Read more
In her first full-length collection of poetry, Shamshad Khan struts with attitude from the poetic to the polemic; stepping lightly from the satirical to the spiritual. Shamshad's writing is engaging lively and eminently readable, with an awareness of rhythm and the spoken word she manages to present complex subjects using a language that is both subtle and simple.
List of contents
- Access Assured
- Camel Jaw
- Black Elephants
- Shatter Proof Glass
- Body of Flowers
- Oppressed Coverage
- When Do I Do I Do I Die
- Grids
- Classified
- I've Been Waiting for Funding So Long
- Hard Cut
- Back at Your Place
- Heart (Wrap)
- Simple Explanations
- Honey
- Isosceles
- Mat
- I Am Impatient
- Megalomaniac
- It Looks Like a Map of the World
- An Alternative to Plastination
- Ms Havisham
- On Understanding Our Dragons
- Pot (Museum Archive)
- Silver Threads
About the author
Shamshad Khan was born in Leeds in 1964 and now lives and works in Manchester. She trained as a biologist, researched in animal behaviour and worked on low pay and employment issues. She currently sits part-time as a lay member for employment tribunals. Her work has appeared in a number of anthologies and been featured on BBC Radio 3 and 4. Her poetic monologue "Hard Cut" was performed for the conference of women live art performers (Berne, Switzerland) and Khala Ghoda Festival (Mumbai, India). Her show megalomaniac as featured in this collection toured the UK. The pieces 'Megalomaniac' and 'Hard Cut' were both directed by Mark Whitelaw, winner of the Lawrence Olivier Award 2004. Her performances have included collaborations with musicians, beatboxer and video artist. She is co-editor of two anthologies of poetry for crocus books.
