A Worcestershire teacher - and the county's youngest poet laureate - has published her first collection of poetry.

Rhianna Levi, who is the current poet laureate, says her poetry book 'Mortal Veins' explores "the complexity of human existence, emotion, and action".

Born in Worcester, Rhianna spent most of her childhood living in Ledbury and is a former student of John Masefield High School and Sixth Form.

READ MORE: Former Worcestershire poet laureate's community hub plans

It was when she turned 18 that she moved back to her home city to attend the University of Worcester and Birmingham City University.

She said: "My poetry focuses on different social issues such as mental health, grief and equality.

"The collection also demonstrates the goodness that can be found in humanity and the world which is not always portrayed in daily life.

"As a writer and holistic educator, my work empathises the complexity of humanity and existentialism that in itself is a remarkable phenomenon."

For Rhianna, being the youngest ever Worcestershire Poet Laureate is a "honour".

Alongside the publication of Mortal Veins, she has been published in numerous anthologies and literature magazines.

She explained: "I feel that it is a privilege to be an ambassador for the creative arts in the county.

"Throughout my laureateship so far, I have used my role to bring different groups of the community together through events and collaborations with local businesses/initiatives such as the Worcestershire Acute Hospital, local museums, Worcester Community Trust and Feast Festival, just to name a few."

Mortal Veins is available to purchase now from Amazon at: https://amzn.eu/d/7adkdVN

You can also follow Rhianna on social media: Twitter: @RhiannaEliza98, Instagram: @Rhiannalevi98 and Facebook: Rhianna Levi

Below is a sample of Rhianna's poetry that features in Mortal Veins.

Human-made tarmac:

Hearts have found intimacy with speedbumps birthed in tarmac-

Human-made.

Constructed with no easy clothing fade.

Occasionally

Intentions find saliva beyond a person's mouth,

Closer to a spiritual black mass.

A bite heavy on flesh and peeled nerves and growing bone.

Independent thought is kept by stomping on with the struggle for change,

The tearing of a blessing prayer.

No holy water was sought,

No small talk was said.

Fragrances of selfhood can be refound when whistles are trained in symphonic melody with the rail track.

Blended with fever dreams echoed in the distortion of fairground mirrors.

The constructed loss of virginity occurs all over again--

In blatant reverse.