The problem with having had the gleam is that for it to mean anything, work has to ensue. I hate … More
Category: Cliff Yates
Happy James Schuyler Day
To celebrate what I now think of as James Schuyler day, I am reposting June 30, 1974. Happy … More
#NaBloPoMo 16 – To autumn
What I love about autumn is the night arriving early. What I hate about autumn is the day leaving even … More
I have read nothing for months
During the Christmas period I am reposting some old posts from my archive. Wishing all my readers a very happy … More
I have not read a book in six months
I have not read a book in six months -Raymond Carver, ‘Drinking While Driving’ I can still remember the shock … More
Books that changed me in 2013
I began the year with two books which helped me slow down and breathe: Christian McEwen’s World Enough and Time and … More
Lifesaving Poems: James Schuyler’s ‘June 30, 1974’
June 30, 1974 for Jane and Joe Hazan Let me tell you that this weekend Sunday morning in the … More
The Write Team: Creative Writers in Schools
The Bath Festivals‘ Write Team was a creative writing project designed to develop pupil confidence and engagement in their learning. The … More
Lifesaving Poems: John Ash’s ‘The Middle Kingdom’
One of the pleasures of being alive is reading John Ash. Think of a prize-winning poet, someone you think of … More
Lifesaving Poems: Tom Raworth’s ‘8.06 p.m. June 10th 1970’
As I say in my previous blog post, I owe my knowledge of ‘8.06 p.m. June 10th 1970’ to the … More
Foal Failure
I first came across ‘Birth of the Foal’ at the recommendation of the great Cliff Yates. He told me he’d been … More
When poetry stopped me breathing in 2012
I have just been asked by Abegail Morley to send her a list of my poetry books of 2012 for … More
Lifesaving Poems: Cliff Yates’s ‘Boggle Hole’
This has already been a memorable year, for I have seen my old friend Cliff Yates twice, both at poetry-related … More
On Cliff Yates’ Poetry Workshop
‘Whenever I work with people – no matter what their age – I try to run a checklist through my mind: are … More