SanRoo Publishing

Hearing Your Call To Write

Poems

Glasses

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De odder day I loas my glasses

I couldn’t fine dem anywhere.

Dem not in de bathroom, de kitchen, de bedroom.

No matter where I look,

I couldn’t fine dem.

It mek me tink bout mobile phones.

At least when I can’t fine my phone

I can call it.

When I hear it ring, I know jus where it is.

But I caan do dat wid a pair of specs.

Dem does sit round,

Quietly waiting to be discovered

Dem can’t shout, raise an arm and wave at me.

Even if daay could,

It might be a little hard to see.

Somebody could mek nuff money,

Creating someting dat could fine my glasses fu me.

But in de meantime,

I off to try and put my hands on glasses pair, number three.

Leicester Women’s Poetry Competition 2024 – Black History Month 2024

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Leicester Women’s Poetry Competition in celebration of the poetic voice of Black women.

You’re invited to take part in the annual Leicester Women’s Poetry competition in celebration of the poetic voice of Black Women. This year is ‘Reclaiming the Black Female Narrative’.

Submissions are invited for the competition. Here are the conditions.

Poem should be:

  • Focused on the theme – ‘Reclaiming the Black Female Narrative’.
  • 30 lines or less.
  • Include the title, the Author’s name, and contact details at the end.
  • Submissions must be in English. In the case of translated work, it is the translator’s responsibility to obtain permission from the copyright holder of the original work.
  •  If submitting a poem or short fiction that has been previously published, please give details of where it has appeared and confirm that you are the copyright holder.
  • Each author may submit only one poem.
  • The closing date for submission is Saturday 5th October 2025 at midnight. No submissions will be accepted for this competition after this date and time.
  • Shortlisted Authors will be invited to join and read their poems on Saturday 26th October 2024 at the event.
  • Attendance and reading of your poem are part of the competition.
  • Time:  1pm – 3pm. 
  • Venue for reading and celebration: Highfields Library,  98 Melbourne Rd, Leicester LE2 0DS
  • Submissions must submitted by email to editor.sanroopublishing@gmail.com
  • Submission must be typed and submitted as a Word document. Submission in pdf or written in the email will not be accepted. 
  • We welcome submissions from writers of all ages, based anywhere in the world, however, it should be noted that attendance at the event and the reading of the poem by the author is the second part of the competition.

At this event, we hear readings of shortlisted submissions to the completion by the authors and celebrate the voices of black female poets. The Judges will announce the Winner, present the winner’s trophy, and other prizes shared. There will be an opportunity for discussion and Q&A.

This event is open to the public, so bring your family.

Who is your favourite Black Female Poet?
She could be a local, national, or internationally known poet.
Come along and tell us about her. Share her name and work with us.

Post lockdown

By

Two years of lockdowns and we thought we’d now be free.
No, no, no says the petrol, gas and electricity.

The government doesn’t care and that’s a fact.
You will work, work and work and pay loads of tax

Two years of lockdowns and dying to be free
Now we’re out, they’re just taking all our money you see

Lockdown kept us silent and treated us like slaves
Now they’re taking all of our money, even though most of us

behaved….


Dawn Ashwell.
25.3.2022

When we became free

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Today I put the TV on and something really important was said.
The top world scientists had found a cure and covid was finally dead!

Everyone was told to wait inside until the authorities delivered THE pill.
Once swallowed you will be completely safe as the virus it will kill.

Now everyone had taken it and the authorities said “you are free,
But please don’t go completely wild and try to behave sensibly”

Street parties were organised and celebrations galore.
Families visited their loved ones and the grandkids who they adore

Beauty spots were busy such as the countryside and sea.
Pubs and restaurants packed, people craving human company.

And all of the people were happy because the world was a better place.
Because they now placed importance on human connection and not just the rat race.

And now the people knew how that horrible covid life could be.
They were all just so appreciative and happy to finally be FREE.

Dawn Ashwell. 29.03.20

Silence!

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Feeling Locked in a cage trying to reach for the sky,

Trying to break the Silence that killed my soul every time,

Ashamed and bruised.

How can I tell my story?

Without me being accused?


It wasn’t my fault.

That he thought I could be used.

As a victim for him to abuse,

While he felt amused.

Silence burdened my soul heavy,

Every time scared of being accused,

While my abuse kept him amused.


Finally, the silence broke,

Each bar of the cage came crashing down

As the story of my abuse started to unfold.

” I’m not the accused – he is,

The bars may build up from time to time

But at least this bird has tried to fly

To reach that blue sky.


By Roxy Rafi

Mother Tongue

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Uprooted and made homeless,

With only a handful of belongings during India’s partition

Journeying to the other side of the border

The invaluable possession one took was the mother tongue.

Sarhad Paar, Hamesha Mere Naal

Across the oceans to pastures new,

This land is strange and alien

My enthusiasm overflows within

Whenever I meet souls from my soil

As we enjoy a chat and share banter

Samundaro Paar, Hamesha Mere Naal

As time goes on,

Settling in this land and embracing it as my home

It has been challenging and difficult at times

Wondering why am I destined on this path

My mother tongue is mine for eternity

This gives me comfort and brings me peace

Maa Boli, Hamesha Mere Naal

It is heartbreaking and saddens me to see,

The mother tongue slowly dwindling away

Nurture and encourage preserving it

This is an inheritance from our ancestor’s

Let’s take responsibility and pass this on for future

generations.

Sambaal Ke Rakho Apni Maa Boli

‘Mother Tongue’. Recognised as a Poem of Merit at the Leicester Women’s Poetry Competition 2021.

The theme of this year’s competition was ‘Celebration of Black Female Voices’. This is an annual poetry competition held in honour of Black History Month celebrated in the month of October in the UK