Our poets and their poems

Victoria Richards

‘Slow news day’ · Read poem

Victoria Richards is a journalist and writer. In 2017/18 she was shortlisted in the Bath Novel Award and the Lucy Cavendish College Fiction Prize, was highly commended for poetry in the Bridport Prize and came third in The London Magazine Short Story Competition. A collection of her poetry was published in May 2019 alongside two other poets in Primers: Volume Four, with Nine Arches Press, and in 2020 she came first in the ‘Nature in the Air’ poetry competition, first in the Retreat West ‘Best Opening Page’ competition and second in the Magma Poetry Competition.

R.M. Francis

‘Stratigraphic Time’ · Read poem

R. M. Francis is a lecturer in Creative and Professional Writing at the University of Wolverhampton. He’s author of five poetry pamphlets. His debut novel, Bella, was published with Wild Pressed Books and his collection of poems, Subsidence, is due out with Smokestack Books. He’s currently the poet in residence for the Black Country Geological Society.

Sallyanne Rock

‘fold / unfold’ · Read poem

Sallyanne Rock was born in the Black Country and now lives in Worcestershire. Her poetry appears in various journals online and in print, including Eye Flash and Finished Creatures. She is the recipient of the Creative Future Writers’ Award Gold Prize for Poetry 2019.

Niamh Haran *wild card*

‘Signs Of Life‘ · Read poem

Niamh Haran is a queer non-binary poet based in London. Some of their poems appear in Bath Magg, Perverse, The Interpreter’s House and Ink Sweat & Tears.

Wild Card?

We normally only choose three poems by three poets per issue in Seek Magazine. But because the quality of submissions have been so high (thank you dear readers!) we decided to stretch to four, and offer one outstanding poet a wild card publication.

We chose Niamh, simply because we felt their poetry to be a cut above the rest – exceptionally thought-provoking, and an absolute treat for the reader. Their poem ‘Signs Of Life’, is full immediacy – yet also requires several re-readings, each time offering something new to unpick and explore. In fact, every poet in this issue encourages their reader to truly think – to engage in reading as an art form, not just a skill. As the late great Toni Morrison said:

‘I can do this again, read it and be there once more, anytime I like. Sifting, adding, recapturing. Making the work work while it makes me do the same. Just like leaning into the radio; or sitting cross-legged at the feet of grandparents.

Skill is enough, but I prefer the art.’

Enjoy!

Helen & Jonah