Claire Booker

My Amazing Friend Celebrated in The Spectator My amazing friend Zoya is 100 today! She’s lived a century of turmoil but still thrives. She survived the horrors of war and dictatorship before coming to England, where she married, worked, raised a family. A hundred poems couldn’t sum her up, but here’s one I prepared earlier which The Spectator published last year. Here's the poem 'Survivor' below.

My Amazing Friend Celebrated in The Spectator

My amazing friend Zoya is 100 today! She’s lived a century of turmoil but still thrives. She survived the horrors of war and dictatorship before coming to England, where she married, worked, raised a family. A hundred poems couldn’t sum her up, but…

The Fig Tree - Women's Poetry Special Issue 1 with Featured Poet Stephanie Bowgett

The Fig Tree - Women's Poetry Special Issue 1
open.substack.com/pub/figtreep...

Finished Creatures issue 9, plus some Winter laughter Another exquisite issue of Jan Heritage's Finished Creatures is out in the world, with 'trespass' as its theme. I'm chuffed that my poem 'Heartsease' in the previous issue inspired this issue's theme. Jan ensures a subtle link each time by printing a poem from the previous magazine on the inside cover, to set the new theme and create a connection between issues.

Finished Creatures issue 9, plus some Winter laughter

Another exquisite issue of Jan Heritage's Finished Creatures is out in the world, with 'trespass' as its theme. I'm chuffed that my poem 'Heartsease' in the previous issue inspired this issue's theme. Jan ensures a subtle link each time by…

The Alchemy Spoon + Black Nore Review Music is the theme for The Alchemy Spoon's 17th issue, with poems from Charlie Baylis, Claire Booker, Carole Bromley, Anthony Mair, Fokkina McDonnell, Shivpreet Singh, Paul Stephenson, Judith Wozniak and Veronica Zundel, among others. "Without music, life would be a mistake" wrote Nietzsche, and these poems give a range of insights into why. The featured poet, Sarah Mnatzaganian, weaves cellos and cello-making into three poignant and vivid poetic images.

The Alchemy Spoon + Black Nore Review

Music is the theme for The Alchemy Spoon's 17th issue, with poems from Charlie Baylis, Claire Booker, Carole Bromley, Anthony Mair, Fokkina McDonnell, Shivpreet Singh, Paul Stephenson, Judith Wozniak and Veronica Zundel, among others. "Without music, life…

Claire Booker is deliberating in today's poem. @clairebooker.bsky.social

The Dark Horse and Morning Star

Gratitude to Gerry Cambridge for publishing my poem on Lady Macbeth in his fine biannual journal The Dark Horse. All things Scottish and literary meet here, although the spread of interest is wider still, thanks in part to its joint editorial base in New York run by…

Here's my poem about the arms trade published in The Morning Star. You can read it online at morningstaronline.co.uk/article/global-arms-trade-show

Claire Booker | Substack Brighton-based poet and nature lover. Click to read Claire Booker, a Substack publication. Launched 9 months ago.

Claire Booker
clairebooker.substack.com?r=4mz46n&utm...

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas & other poems Join us for the World Launch 10 November 19:00 GMT A selection of poets will read their own and others’ poems.

We've collaborated with @spiracleaudiobooks.bsky.social and @renardpress.com to put together an #audiobook #anthology of quirky #christmas #poems from 300CE to now. Launching online Mon10thNov FREE tickets bit.ly/twasthelaunch many of our poets are included and editors are #CherryPotts & #WillDady

A bumper Dreamcatcher 51 I'm delighted to have three new poems in Dreamcatcher's 175 page bumper issue, which includes poetry, short stories, an interview with Northern Gravy's Ralph Dartford about 'Recovery' poetry and prison workshops, book reviews and eye-catching visuals from featured UK artist Kimbal Bumstead. Writers in this issue include Jean Atkin, Paul Bavister, Claire Booker, Angela Brodie, Pamela Coren, Jennifer Harrison, Hilaire, Barbara Howerska, Rosie Jackson, Phil Knight, Jet McDonald, Jane Newberry, David Olsen, Tom Ratcliffe, John Scarborough, Clare Starling and Tom Vaughan.

A bumper Dreamcatcher 51

I'm delighted to have three new poems in Dreamcatcher's 175 page bumper issue, which includes poetry, short stories, an interview with Northern Gravy's Ralph Dartford about 'Recovery' poetry and prison workshops, book reviews and eye-catching visuals from featured UK…

Thank you Elontra Hall and Ink, Sweat & Tears for publishing my praise poem to a hospital consultant today. Read 'Dehydrated' here at inksweatandtears.co.uk/claire-booker/

All That Jazz and Words for the Wild The 18th edition of Poetry & All That Jazz was launched at the Chichester Festival, featuring sixty poets including renowned figures like Michael Bartholomew-Biggs and Naomi Foyle. Edited by Barry Smith and published by Focus Arts in collaboration with the Poetry & Jazz Cafe, copies are available at various festivals and online. Next year's anthology will accept submissions starting in April 2026. Additionally, the website Words For The Wild, created by Amanda Oosthuisen and Louise Taylor, promotes local nature awareness and fundraising, showcasing poetry, including a piece by the author on War and Peace, alongside other contributors.

