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Paul Brookes

Paul Brookes is a shop asst. Lives in a cat house full of teddy bears. First play performed at The Gulbenkian Theatre, Hull. His chapbooks include debut chapbook: The Fabulous Invention Of Barnsley, (Dearne Community Arts, 1993). Collections: A World Where and She Needs That Edge (Nixes Mate Press, 2017, 2018), Please Take Change (Cyberwit.net, 2018), As Folk Over Yonder (Afterworld Books, 2019). A poetry collaboration with artist Jane Cornwell resulted in "Wonderland in Alice, plus other ways of seeing", (JC Studio Press, 2021). The beginning of the "Ganders" septology, whose other books are: "As Folktaleteller" (ImpSpired, 2022), "These Random Acts of Wildness, (Glass Head Press, 2023), "Othernesses", (JC Studio Press, 2023), Wolf Eye (Red Ceilings Press, 2023), Wolf Eye Territory (ImpSpired, 2024), Ever Striding Edge (Dark Winter Press, 2024). "The Dude Work," (Sherwood Press, 2024). Не has had work broadcast on BBC Radio 3 The Verb and videos of his Self-Isolation sonnet sequence featured by Barnsley Museums and Hear My Voice Barnsley. He also does photography commissions.

Recently his work has been broadcast on BBC Radio Sheffield. He does not believe in competitions, but has been nominated for the Rhysling Prize, and thrice for the Pushcart Prize. Recently, guest edited for Setumag "Some British Working Class Poets" for a second year.

He edits The Wombwell Rainbow Interviews and a new Substack webzine, The Starbeck Orion.

https://thewombwellrainbow.wordpress.com

https://substack.com/The Starbeck Orion | Substack

To Dart AlongPoetry

To Dart Along

Paul BrookesApril 2, 2025

Not to dart along. Stilled. Here. A life painted on. Dry docked. No shoal, no fleet. Alone. Not line caught. Scales of grain crack.…

Laying That Christmas WreathPoetry

Laying That Christmas Wreath

Paul BrookesDecember 26, 2024

"Sorry. Sorry. Last bloke I stood on I broke his toe. Sorry. Got his own back with a bit of this." Shakes his bunched five…

A Big PitPoetry

A Big Pit

Paul BrookesApril 30, 2024

1. A Good Hiding Long curved drive from main gate like a rich house. Six Security guards sit in an old building, play cards,…

My Chaste EyePoetry

My Chaste Eye

Paul BrookesMarch 26, 2024

Call me Worm Eye; Paschal Eye, Lenten eye, Crow eye, Crust eye, Sugar eye, Sap eye. All these names I am, full in a…

After her best friend’s hubby’s funeralPoetry

After her best friend’s hubby’s funeral

Paul BrookesDecember 4, 2023

or divorce or some means by which the poor lass is on her own, My lass, without fail, will ask me: What are you…

Once it took aPoetry

Once it took a

Paul BrookesAugust 3, 2023

regular twelve-hour shift walk with a clock in Grimethorpe as security guard round N.U.M. remains, to find key, fit clock, walk ripped floor tiles,…

He Is That Sun (For Tut ’22)Poetry

He Is That Sun (For Tut ’22)

Paul BrookesJanuary 13, 2023

rolled by a beetle over your sky, everyday. Cover your eyes in kohl against this young gods glare. Inhale cinnamon oil smoothed into warm…

That Cemetery ColdPoetry

That Cemetery Cold

Paul BrookesDecember 27, 2022

adds an extra jumper, adds early to bed, early to rise so no light lost. Candlemaker winter small heat on raw palms. Careful flame…

The Insect Sonnets: GrasshopperPoetry

The Insect Sonnets: Grasshopper

Paul BrookesJuly 10, 2021

I break my hard shell shield from sharp cold, find soft shoots and grass to eat in the warm. As I grow out my…

The Flowers Who Wanted To Be a WomanPoetry

The Flowers Who Wanted To Be a Woman

Paul BrookesMarch 9, 2021

primrose says I will be her lips bean says I will be her thighs broom says I will be be her clitoris meadowsweet says…