Taz Rahman Writer

I was delighted to be the creative keynote speaker for 'The Association of Welsh Writing in English' at its annual conference on Saturday 11th May. I read from my debut poetry collection ' East of the Sun, West of the Moon ', published by Seren Books, and talked about some of the exciting trends and voices emerging in the Welsh poetry scene of late.    https://www.awwe.org/conference.html

I was delighted to have read at Cheltenham Poetry Festival 2024 on 25th April. Such a warm welcome and appreciative audience.  ---------------------------    

 Wales' major independent digital newspaper Nation Cymru has featured an article by me that delves into the development of my poetry language, the impact of my mentor Zoe Brigley on my writing, and how important the two rivers Taff and Ely are to my poetry: https://nation.cymru/culture/on-being-a-poet-in-wales-taz-rahman/ My poem 'Bread of Heaven' about life around the river Taff is also in this article. My grateful thanks to Books Editor Jon Gower. 

 Delighted to have read poems at the Poetry Wales spring issue showcase at Waterstones, Cardiff last Tuesday! Also, the bookshop sold out of my books at the end of the evening! --- I am reading poems at the Poetry Wales spring issue launch showcase at Waterstones bookshop on Tuesday 26th March, 7 pm. Details of the event and tickets at this link: https://www.waterstones.com/events/poetry-wales-showcase-and-open-mic/cardiff The full line-up of featured poets is:   Zoë Brigley Taylor Edmonds Jeremy Dixon Natasha Gauthier Hilary Watson Bethany Handley Taz Rahman Des Mannay 

I am quoted in this writing advice article by Tim Relf: https://poetrywales.co.uk/writing-advice-from-cheltenham-poetry-festival/ All four poets featured are reading at the 2024 Cheltenham Poetry Festival on various dates.  I am personally appearing on the 24th April in Cheltenham and ticket details are on this link: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/uk/cheltenham-friends-meeting-house/taz-rahman-matthew-stewart-ardith-brown-chris-hemingway/e-vqpgdr

.  Here are some photos from my book launch at g39 in Cardiff, I am incredibly grateful for the full house turnout, my guest reader Abigail Parry and Nasia Sarwar-Skuse, and Jon Gower for a generous introduction, Rhian Edwards and Sarah Johnson from Seren Books for supporting this launch, and to my friend Helen McSherry for playing her beautiful cello: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Join us at g39 for the launch of Taz Rahman's debut poetry collection East of the Sun, West of the Moon . Reading alongside Taz are T.S. Eliot shortlisted poet Abigail Parry and 2023 Wasafiri Prize-winner Nasia Sarwar-Skuse. About the poets: Taz Rahman is a Cardiff based poet, writer and literary content creator. He has been published in Poetry Wales, Bad Lilies, South Bank Poetry, Anthropocene, Honest Ulsterman, Nation Cymru, Culture Matters and various anthologies. He has been selected to be the Chairperson of Poetry Wales Magazine’s Rea...

The Londongrip literary publication has reviewed my first poetry collection from Seren Books 'East of the Sun, West of the Moon'. I am grateful to the publication and to Pat Edwards for her most generous words about my poetry. The review can be access here: https://londongrip.co.uk/2024/03/london-grip-poetry-review-taz-rahman/ 'East of the Sun, West of the Moon' can be ordered from all good bookshops as well as from Seren Books: https://www.serenbooks.com/book/east-of-the-sun-west-of-the-moon/  

  The poem Turning Saints into the Sea is also on The Lonely Crowd website and three of my poems feature in February's issue 14: Missa Solemnis, A Pond for All Eels, and Turning Saints into the Sea.  Here is the pre-order link: https://thelonelycrowd.org/online-shop-2/Issue-14-p610461351  

' Planet - The Welsh Internationalist ' magazine has just printed its final issue. The magazine had been published for fifty years and sadly the arts funding cutback has affected for this important and legendary publication to continue. Planet's brilliant editor Emily Trahair has been an ardent supporter of my poetry and I want to thank her for publishing my poem ' Punctus Contra Punctum ' in the final issue of the magazine. I am wishing Emily and the Planet team my best and hoping to see their talents being used by other Welsh publications soon.    

I am reading as part of the ArtfulScribe Litfest2024 in Southampton on the 9th March. Tickets:  https://www.mayflower.org.uk/whats-on/artfulscribe-lit-fest-2024/   The festival is showcasing Seren Books and Verve Poetry Press among others with major poets reading through the weekend. Full lineup and details here: https://twitter.com/Artfulscribeuk/status/1749783807488639399

My first poetry collection is out from Seren Books next month (February 2024). The cover is an original commissioned artwork by the very talented Welsh-Italian painter  Anna Amalia Coviello .  The full list of endorsements: John McCullough - "East of the Sun, West of the Moon is a linguistic tour-de-force. Its liquid, jazz-inspired phrasing delights with sonic leaps and swerves of imagination : ‘I let the sound stutter / let gurgles purify each bank / wobble each bridge’. In this collection, anything is possible: ‘hymns carry stadiums’ and ‘The noxious sprouts ladders’. Contemporary Cardiff becomes inextricably, joyously plaited with the Indian subcontinent: ‘Dravidic tongues / inflect Kerala, shatter invisible / coconuts into tales // circulating Lidl and the Woodville’. There are shadows here too, racist violence exposed alongside ‘Bodies winter scrubbed / toothpaste white’. The overall effect is the creation of a rich, distinctive poetic universe, at times evoking br...

