Polley, Jacob

(1975- )

   Born in Carlisle, he grew up in Bowness-onSolway and Burgh-by-Sands, both of which are on the line of Hadrian's Wall, Cumbria; he lives in Carlisle. He holds an English degree from Lancaster University and an M.A. in creative writing. He is visiting fellow commoner in the creative arts for 2005-2007 at Trinity College, Cambridge. His poems were originally published in Cumbria County Council pamphlets. He became artist in residence at his local newspaper, where he wrote and published a poem a day for three months, and later a weekly poem for Cumberland News. In 2002 he received the Arts Council of England/Radio 4 "First Verse" Award and an Eric Gregory Award from the Society of Authors. Brink (2003) is his first poetry collection. He was selected by a judging panel chaired by the Poet Laureate Andrew Motion as one of the "Next Generation poets" in 2004. Some of his poems: "A Jar of Honey," "April," "First Light," "Fish," "Leaf," "Room," "The Boast," "The Kingdom of Sediment."

   Sources: A Jar of Honey, by Jacob Polley. The Poetry Book Society (http://www.poetrybooks.co.uk/PBS/pbs_polley_jacob.asp). April, by Jacob Polley. Blinking Eye Publishing (http://www.blinking-eye.co.uk/writer/polley.html). Interview with Jacob Polley. National Poetry Day, 2002. BBC Radio 4 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/natpoetday/jacob_polley.shtml). The Brink by Jacob Polley: Poetry Book Review (http://www.poetsgraves.co.uk/poetry_book_review.htm).