Caroline Burrows

'Writing poetry is a niche activity, as is cycling, and combining the two is double niche. But all of the above proved to me I should continue writing about what I love. Others with similar interests, even if double-niche, appreciated what I was doing.'

For Caroline, poetry is as much a part of what she is as what she does. She writes with elegant assurance, living deeply by the environmental and personal beliefs she explores within her verses. Her spoken word and stories invite us to delight in the journey as well as the destination, subtly prompting us to look at our connection to the world from a different perspective. It is a compelling craft born of talent, heart, and understanding, designed to take people outdoors through words in all weathers.

'To help manage my own mental health during the third lockdown, I began writing verses about my local area of Bristol, which got me out for short bike rides and developed a deeper appreciation of the city I called home. Those verses (180 in total) ended up on BBC Radio Bristol on Adam Crowther’s Upload show, then BBC Radio 4, and made into a short documentary ‘Bristol Bike Bard’ (directed by Dave MacFarlane/DM Two Media) which was officially selected for Kendal Mountain Film Festival'

Our journey with Caroline...

In her words...

Peter spoke about The Jawbone Collective which he’d formed to help publish other poets’ first collections. He also asked if I was cycling over the iconic Winnat’s Pass, number 33 of the 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs. ‘Not likely,’ I said. I’d been avoiding as many hills as possible, somewhat futilely in the Peak District. But the seed had been planted, and Peter’s name was repeatedly spoken in vain, when a few days later I took my bike for an arduous walk up a pass so steep I couldn’t turn round to admire the view, lest I lose my grip on bikey. However, a few days after that was when the penny dropped, and I messaged to ask Peter if he’d meant he wanted to publish me. Yes was his reply. And yes, he used a Carbon Balanced printing company. And so, all was well again between us.

Caroline Burrows’ poetry whether read or heard has a compelling quality that communicates with engaging clarity across time, place and experience. When mixed with detailed research and an assured understanding of poetic form in all its intricacies, it makes for a deliciously intoxicating cocktail. Poetry for Caroline is as much part of what she is as what she does. She writes poetry with elegant assurance but, more than this, she lives by the beliefs she explores in her poems.

Verse Cycles, as the title suggests, invites us to delight in the journey as well as the destination; there are plenty of side roads to discover as, at Caroline’s subtle prompting, we retrace our steps to admire the view from a different perspective. I am immensely proud to introduce Caroline’s collection. She is a remarkable poet of talent, heart, scholarship and understanding. Enjoy the journey!

Dr Clare Morris - Exeter Slam Champion