About Antony Owen

BIOGRAPHY: ANTONY OWEN 

 

Antony Owen is a writer from Coventry and the author of 5 poetry collections since 2009. His latest collection The Nagasaki Elder was shortlisted for the coveted Ted Hughes Award and he is one of the leading writers of war and peace poetry active in 21st century poetry. His work is taught at regular poetry workshops in Hiroshima and also appears in a national UK peace education resource by CND Peace Education. The poems published at Peace Direct will appear in a poetry collection with poet Isabel Palmer who Owen rates as one of the most important peace poets of our generation.

21 Responses to “About Antony Owen”

  1. REVIEW: THE BIG COMFY BOOKSHOP WITH ANTONY OWEN + JOE HORGAN + GUESTS (September 3rd 2015) | raefboylan Says:
    September 4, 2015 at 3:41 am

    […] headliners for tonight’s event were Birmingham-born Joseph Horgan and Coventry poet Antony Owen, who also organised the event, plus guest poets Josephine Allen, Barry Patterson and hip-hop duo MC […]

    Reply
  2. Paddy’s Day Poet – Antony Owen – Four Poems | The Bogman’s Cannon Says:
    March 17, 2016 at 7:36 am

    […] unless you’re a mouse or a migrant or a cat castrated to be orderly. BIOGRAPHY: ANTONY OWEN  […]

    Reply
  3. Mary Rose Peate Says:
    November 28, 2016 at 12:05 pm

    Your poem about snow in Aleppo is outstandingly moving and very accomplished.

    Reply
  4. bonne année | Chriscook50's Blog Says:
    December 31, 2016 at 7:02 pm

    […] community music projects as a part of our organisation Music For Wellbeing, collaborating  with  Antony Owen at his Peace event, releasing a remix for Juha and, finally, releasing an album with Bit Phalanx.  […]

    Reply
  5. The Dreamer of Samuel Vale House by Antony Owen | Moving Poems Says:
    February 12, 2017 at 12:59 am

    […] poet Antony Owen performs his poem in this 2015 film by Adam Steiner (director), Brian Harley (camera and editing) […]

    Reply
  6. Siobhan Campbell Says:
    August 11, 2017 at 8:26 am

    Your poem in the Morning Start today ‘How to survive a nuclear winter’ has forthrightness coupled with dry wit – creates a real encounter – thank you!

    Reply
    • antonyowen Says:
      August 11, 2017 at 9:55 am

      Thanks Siobhan. Poetry has to say something or it says nothing at all. I hope art responds to these defining times as these times we inhabit define the social conscience of contemporary art.

      Reply
  7. INKSPILL Introduces Guest Poet Antony Owen | awritersfountain Says:
    October 28, 2017 at 2:01 pm

    […] SOURCE: https://antonyowenpoetry.wordpress.com/vitae-2/ […]

    Reply
  9. Elaine Ronan Says:
    November 6, 2018 at 7:36 am

    Hi Antony- I’m trying to read your poem in reaction to the Grenfell racism video yesterday but it keeps being interrupted by a pop-up that I can’t get rid of. Is there any chance you could re-post here?
    I was unaware of your poems but will now look into them.

    Reply
    • antonyowen Says:
      November 6, 2018 at 7:53 am

      Lovingly how you exhibited your hatred –

      brown paper for heads a giveaway of white darkness.

      I have read of what people do when they choke from fumes

      in Hiroshima they wrenched a man’s mouth from a water pipe

      in Nagasaki a mother resembled an eagle taking off as she shielded her babe.

      You do not re-make Grenfell with black tape and dirty white paper,

      the foundations wake up burning shouting out to the dead,

      a loved one wipes water from their foreheads, holds them

      until a fire peters out yet they lay like embers stoking

      each other and sometimes she dreams of his smile.

      You of the racist hearts can never see or feel or understand this poem.

      You who fly the English flag make Britannia a heretic of effigies.

      Go to the good wife who tends to her husband’s grave

      waters the fire of daffodils in bloom, her swelled belly,

      a red flame inside her uterus will be yellow by Winter,

      this is the Grenfell fire you cold-hearted bastards.

      Reply
    • antonyowen Says:
      November 6, 2018 at 7:55 am

      Hi Elaine. try the link now. It’s because I have a free wordpress site cue capitalism at its finest 🙂

      Lovingly how you exhibited your hatred –
      brown paper for heads a giveaway of white darkness.
      I have read of what people do when they choke from fumes
      in Hiroshima they wrenched a man’s mouth from a bamboo spear
      in Nagasaki a mother resembled an eagle taking off as she shielded her babe.

      You do not re-make Grenfell with black tape and dirty white paper,
      the foundations wake up burning shouting out to the dead,
      a loved one wipes water from their foreheads, holds them
      until a fire peters out yet they lay like embers stoking
      each other and sometimes she dreams of his smile.

      You of the racist hearts can never see or feel or understand this poem.
      You who fly the English flag make Britannia a heretic of effigies.
      Go to the good wife who tends to her husband’s grave
      waters the fire of daffodils in bloom, her swelled belly,
      a red flame inside her uterus will be yellow by Winter,
      this is the Grenfell fire you cold-hearted bastards.

      Reply
  10. For Armistice Day, Hackness Poppies – wendyprattpoetry Says:
    November 11, 2018 at 9:39 am

    […] hoping to post two posts today, because I want to talk about poet Antony Owen later. Antony is a peace campaigner who uses poetry to explore war and the repercussions of war, […]

    Reply
  12. Marion Fewkes Says:
    November 18, 2020 at 12:36 pm

    Hi Antony; I live in Wolston and heard you read a poem on Remembrance Sunday at the War Memorial, and was very moved. I have just ordered a collection of your poems from knives and forks.
    I have been attending a creative writing group at the Percival Guildhouse in Rugby for a year or two, focussing on poetry writing. Whilst my efforts are modest, I am enjoying discovering my writing voice. I am 77 and poetry writing is now one of my biggest joys.
    How/when did you start your writing career? Do you have links with Wolston – there are a number of Owens here.

    Reply
  13. Sally Brown Says:
    November 26, 2020 at 8:25 pm

    Thank you for your reading for the War Poets Association online session. Most moving selections. I find your poems to be just as moving — statements on the turmoil of today and recent times.

    Reply

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