Serena Malcolm
Poet & Storyteller
Where it began
I have been writing poetry since I was seven years old. Truth be told, I don’t actually remember life without it. It is part of who I am. As an introvert it is how I communicate, how I makes sense of my emotions and of people, and how I tell others who I am.
I have drawn influences from many different poetic styles over the years from haiku, to iambic pentameter, to rap – yes rap! But it’s only really since 2020 that my style has settled into something more recognisable; something others can read and know it was written by me. It took 3 decades of writing in silence to finally find my voice.
My History
I grew up in south London, the daughter of a Sierra Leonean teacher and a Bajan nurse. Surrounded by my father’s side of the family, I felt as if I was part of an African matriarchy with incredibly strong and inspiring women and smart, sensitive, and responsible men.
I am proud of my mixed heritage and of the positive role models I was afforded whilst growing up.
I was taught that respect, education, and kindness are vital, and that above all family is everything.
My Journey
I have faced many struggles including an identify crisis as a result of my mixed heritage, mental health issues in the form of depression, anxiety, and body dysmorphia, and sexual and emotional abuse. I am a survivor. It has made me acutely aware of and empathetic to the pain of those around me and to the crises of the world. I often seek to address and redress these difficult topics in my poetry. Sometimes sharing is uncomfortable and daunting but it is so, so important.
Besides, nothing good ever came from a comfort zone.
Serena Malcolm 