UNIVERSITY NEWS LAST UPDATED : 22 NOVEMBER 2017
A graduate from Birmingham City University’s School of Media is to launch her debut poetry collection in London next week, focusing on political and social subjects including depression, LGBTQ issues and sexual aggravation.
Sophie Sparham is a 24 year-old spoken word artist who hails from Derby and is set to launch her poetic works at Zigfrid von Underbelly in Shoreditch on Saturday 2 December.
Poems featured in Sophie’s ‘Mind the Gap’ collection, include ‘Should I?’, which highlights the pressures of handling unwanted sexual attention. A section from the poem reads:
“I shouldn’t have to tell you I’m in a relationship
Just so you’ll leave me alone
I shouldn’t have to take down your number
Just so I know you won’t phone
I shouldn’t have to say she’s my girlfriend
To try and put you off your prey
I shouldn’t think your behaviour is acceptable
Just because you’re trying to get laid”
In ‘Hold My Hand’, Sophie addresses prejudices often faced by LGBTQ communities. It reads:
“Now the mothers do the mixing
While the builders stand outside school
The kids, they won’t speak to me
Because the kids they are cruel
But I’ll try and change opinions
Like I’ll try and change the law
Because sometimes the revolution is quiet
Sometimes the revolution is small”
Ahead of the launch event, Sophie said: “I'm excited and nervous for the launch. I’m also so grateful that Benjamin Zephaniah took the time to produce the foreword to my book, he influenced me as a kid, so it's so great to have him involved.
Birmingham-born Zephaniah has previously been named as one of Britain’s greatest post-war writers.
In his foreword, he says: “I learned about Sophie when a writer friend sent me a link to one of her YouTube videos. I was very impressed with this fearless, compelling performer, who is unafraid to seek out the truth and comment on issues that others might shy away from.
“As a performer, she is captivating. She commands the room, capturing her audience’s attention and delivering devastating insights into contemporary issues and her own personal experiences.
“I am delighted to introduce Sophie Sparham to the wider world through this debut collection. She has a unique and distinctive voice, and has some very important things to say.”
Find out more information about the ‘Mind the Gap’ launch event and book tickets.