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Tolu Agbelusi
Tolu Agbelusi is a Nigerian British poet, playwright, performer, educator and lawyer. A Callaloo fellow, she was longlisted for the Jerwood Compton inaugural prize and has been published widely including by Ake Review, Pittsburgh Poetry Review and in Peepal Tree Press’ latest anthology, Filigree. Creator of Home Sessions, a poetry development program for young Black poets, Tolu has also led several workshops as well as a series of guest lectures to PhD students at Birkbeck University. More information at www.ToluAgbelusi.com.

Articles Available Online


After Carrie Mae Weems ‘The Kitchen Table Series’   Hands placed just so, I instructed the mirror to document transformation – becoming my mother with nothing more than a gesture and the sheen of bright red gloss Who knew ten years later, I’d avoid mirrors that threw her in my face Did I say all mirrors? Except I was crashing them against concrete Finding the most triangular edge Digging the earth of my body for a reflection I could believe Hospital windows wouldn’t break I’d know That was a long time ago Different time Today my mother’s hands are a constant shiver I stand behind her Frame her hands in mine and pull the lipstick across The mirror looks at us I don’t break it I don’t avoid her eyes staring from my face and hers at the same time How could I? I’ve now lived long enough to know what it took to be her
Locating Strong Woman I

Prize Entry

November 2018

Tolu Agbelusi


READ NEXT

Art

June 2015

Sisterhood

Chelsea Hogue

Art

June 2015

A woman appears onscreen. Her hair is short. While the film is black and white, by the colour gradations...

poetry

Issue No. 3

On an NY Balcony

Adrian Dannatt

poetry

Issue No. 3

Too much of my life so far has depended upon dressing-gowns, Some sort of ‘string-theory’ tied by myself wax-thumbed...

Interview

September 2012

Interview with Michael Hansmeyer

Lawrence Lek

Interview

September 2012

Every project made with a computer expresses a relationship between aesthetics and technology. The historical progress of technology works...

 

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