Next up in our 2024 slate of poets comes Rachael Clyne, who will perform her poetry at the Royal Wells Hotel, 20th February starting 8 pm. We’ll begin with Open Mic – one poem, no longer than 40 lines please, per poet.
Non Kent & Sussex Poetry Society members are very welcome to join us for a mere £3, payable at the door.
Rachael Clyne is widely published in journals and anthologies. Her prizewinning collection, Singing at the Bone Tree (Indigo Dreams), concerns our broken connection with nature. Her pamphlet, Girl Golem (4word.org), explores her Jewish migrant heritage and sense of otherness. Her 2023 collection from Seren Books, You’ll Never Be Anyone Else (“Rich, cinematic and sensuous.” – Joelle Taylor), expands on her themes of identity and otherness to include childhood, relationships, sexual orientation and ageing.
You’ll Never Be Anyone Else presents a direct and assured voice, demanding that we think carefully about what it takes to reconcile being different. Rachael advises her readers to ‘Stop drinking the poison / labelled “Hate me.” / It’s that simple. I didn’t say easy.’
Clyne also has an alter-ego “Girl Golem” reminiscent of a superhero but based on the mythical man made from clay and using spells to protect Jewish people from persecution. Through this empowering persona, Clyne opens up an exploration of Jewish and lesbian identity. Surveying attitudes in the present day and in the past, these poems explore migrant heritage, sexual identity, domestic violence and ageing.
You’ll Never Be Anyone Else offers a unique story of survival and empowerment told in spite of experiences of violence and prejudice – this from a poet who has spent a lifetime learning self-acceptance and, as a psychotherapist, helping others to do similar. Treating even dark subjects with playful wit and colourful imagery, Clyne is a distinctive new voice with a powerful message about self-acceptance.
The Kent & Sussex Poetry Society 