All That Jazz and Words for the Wild

The 18th edition of Poetry & All That Jazz was launched at the Chichester Festival, featuring sixty poets including renowned figures like Michael Bartholomew-Biggs and Naomi Foyle. Edited by Barry Smith and published by Focus Arts in collaboration with the…

Next up in our series of recorded readings from Issue 12, @clairebooker.bsky.social reads her beautiful poem 'Pansies, Tray of Six' 🌺

Find out more about the issue:
channelmag.org/current-issue/

Poetry News turns Bacchanalian! I'm super chuffed my poem 'Whitsun Kids' is a winner in The Poetry Society Members' Poems Competition this summer, alongside poems by Jill Hopper, Tim Kiely, Alex McCrickard, Laura Mizrachi and Jane Wilkinson. A big thank you to judge Andre Bagoo for selecting it. And as if publication in Poetry News wasn't enough, I opened the Poetry Society's on-line newsletter to discover 'Whitsun Kids had been made poem of the month.

Poetry News turns Bacchanalian!

I'm super chuffed my poem 'Whitsun Kids' is a winner in The Poetry Society Members' Poems Competition this summer, alongside poems by Jill Hopper, Tim Kiely, Alex McCrickard, Laura Mizrachi and Jane Wilkinson. A big thank you to judge Andre Bagoo for selecting it.…

Orbis #212 and LUPO’s 70th issue This month I have poems in two magazines with a definite fondness for rhyme. It's good to know there's a corner of the poetry world that welcomes what some consider old-fashioned sonic tricks. That said, my two poems in Orbis don't use end-rhyme, and the poem in Light Up Online is only four lines long! Orbis, edited by Carole Baldock, is as much a community as a literary magazine.

Orbis #212 and LUPO’s 70th issue

This month I have poems in two magazines with a definite fondness for rhyme. It's good to know there's a corner of the poetry world that welcomes what some consider old-fashioned sonic tricks. That said, my two poems in Orbis don't use end-rhyme, and the poem in…

Channel and Caduceus magazines I'm delighted to have a poem in Channel's 12th issue, with its exquisite cover by Angela Duffy and a lithesome array of fine poetry and prose. Highlights for me include stunning work by Patrick Deeley, Mai Ishikawa, Catriona Lane, Rhona McAdam and Niamh Twomey. In Notes from the Editors, Cassia Gaden Gilmartin explains that "Channel is born, in part, from the conviction that there is no absolute divide between the political and the aesthetic.

Channel and Caduceus magazines

I'm delighted to have a poem in Channel's 12th issue, with its exquisite cover by Angela Duffy and a lithesome array of fine poetry and prose. Highlights for me include stunning work by Patrick Deeley, Mai Ishikawa, Catriona Lane, Rhona McAdam and Niamh Twomey. In…

Hurrah for Pennine Platform! Issue 97 of Pennine Platform is out, with three of my poems and excellent work from poets such as Anna Bowles, Rachel Carney, LB Jorgensen, Kate Noakes, D A Prince, Ed Reiss and Paul Stephenson.

Hurrah for Pennine Platform!

Issue 97 of Pennine Platform is out, with three of my poems and excellent work from poets such as Anna Bowles, Rachel Carney, LB Jorgensen, Kate Noakes, D A Prince, Ed Reiss and Paul Stephenson.

One good thing coming out of America The Slowdown is a daily podcast of poetry and reflection hosted by poet and academic Major Jackson, who recently included my poem Cinema Paradiso. His gorgeous reading voice, together with his insightful editorials on each poem, make this a delight to welcome into your inbox each day.

One good thing coming out of America

The Slowdown is a daily podcast of poetry and reflection hosted by poet and academic Major Jackson, who recently included my poem Cinema Paradiso. His gorgeous reading voice, together with his insightful editorials on each poem, make this a delight to welcome…

Recycling a Kimono in The Spectator My poem 'Kimono Recycled' appeared in The Spectator earlier this month. A big thank you to Hugo Williams for choosing it. You can read it here at: The Feb 1st issue contains poems by Stewart Conn, Jamie McKendrick and Claire Booker. It's heartening that poetry can still appear in mainstream publications. The Books & Arts section in particular is consistently strong, including pieces on Plato's…

Recycling a Kimono in The Spectator

My poem 'Kimono Recycled' appeared in The Spectator earlier this month. A big thank you to Hugo Williams for choosing it. You can read it here at: The Feb 1st issue contains poems by Stewart Conn, Jamie McKendrick and Claire Booker. It's heartening that poetry…