With Only One LifeHold with both handsThe tray of every dayAnd pass in turnAlong this counter.There is enough sunFor everybody.There … More
Author: Anthony Wilson
I am a lecturer, poet and writing tutor. I work in teacher and medical education at the University of Exeter. My anthology Lifesaving Poems was published by Bloodaxe Books in 2015. In 2012 I published Riddance (Worple Press), a collection of poems, and Love for Now (Impress Books), a memoir, about my experience of cancer. The Wind and the Rain, my sixth collection of poems, is available now from Blue Diode Publishing. My current research project, funded by the Foyle Foundation, is Young Poets' Stories: https://youngpoetsstories.com/. This blog is archived by the British Library.
Lifesaving Poems: Jackie Kay’s ‘Dusting the Phone’
Dusting the PhoneI am spending my time imagining the worst that could happen.I know this is not a good idea, … More
A Few Odds and Sods
By this time in January, 2006 I was fairly certain that something was very wrong with my health. Like a … More
Lifesaving Poems: John Logan’s ‘The Picnic’
The Picnic It is the picnic with Ruth in the spring. Ruth was third on my list of seven girls … More
In search of the ‘Tyger’: power relationships and poetry in the classroom
When I began teaching the Year 5 class of children whose work would form the basis of my doctoral study … More
Lifesaving Poems: Ann Gray’s ‘mercifully ordain that we may become aged together’
mercifully ordain that we may become aged togetherTobit 8.7 I was in the Canadian Muffin Company in Armada Way,waiting for … More
Lifesaving Poems: WN Herbert’s ‘The Black Wet’
The Black WetIt’s raining stair-rods and chairlegs,it’s raining candelabra and microwaves,it’s raining eyesockets.When the sun shines through the showerit’s raining … More
My Hero: Michael Laskey
Some writers influence you through the pull of their imagination on your work, opening up new worlds as you read … More
The Day Ted Hughes Died
Ted Hughes died on 28 October, 1998, aged 68. He had been suffering with colon cancer. Just about everyone I … More
In Memory of Emily Riall
Last week I posted a blog about entering remission after treatment for cancer. For me this moment will forever be … More
What I have learned about remission
In February I wrote a blog post on the anniversary of my diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL), a cancer of … More
Lifesaving Poems: Cliff Yates’s ‘Boggle Hole’
Boggle Hole Two new mountain bikes chained to the fence,three horses lean over, bite at the tyres,get the chain between … More
In memory of Jörn Cann
I was deeply saddened to hear ten days ago of the death of Jörn Cann, the ward doctor in the … More
Lifesaving Poems: Robert Rehder’s ‘Corminboeuf 157’
Corminboeuf 157 I am writing these poemsAs fast as I canSo that I don’t miss out on my late styleWhich … More
Lifesaving Poems: Mandy Coe’s ‘Let’s Celebrate’
Let’s Celebrate the momentswhere nothing happens.The momentsthat fill our lives.Not the field bright with poppies, butthe times you walked, seeingno … More
Lifesaving Poems: Moniza Alvi’s ‘I Would Like to be a Dot in a Painting by Miro’
I Would Like to be a Dot in a Painting by Miro I would like to be a dot in … More
Poetry and 9/11
I am a little late in writing these reflections prompted by the tenth anniversary of 9/11. What I want to … More
Lifesaving Poems: Mark Halliday’s ‘The Missing Poem’
The Missing PoemIt would have been dark but not lugubrious. It would have beenfairly short but not slight. It … More
Lifesaving Poems 