In this collection of poetry, artist and educator Gemma Lees uses both humour and tragedy as she explores herself and her often hilarious, often treacherous journey of forty years not only as a Gypsy, but as an intersectional Northerner. Drawing on experiences growing up in the 80s and 90s including increasing disability, mental health problems, homelessness, the ups and downs of Council Estate life, death and loss, motherhood and turning 40 in a world that tells her she’s past her prime as a woman, 1000 Years and the poems within explore what all of these aspects of her identity mean to her as a whole.

Delivered in her inimitable voice, these are poems that demand not only to be heard, but to be heeded.