Simone Mansell Broome

Biography

Simone writes poems and short fiction both for page and stage.. She’s won, been commended and placed in numerous competitions, been published in anthologies - Leaf Books, Ragged Raven, Cinnamon Press, Templar), and magazines - Boomslang, Carillon, Envoi, Iota, Roundyhouse, The New Writer, The Seventh Quarry. She's won a slam,(just the one), in June 2008 and been heard on Radio Wales. She's also on various websites including www.poetrypf.co.uk and www.secondlightlive.co.uk,. In November 2008 she was recorded for, and can be downloaded from, www.poetcasting.co.uk. Simone is active in two creative writing groups, runs a monthly spoken word open-mic night, Word Up, in Cardigan. Simone is available for poetry workshops. She reads her poetry regularly at venues throughout Wales - but happy to travel to anywhere reasonable! Slim volume of 27 poems 'Not exactly getting anywhere but' came out in 2008. New book - 'Juice of the Lemon' out now.Official launch of book is on June 3rd at Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea. Best gig so far this year was as support for Eliza Carthy at Rhosygilwen Mansion in Pembrokeshire - great!Check out www.simonemb.com(newly revised with recordings).

Samples

Santa's little helper... And you’re exhausted by the trudge, the drudge of unending spending, so much time, an unthinkable chunk of money sunk. Bah humbug, you stagger in, dragged down by scores of biting, bulging carrier bags keen to disgorge, to cough their contents on your floor. You’ve conceded defeat, or called a truce, ears blasted, belled and jingled out. And now you’re back, scrutinising the spoils, seeing a greater gap between what you thought you’d get and what you got, and that space stretching between what you’ve bought and what there’s still to buy, and even less hope of finding it. A moment of dumb despair. You’re gasping for tea, for a g and t, for funds renewed, for energy restored, for sympathy, a shopping fairy and for a spring rescheduling of Christmas! ***** Winter sky They came out once a year, cardboard coffins of candied fruits, mandarin and lemon, clear-lidded, all-the-better-for-seeing their alien, citrus sweetness. Only at Christmas. They just turned up with the dates and figs, plastic two-tined fork included. Excited whispers that there would be gifts; there was more to come, that, even as you feasted, wise men might be trudging towards you from somewhere out East. A half-circle of sugared lemon hangs up there tonight; guide for gift-bearers, beacon in the black. *****

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