I am delighted to be reading for the next issue of Acropolis Journal with JP Seabright and Dr. Chris Laoutaris. Acropolis Journal published my poems 'Anda' and 'What Are Your Doing the Rest of Your Life' in the recently published issue eight . Theme to be anounched in January 2024 when the submission window opens.

I am delighted to have two poems published in issue 8 of the  Acropolis Journal , associated with temples, ruins and dark myths. The poems they have published are 'Anda' and 'What are you doing the rest of your life', and extracts can be seen in the screenshots below and the full poems are in the link below:  Taz Rahman – Two Poems | Acropolis Journal (acropolisjournaluk.wixsite.com

'Sinnerman' is a powerful song by the jazz great Nina Simone. Abridged Magazine had commissioned a number of brilliant early-career poets to respond to the theme. My version, 'The Substrate of a Rose' is now published within the zone and the physical printed postcards are also available. 

Delighted to have my poem ' The Free State of Roath ' in issue 80 of the Interpreter's House magazine, one of the best contemporary poetry magazines with the most exciting poets of the day being featured in their issues going back a number of years.

 What a wonderful gathering at Dyddiau Du in Cardiff, hosted by the terrific Welsh short story writer Joshua Jones to showcase Planet - The Welsh Internationalist magazine, and it was such an honour to be part of that showcase, and read alongside Katherine Stansfield and Planet editor Emily Trahair!  --- I am delighted to have been invited to read alongside Katherine Stansfield for Planet - The Welsh Internationalist magazine's publisher showcase held at the Dyddiau Du , Capital Centre, Cardiff on 29th September 2023.     

I am delighted that the editors Damian Walford Davies and Kevin Mills selected my poem 'Amygdala' for the Seren Books published anthology Free Verse - Poems for Richard Price , which is a collection in honour of Wales' greatest moral philosopher Richard Price's 300th birthday.

Such a pleasure to be part of the Harvest Party in Pembrokeshire and read a few poems on the Saturday afternoon (26th August) with Suzanne Iuppa and Phil Jones. More details of the fantastic farm and team behind it can be found in: https://www.facebook.com/CaerhysOrganicCommunityAgriculture

  Hub Festival 2023 is back, and this year has incorporated 'page poetry' alongside its previous year's spoken word focus. I shall be reading at The Moon, Cardiff on Thursday 24th August 2023 (7 pm onwards). Many thanks to Matt Troy for the invite.

I am delighted to be one of the first four writers announced to be showcased as part of South Asian Heritage Month 2023 at Cardiff premier performance and arts hub Chapter Arts on 12th August: https://www.chapter.org/whats-on/all-shows/south-asian-heritage-month-showcase-2023/9405 The event is being curated by Durre Sharwar and Zafar Iqbal. The other writers announced so far are novelist Hammad Rind, and writer, editor and poet Nasia Sarwar-Skuse.  

Many thanks to Claire Walker and Holly Magill from Atrium Poetry magazine for accepting my poem ' Stars siphon narcissus '. The poem is forthcoming on 7th July 2023.

 How lovely to have read some poems from my upcoming 1st collection next year (Seren Books, February 2024, 'East of the Sun, West of the Moon') at the Casablanca Club. This was the start of a new poetry night in Cardiff Bay called 'Tiger Bay Poetry' and it was distinguished honour to have read with fellow Seren poet Wendy Allen and Poetry Wales published Gareth Writer-Davies.

A real pleasure to be reading in Llantwit Major at the These3Streams literary festival on Sunday, 11th June 2023 alongside local poet Sarah Persson.

I am beyond humbled to be part of the 2023 Hay Festival Writers at work. I shall be at the festival attending the programme of events:  https://www.hayfestival.com/wales/writers-at-work/ https://www.literaturewales.org/lw-news/hay-festival-announces-participants-for-its-writers-at-work-2023-programme-for-emerging-welsh-talent/ https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/news/view/2723333-writers-at-work Hay Festival 2023, Taz Rahman reading as part of Writers at Work Writers at work cohort at the Hay Festival 2023 with Douglas Stuart, Booker Prize winner Taz Rahman, Sophie Bouchilard & Connor Allen, Hay Festival 2023 Writers at Work