Only Air

About Stephen Lightbown

In 1996 aged 16 Stephen experienced a life changing accident when he hit a tree whilst sledging in the snow. He is now paralysed from below the waist. In 2016 twenty years after the accident he started writing poetry about his life as a wheelchair user. He has since spoken at events across the UK in venues such as the Watershed Arnolfini and Tobacco Factory in Bristol the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool and the Poetry Cafe and Rich Mix in London. He dreams of reading in his Northern accent in New York. Through a diverse range of courses workshops and mentoring Stephen has benefited from the knowledge and expertise of some of the UK''s most respected poets and he has tried to put all he has learned into his writing. He will always be grateful to his mum for taking him to see Roger McGough in Accrington Lancashire when he eight years old and sparking a lifelong love of poetry. Stephen hopes to eventually meet Roger in person and say thank you. He can be found on most social media channels via @spokeandpencil. Only Air is Stephen''s first poetry collection.