Ju Gosling

Dr Ju Gosling aka ju90 is a Disabled artist who works with images, words, movement and sound. Her poetry is influenced by the dub poetry traditions of East London, where she was located until recently. read more….

Losing my voice

I had my voice when I left home

But soon as I began to roam

My voice just seemed to fade away

No matter where or what I say.

My voice is not the same as yours

My voice must therefore be ignored

My voice is not a valid one

When everything is said and done.

It isn’t heard by passers-by

It isn’t heard by those on high

It isn’t heard by those who claim

To speak to people in my name.

It isn’t heard with all the rest

It isn’t heard when I protest

It isn’t heard although I say

You can’t erase me in this way.

‘Speak up, shout out’ is what we’re told

‘Go forth, be strong and very bold’

And yet the only ears that hear

Are those that venture very near.

So listen closely for the sound

Millions of voices echo round

Stolen from us all, not lost

Silenced regardless of the cost.

Ju is a co-founder and Artistic Director of the Disability Arts organisation Together! 2012 CIC, and developed her poetry practice in the Together! Pop-Up Poetry Club. (The Club is free on Zoom on Wednesdays from 10.30am-12noon; email info@together2012.org.uk for details). Ju has previously performed as a spoken word artist in Austria, Switzerland and Canada as well as in the UK. However, due to the impact of Covid — Ju is in the ‘extremely clinically vulnerable’ group, and vaccination didn’t work for her – she has been working entirely online since 2020. Ju is now based near the sea in rural North Wales, and is learning and beginning to write in Cymraeg. ‘My voice is not the same as yours’, Ju Gosling aka ju90’s collection of poetry and spoken word, is available from Amazon price £7.99 paperback/£2.99 Kindle.

email: ju@ju90.co.uk

web: www.ju90.co.uk

YouTube: @jugosling

Bluesky: @ju90artist.bsky.social

Instagram: @ju90 artist