Up Coming Events / Poetry Readings / Videos

EVENTS: Summer 2022

June 4 'Away with the Birds!' Poetry Writing workshop at Pant on the theme of ‘birds’ with Kuli Kohli and Simon Fletcher. We’ll be sharing ways to write poetry about birds (symbolic, metaphorical and ecological) and the workshop will include a short walk in the nearby nature reserve.

Meet at Pant village hall, Pant, near Oswestry, Shropshire, SY10 9QG, 10am-4pm. Bring your own lunch and sensible clothing. A pair of binoculars would be good, also. Refreshments will be provided. Tickets £25/£20. There is ample parking at the hall. For more info please email: info@offaspress.co.uk

Kuli Kohli was a keen member of the Young Ornithologists’ Club as a child and is now an RSPB supporter. Simon’s a member of the Shropshire Wildlife Trust.

From July 2020 - Commissioned to write for Sandwell Stories by Multistory. ‘Black Country Wonder Woman' by Kuli Kohli is a commissioned long-form poem exploring the anxiety of giving birth to a premature baby at a time of crisis. With beats and rap verses by her son Akaash. You can listen to the poem here: https://bit.ly/3819jIP

Interviewed by Leslie Tate from Radio Dacorum on 20/4/22:

Poet Laureate for Wolverhampton, Kuli Kohli, talks about writing in the community and living with mild cerebral palsy as well as reading from her poems/writings that reflect that experience. Plus lots of interesting, original music!

Kuli Kohli Wolverhampton Poet Laureate with cerebral palsy talks to Leslie Tate Radio Dacorum20/4/22 by Radio Dacorum | Mixcloud

I am available for performances at gigs, schools, colleges, libraries etc.

I am happy to take commissions.

To contact me please email kuli.kohli@hotmail.co.uk

Poetry for me has been a very important aspect of expressing myself personally, emotionally and getting the people around me to realise that there is someone very sensitive who lives in my body. I was born with cerebral palsy and throughout my childhood and teenage years I was ashamed of myself. I wanted to be “normal” all my life, however, I didn’t know myself what normal was.

Sharing your voice and views to complete strangers can be a scary process but also very rewarding. At first I was petrified, but as I began to perform more to different audience I began to enjoy it, because I could see my work was making an impression.

I think performing is important because the audience can get a feel of the poet, why and what drives them to write. When I sit down on the stage to read my poetry there’s a sudden silence in the room. When I get going the audience begin to relax and start to enjoy my poetry and by the end of the performance the audience fall in love with me. The audience seem genuinely interested in hearing my poetry and stories.

I have read and performed at many events and festivals across the West Midlands, London, Oswestry, Ironbridge, Coventry’s Peace Festival, Shrewsbury Literature Festival and via Skype to University of Delhi, India.

In November 2018 I was invited as guest lecturer at Humboldt University in Berlin.

I have been involved in many projects - including readings at the University of Greenwich and Liverpool Hope University.

In December 2019 I was invited to the British Museum in London for Purple Light Up event for International Disabled Persons Day 2019.

In 2020 I have been commissioned to write bespoke poetry for many events, especially during lockdown, where it has not been possible to attend gigs. I have been commissioned to write, record, video my poetry which has been shared on social media and other media platforms.