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Essential poems for hard times

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Author: Anthony Wilson

I am a poet and writing tutor. For 24 years I worked 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, was published in 2023 by Blue Diode Press. Plymbridge, a new pamphlet, is available now from Worple Press. My final research project, funded by the Foyle Foundation, was Young Poets' Stories: https://youngpoetsstories.com/. This blog is archived by the British Library.

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

Poetry, Poetry Education, Poetry Matters, Research, William Blake

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

Ann Gray, Lifesaving Poems, Poetry, Poets

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

Lifesaving Poems, Poems, Poetry, WN Herbert

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

Aldeburgh Poetry Festival, Anthony Wilson, Anthony Wilson Poet, Anthony Wilson The Difference, CK Williams, Education, Kin by CK Williams, Michael Laskey, Michael Laskey Poetry Trust, Poems, Poetry, Poetry Trust, poetry workshops, Poets, Teaching Poems, Teaching Poetry, Teaching Teachers, Teaching Writing, Writing Workshops

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

Arvon, Poetry, Poets, Teaching Writing, Ted Hughes

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

Life Lessons, Poets, Presence, Remission

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

Cancer, Life Lessons, Presence, Remission

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

Cliff Yates, Lifesaving Poems, Poetry, Poets

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

Cancer, Life Lessons, Poems, Poetry

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, Poetry, Poets, Robert Rehder

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

Cancer, Lifesaving Poems, Mandy Coe, Poems, Poetry, Poets, Presence, Remission

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

Lifesaving Poems, Moniza Alvi, Poetry, Poets

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

9/11, Education, Kenneth Koch, Poetry, Research, Seamus Heaney

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, Mark Halliday, Poems, Poetry, Poets, Presence

Lifesaving Poems: Peter Sansom’s K563

K563As on most fine summer Sundayswe are breakfasting outside with our books.This morning it is one of the Divertimentikeeps the … More

Lifesaving Poems, Peter Sansom, Poetry, Poets

Lifesaving Poems: Jaan Kaplinski’s ‘This morning was cold’

This morning was cold, but it warmed about mid-day.Blue clouds piled up in the north.I came from a meeting – … More

Duncan Kramer, Jaan Kaplinski, Lifesaving Poems, Poetry, Poets, This Morning Was Cold

Lifesaving Poems: ‘Prayer’ by Marie Howe

PrayerEvery day I want to speak with you. And every day something more importantcalls for my attention – the drugstore, … More

Life Lessons, Lifesaving Poems, Marie Howe, Poems, Poetry, Poets

Lifesaving Poems: Tomas Tranströmer’s ‘Alone’

Alone I One evening in February I came near to dying here. The car skidded sideways on the ice, out … More

Alone, Dying, Life Lessons, Lifesaving Poems, Lifesaving Poetry, Paul Batchelor, Poetry, Poets, Presence, Reading Poetry, The Rattlebag, Tomas Transtromer, Tomas Transtromer Alone, Transtromer, Transtromer Alone, Transtromer Nobel Winner

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ANTHONY WILSON

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