Third Sunday in Advent Today I pause from giving you updates from grief’s front line and take a leaf from … More
Category: Gratitude
Lifesaving Poems: Craig Raine’s ‘Heaven on Earth’
Heaven on Earth Now that it is night, you fetch the wash from outer space, from the frozen … More
Why do it?
because of the words and because of the books because of the woman in the anorak at the swimming baths … More
Poetry highlights of 2014
I have so much to be grateful for in 2014. The year began in one of my temporary fits … More
The most read Lifesaving Poems of 2014
Here are the most read Lifesaving Poems of 2014. For the first time I have been able to compare last … More
Influences: Martin Wilson
One of the biggest influences on my life, let alone my writing, is Martin Wilson. I should know; he’s my … More
Gratitude
I’m grateful to you, you see. I wanted to tell you. –Raymond Carver (‘For Tess’) A kind, wise man once … More
Chemo reading
I wrote here recently about losing my ambition as a writer. In case readers are in any doubt, the stuff … More
Why it’s called Love for Now
Love for Now did not begin with an idea but an illness. As I have written elsewhere, there wasn’t a plan. I … More
8 great books about dying
The chances are, more of us are mortal than have multiple orgasms -Violet Weingarten, Intimations of Mortality When I was diagnosed … 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
Advice from the dying -by Oliver Burkeman in The Guardian
Photo: Andy Oliver In May 2005, the chairman and chief executive of the accountancy giantKPMG was told he had about 100 … More