The Irish poet

‘Something looks different,’ the book says. ‘Have you been shaving again?’ ‘You can talk,’ I say. ‘As it happens,…

Spirally

‘What’s up?’ says the book. ‘It’s nothing. Really. I’m fine,’ I say. ‘For a person with their head in their…

To celebrate the life of Mary Oliver, who died a week ago, I present a found poem, taken from the…

I am really bad at doing one thing. If I am chopping an onion, I am listening to the radio.…

When I first read and began thinking about The Year of Living Deeply one of my instant reactions concerned the impact…

I first heard the music of Susumu Yokota in the flat of my friends Luke and Caroline, sometime in the…

I was in a waiting room, having cycled, a bit out of breath, a book on my knee, trying to…

I am deeply honoured to have my poem When The Holy Spirit Danced With Me In My Kitchen used as a…

‘Are you afraid?’ says the book. ‘What are you talking about?’ ‘Are you?’ ‘Have I upset you in some way?’…

‘Happy new year,’ says the book. ’And to you, too,’ I say. ’You all right?’ says the book. ’Fine,’ I…

(After Andy Brown) Because my children are briefly sleeping under the same roof Becuase Col and Lucy and M and…

‘Good Christmas?’ I say. ’Fairytale,’ the book says. ‘Grimm.’ ’Are you here all week?’ ’Unlike some of us.’ ’It was…

‘So I was thinking,’ the book says. ‘Going anywhere nice for Christmas?’ ’Do you want a lift somewhere?’ I say.…

Here are my most frequently-read blog posts of 2018, according to my WordPress stats. First, from the Lifesaving Poems…

‘What have you learned, do you think?’ the book says. ‘Do you mind, I’m trying to have a bath!’ ‘Now…

I am delighted to be publishing Deck Shoes, a book of enthusiasms, influences and memoir, with Impress Books, next year.…

After what feels like a very long wait since the publication of Riddance in 2012, I am delighted to be publishing…

Next year is going to be a big year for me. I am going to have two new books out…