Jessica Mookherjee Poetry

In August 2022 my second Nine Arches Press book Notes from a Shipwreck was launched. What followed was a mini tour (literally as I’d just got my new car fixed up)… and it started with reading at Ledbury Poetry Festival alongside friend and poet Maria Jastrzębska https://waterloopress.co.uk/books/small-odysseys-2022/

I was at Ledbury because Tigress (Nine Arches Press 2019) had got shortlisted for the Ledbury Munthe Prize for best second collection. I was so proud of that. Ledbury poetry festival is a big one too – and when I was asked to do a reading and workshop and invite a poet I admired to explore some themes from Tigress – I wanted to talk to Maria. Here we are – with the wonderful Sarela Estruch (a Ledbury critic). Sarela is also my stablemate now too – with her own brilliant poetry collection. Maria and I spoke about migration and acculturation, belonging and un-belonging.

Launch of Notes from a Shipwreck in Swansea – August 2022

I took a road trip to my hometown. I rarely go and I always miss that sweep of bay and the Mumbles. You can read much about my ambivalent relationship with Swansea and home in all my books- Flood, Tigress and Notes from a Shipwreck. What was wonderful for me was that I was in the town I grew up, in Elysium Art Gallery, with my grown up school friends and my sister. How overwhelming for me to bring my poems back to where they started. I was moved to see Mandy, Mike, Hazel, Sarah, Dave – all there cheering me on. There were poet friends there too and it was a special day for me. A very old friend I went to school with and hadn’t seen for over 30 years couldn’t make it but sent me a necklace she made from polished sea glass she found on Oxwich Bay. It hangs on my window next to where I write, she wrote “here is a bit of home for you”. Magical.

Me in Swansea signing the book for friends not seen for over 30 years. Love them all.

Sailing on to Dorset, Hastings, Cromer and Manchester

I was honoured to be asked back to the Tears in the Fence conference and the Hastings Lit Fest. Tears in the Fence is a favourite of mine, tucked away in Dorset its a heady mix of strong words and discussion. Hastings I was – with the very beautiful John McCollough and Freddie Lewis – and we were ‘in conversation’ about queerness, conformity and new poetic spaces and it was a great conversation and reading. I always love reading poetry with the maestro and stablemate – poet Julia Webb. We had a lovely mini-break together reading at the Belfry in Cromer. After my fish and chips with Julia I sped to Manchester to read with some Poetry heroes – Clare Shaw (Bloodaxe) and Emily Hasler (Pavillion) and talk about poetry and place. It was my first time in Manchester and I LOVED it. What an inspiring city. Drove home to get onto an online reading for USA – the West to East poetry series. Phew, a truly International month.

I learned so much- and the rich landscapes of Britain all around me, from the Sussex coast, to the North Sea, the rich peat hills outside Manchester. I love this country. I love poetry and getting to talk to poets, we are shy creatures in reality so it sometimes feels more intimate to spill our blood and bones together in front of audiences – ironically.

In October 2023- I took Notes from the Shipwreck to Petersfield, London and finally back to Tunbridge Wells.

In the beginning of October I read poems for the Edward Thomas Festival. I had already communed with Edward Thomas – travelled with him to Dymock (near Ledbury) and then Swansea and now here I was reading poetry for the Festival – lovingly curated by the Edward Thomas society and study centre. You must have a look – https://edward-thomas-fellowship.org.uk/the-edward-thomas-study-centre/.

I read poetry with amazing line up – Michael Longley, Ellora Sutton, Kathyn Bevis and Yvonne Reddick. It was a moving experience. Its not a bad life.

Then – after performing at the Sylvia Plath Festival in Hebden Bridge – !! which I will write about separately. I Launched my book in London with my poetry bro Pete Raynard and in my home town of Tunbridge Wells with my wonderful poetry community there.

Lauched me hearties.