Fear after Raymond Carver Fear of cancer returning That phone call in the night Fear of Donald Trump Fear…
Archive
#NaBloPoMo 10 – I have no idea what I’m doing
A thought occurred to me as I found myself scribbling in a notebook earlier this morning: I have no idea…
#NaBloPoMo 8 -Try to Praise the Mutilated World
Try to Praise the Mutilated World Try to praise the mutilated world. Remember June’s long days, and wild strawberries,…
#NaBloPoMo 7 – The paradox of poetry, by Seamus Heaney
I have to be honest and say that, in the light of yesterday’s US Election result, I am tempted to…
#NaBloPoMo 6 – The Ottowa Poetry Newsletter
My friend Rupert Loydell has emailed me a list of blog posts curated by Rob Mclennan on writing at the…
#NaBloPoMo 5 – Michael Longley interview with Krista Tippett
I feel a great sense of weariness as I look at the current political scene. Domestically, in the UK, we…
#NaBloPoMo 4 – Sowing in fertile ground
I wasn’t always lazy. As I have written before, I think it became a safety valve for me around the…
#NaBloPoMo 3 – Inimical to writing
My friend and I were almost at the end of our hour together. Banana cake (me), almond croissant (him). China…
#NaBloPoMo 2 – My tribe of one
There I was with my friend, on my second cup of tea. He had just asked me why I do…
#NaBloPoMo 1 – I am lazy
You write a blog post every day since the middle of July. It goes fine. But just as you begin…
Guilty
I have begun to acclimatise myself to the fact that the Book is not coming back. To lure it back…
A household name
I turn the radio on and switch it off again, unable to settle to anything. There is still no sign…
Cooking in a Bedsitter
There is still no sign of the book. I go for a walk; it is not there. I visit our…
The empty house
True to its word, the book has disappeared. There isn’t a trace of it in the house, not even a…
I can’t work with you any more
‘I think I’m going to be going away for a bit,’ the book says. ‘Give you some space. Let you…
The Half-Finished Heaven, by Tomas Tranströmer
The Half-Finished Heaven Despondency breaks off its course.Anguish breaks off its course.The vulture breaks off its flight. The eager light…
Tracks, by Tomas Tranströmer
Tracks 2 am: moonlight. The train has stopped out in the middle of the plain. Far away, points of…
Reading Wallace Stevens
‘I’ve been reading Wallace Stevens.’ ‘So?’ ‘I thought you’d be pleased.’ ‘I don’t get it.’ ‘Wallace Stevens!’ ‘I know who…