Writer | Poet

Bio:

My name is Michelle Berry and I am a very happily married 50 year old Cornish woman. But that has not always been the case, well I have always been Cornish, but life has been one hell of a journey. Before meeting my husband Mark, all I had ever known was survival mode. I experienced extreme levels of domestic violence in a previous marriage, I was diagnosed with several chronic illnesses that made me disabled and housebound, my youngest son an addict, and then along came Menopause. How rubbish when for the first time in my life I was loved, safe and happy, that Menopause once again pulled the rug from underneath me.

Over the years I had used writing poetry as a means of escapism, so I thought I'd try it again. So I bit the bullet and signed up for a creative writing course on the MIND website, and here we are. It was so empowering, I actually felt heard, encouraged and really seen. This gave me the courage to think about reaching out and getting some poetry out there. I really hope that you enjoy what I have shared, as much as I have enjoyed writing it.

You will find her work in:

Book 11: (2025)

1. A Pocketful of Paradise

2. What if

3. I'm worthy, I'm enough

V11 Book votes:

1) Elavene's Lament 

2) Beneath the Silent Waves 

3) The friend who wasn't 

4) Joy found me dancing  

5) Strings attached.  

Reviews in numerical order

1) Wow, such a captivating poem. It pulled me in and kept me gripped. Such powerful storytelling, but felt more than a tale, almost like a sea shanty. Absolutely loved this.  

2) I love the evocative imagery this poem captures. The pull of the sea draws you in. The natural rhythm of the poem is indictive to the gentle roll of a calm sea. This is a stark contrast to the words of the author, describing eloquently the trials and adversities faced at sea. Excellent. 

 3) The friend who wasn't. I adore the triumph over adversity, the feelings, and the depths of emotion. Raw, emotive power of realisation, it flows and builds so strongly. My favourite line is the final triumph. Pure strength and resilience.  

4) I adore the light, playful joy within this poem. Has a feeling of dancing, skipping almost as you read. You can feel the confidence of the author growing as you skip through the words. Healing, letting go of inhibitions. Just fab, really made me smile. 

5) It's almost like a comforting tale told to a young child, sat beside a roaring fire on a cold winter night. I found it fascinating yet strangely comforting. Made me ponder, and I like that.