Caroline Gilfillan was born and grew up in Sussex. After studying
English Literature at York University, she spent some years in
London working as a musician and editor. In 1998 she took an MA
in Creative Writing at Lancaster University, which she passed
with distinction. Since then she has worked as a writer in
residence in hospitals, schools and in the community. In 2004 she
was Poet in Residence at the Eastern Daily Press in
Norwich.
She was a winner of the Commonword Crocus poetry competition in
2000. Drowned in Overspill, a pamphlet of her poetry, was
published by Crocus Books as a result. She also writes fiction,
has won two national short–story prizes, and had a number of
stories published in literary magazines. She is working on a
novel, and developing radio and stage dramas.
In 2004 she was selected to take part in Creative Arts East
Reflections touring exhibition, for which she produced
collaborative work with the photographer Stuart Goodman. In 2005
they mounted another joint exhibition at the offbroadway gallery
in Hackney. This summer her poetry is being exhibited with
photographs by Agnieszka Lesiewicz at the Idea Store Bow, in
London.
She teaches at the University of East Anglia, and acts as a
mentor to African writers, under a British Council scheme.
She watches shadows dip beneath the door,
swirling to the rhythm of the blades,
the push and pull of brown Bakelite whir.
Her fingers trace the swell of thigh to hip,
belly bump to ribs. Out in the dusty street
conversation splashes on to brick.
Next door the shower gurgles, as, within,
her heart maintains its sturdy, even thud,
reminding her that under her cloak of skin
she, too, pulses like intercepted light.
She too is rock and rolling out of sight.
Caroline Gilfillan