Opposite the Tourbus by Sophia Walker

Having been advised to 'Always travel in the direction opposite the tourbus' Sophia Walker set out to get away from the big noise, big tourist attraction, tick box bucket list experiences of life and find out what was happening quietly (and sometimes not so quietly) on the other side of the street or the less visited part of town. The poems collected here tell those stories whether that is an eye opening report from a sex education workshop in an everyday British town, or something more harrowing from Irag or Africa. Sophia points out that it is not always the journey but the landing that counts, the coming back. How it is not the specific moment of an experience that tells the full story but also what comes afterwards. How those who seek to damage and harass unwittingly leave strength and resilience in their wake. These are the less-heard stories. Some are Sophia's – told first hand, some she witnessed. All are true.

“Vivid and memorable... heartbreaking”
The Scotsman

“Insidiously powerful.”
Poetry Monthly

“A powerhouse of spoken word.”
Sabotage Reviews

“Hard hitting poems drawn from real life.”
Write/Out Loud