21 Posts

Write Speak Recover

Write Speak Recover explores how poetry and performing are transformational art forms for mental health and recovery. WSR captures the subject's essence through medium format, b/w portraiture. We present the people behind the poems honouring their creativity, vulnerability and fearlessness. It is a reminder that healing processes, though deeply personal, carry similarities. WSR is continually open to submissions from poets who are using their art to heal from any form of dis-ease in their lives.

Write Speak Recover Tim Foley

Write Speak Recover: Grace Gachoki

I first encountered Grace at the Writeb4theMic poetry night led by the wonderful Starlight. I was very new to the scene, it was my first time at a group like that. I felt like I was in the presence of mystics. Grace in particular, captured me, with her poise and
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Write Speak Recover Tim Foley

Write Speak Recover: Vikas

'I first encountered Vikas at the Poplar Poetry Evening (run by WSR alum Rayon), and I was taken by the sensitivity and exploration of self in his poems. Vikas was open with the crowd about working through difficult things in his poetry. We connected on that and began a
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Write Speak Recover Tim Foley

Write Speak Recover: Ruth Beddow

When I stumbled upon a writing class in the summer of 2024, I was like a little baby Bambi poet, all doe-eyed and completely unsure of my footing. Thankfully, Ruth and her collective are so kind and welcoming. That vibe permeated through the space as we squashed together (her workshops
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Write Speak Recover Tim Foley

Write Speak Recover - Ameer Azad

Ameer’s poetry screams out with things only he has seen or imagined, shared in carefully curated landscapes that take you on a (sometimes shocking) journey. It seemed suitable to share this edition on Halloween, a day when lines between worlds real and unreal, of the living and the dead
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Write Speak Recover Tim Foley

Write Speak Recover: Laurie Farrugia

When one meets Laurie, it’s impossible not to be struck by her authenticity and vulnerability – she's someone who is in full grasp of her honest self. We first met at a Sober AF Poetry night and Laurie’s stage presence was simultaneously gentle and fierce. It takes
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Write Speak Recover Tim Foley

Write Speak Recover: Seb Bance

I have only heard Seb speak once at a poetry event, the poem below, (and a mad one about croissants!) and the performance stayed with me. This episode is exactly why I decided not to solely focus on recovery as it might usually be spoken about in addiction and sobriety.
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Write Speak Recover Tim Foley

Write Speak Recover: Lizzie Rose

"Oh gosh what can I say about Lizzie to do her justice? She is a siren, she calls out from a place that can’t be calmed. With a voice that has to be heard. Telling stories that are at once profoundly personal and universally relatable. Whenever I hear
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Write Speak Recover Tim Foley

Write Speak Recover: Simon Gardner

A few words on Simon "You’ll notice references to heaven and hell and the inner self in Simon’s poem in this offering of Write Speak Recover. So, I don’t think it was an accident that he was wearing a Michelangelo, Sistine Chapel t-shirt when we met
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Write Speak Recover Tim Foley

Write Speak Recover: Hannah Stanislaus

"Hannah created the Lost Souls poetry nights and always videos the poets. Later sharing the recordings on Instagram as a lovely way to honour their work. The best part of this is you can hear Hannah’s “hmmms” and “wows” as the poets speak. Little offers of love and
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Write Speak Recover Tim Foley

Write Speak Recover: Sasha

"In talking to, and listening to Sasha's poetry you'll be met by a deep poetic knowledge and understanding of the natural world, and the challenges it faces. I always learn something when I talk to Sasha, about identity, the body, the planet. Gentle lessons about
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Write Speak Recover Tim Foley

Write Speak Recover: Kellie Adams

"I first heard Kellie at Lost Souls Poetry night. I felt kinda off myself that day and didn’t like how I read but in the break they were super kind and told me they’d connected with it. I wasn’t going to stick around for the second
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Write Speak Recover Tim Foley

Write Speak Recover: Rayon Johnson

"I felt very disoriented when I moved to London in 2024 and didn’t know anyone. I found Write B4 the Mic in Brixton run by Starlight (a previous WSR poet). The first workshop I attended was on the theme of love. Rayon was co-hosting. I was really nervous.
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