the same time becoming one of the coordinators of the longest running spoken word event in Manchester Speakeasy at Manchester’s GRENROOM. What Moves Me: performing poetry both on and off stage; introducing poetry to different audiences who otherwise would not come to appreciate it. Using poetry as a way to look at personal, relationship and society issues. Performances: Green Room, Frog and Bucket, Manchester festival; Moss Side carnival, The Blue Cat Bar, Zanzibar, The Everyman, Unity Theatre Liverpool, The Yard, workshops for Moss Side Millennium Powerhouse, Manchester Museum, Stockport museum, The Discovery Centre and The Lowry Theatre The contact Theatre, Darwin library Theatre Bury Metropolitan Theatre, Boukowski’s Bar Sheffield, The Jazz Boulevard in Altringham, Life Café Liverpool, many more venues. Schools workshops: Jeff Joseph High, Ducie High (now known as Manchester Academy), Manley Park Junior, Lowry Centre. 7307 Certificate in Higher Education Current position: Study Support worker at Moss Side Millennium Powerhouse Library, and also Speakeasy coordinator (which is a collective of musician, poets and singer that work at the greenroom a local Manchester theatre.) Also she is a part of Amazing Heights a non profit arts promotion company performances,poet workshop publications cd of poetry called

Samples

The aura of him is strength, So I leaned on him. He was my help, I closed my eyes. Within his arms, I felt his power surge through me. I could not, would not, Hide my need of him. He was a friend now, More than that, There was safety in his arms, Peace there too. No need to hide now, There I could cry now, So I did. Did he reject me? No. Like a fresh scent, From spring, Was his love. It was towards me. Did he want pretence? No, never. He looks to the inner me, Then finds he is at the centre. There was a time, I tried to hide. I could not, would not, For the aura of him, was my strength. So I called him lord. Now I surrender to his love, I bask in him. He hides me under the shadow of his wings. He has promised that we will mount up like eagles and fly. By Shirley May

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