Mary F*cking Poppins is a poet, performer, zine creator/publisher and musician based in Liverpool. In Episode 21 of First Impressions we talk about how she switched from writing lyrics as a member of fast hardcore/anarcho punk band Falaun to creating poetry during lockdown and the journey that followed, which now sees her producing the seminal Word Vomit zine – a regular collection of themed ‘therapeutic writing’ from local, national and international contributors that pushes back against societal norms and injustices, managing to be both personal and political.
Mary and I also discuss the Word Vomit open mic nights at Liverpool venue Round the Corner (Floor 1, 51 Kempton Street, Liverpool L3 8ET); her upcoming workshop at the Liverpool Anarchist Bookfair on Saturday 18th March (at The Black – E, 1 Great George Street, Liverpool L1 5EW) and a Word Vomit split album to be released on Bandcamp later this year. Inspirations cited include experimental novelist Kathy Acker and we also discuss Wirralian performance poet Jegsy Dodd, among other artists.
An unapologetically dyslexic writer, Mary explains how her writing journey began with Lumpen (‘a journal for poor and working class writers’) and Girrrl Guide (a zine she created in support of young girls going through their teenage years) before bringing us up to date with her plans for future collaborations. You can hear my guest read her poem ‘Cleaner’s Guilt’ at 00:00 and perform ‘Night Witches’ with Falaun at 34:39 in this episode. Cover art credits for Word Vomit: Rory da Silva and John Graham. Links to more of Mary’s work/recommended destinations below. Back with more podchat soon!
Word Vomit zine on Instagram = https://www.instagram.com/word.vomitzine/
Strictly Unprofessional Press = https://strictlyunprofessional.bigcartel.com
Word Vomit zine on Bandcamp = https://wordvomitzine.bandcamp.com
Falaun (band) on Bandcamp = https://falaun.bandcamp.com
Girrrl Guide zine = https://archive.org/details/GirrrlGuideZine./mode/1up
Girrl Guide podcast = https://www.spreaker.com/show/girrrl-guide-podcasts-show
Lumpen journal = https://www.theclassworkproject.com/product-page/issue-3-lumpen-in-the-time-of-corona
Round the Corner (Liverpool) = https://roundthecornerliverpool.co.uk
Anarchist Book Fair (Liverpool, 18th March) = https://www.liverpoolanarchistbookfair.org.uk
Kathy Acker = https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathy_Acker
Jegsy Dodd = https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jegsy_Dodd
D. Hunter’s ‘Tracksuits, Traumas and Class Traitors’ = https://www.theclassworkproject.com/product-page/tracksuits-traumas-and-class-traitors-by-d-hunter Martin Appleby = http://www.athinsliceofanxiety.com/2022/03/poetry-selections-from-martin-appleby.html
Scumbag Press = https://www.scumbagpress.co.uk
Daniel Schulz = https://thewildword.com/poetry-spirit-daniel-schulz/
Paper and Ink zine on Instagram = https://www.instagram.com/paperandinkzine/
Original Punkster on Instagram = https://www.instagram.com/originalpunkster11/