I had bumped into a friend at the cash machine. We greeted each other, as we always do, with a … More
Category: Health
A sense of wonder, by Arthur Frank
The only real difference between people is not health or illness but the way each holds onto a sense of … More
Cancer vs. chipper
The thing about having cancer was that it was pretty obvious what was going on. I had been feeling fairly … More
Lifesaving Poems: Fleur Adcock’s ‘The Soho Hospital for Women (IV)’
The Soho Hospital for Woman (IV) I am out in the supermarket choosing – this very afternoon, this day … More
A day he won’t have
I had bumped into a friend at the cash machine. We greeted each other, as we always do, with a … More
Guest Blog Post: Don’t Think About A White Horse, by Kate Bowles
Don’t Think About A White Horse Coming closer, he turns out to be you – or nearly. Once you … 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
Nine years ago today
Nine years ago today I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer of the white blood cells. Even though I have … More
Lifesaving Poems: Denise Levertov’s ‘The Secret’
The Secret Two girls discover the secret of life in a sudden line of poetry. I who don’t know the … More
Poetry and illness
Medicine The black hair of my Chinese doctor gleams like combed ink as he leans over his desk, with quick … More
A new poem, for Children’s Heart Week
Yesterday I published a new poem on Rebecca Goss’ website, in aid of Children’s Heart Week. You can find … More
Don Paterson’s ‘Oh God’ moment
The most immediate and forthright analysis of a poem I have seen at any poetry workshop occurred as I passed … More
By the way, you live
Dear Anthony I’m writing to let you know what you already know in your bones, as you put it much … More
The most read Lifesaving Poems of 2013
These are the most read Lifesaving Poems posts of 2013. Mary Oliver, ‘The Journey’ I first read this on … More
Lifesaving Poems: Emily Riall’s ‘Duty Psychiatrist’
Emily Riall will be a new name to many readers of this blog. She was a fine young poet … More
Lifesaving Poems: Alison Mosquera’s ‘Tamoxifen’
Earlier this year I ran a Poetry School course about poetry and health called Written on the Body. It was … More
Iain Crichton-Smith’s ‘Poetry’
It was summer. I found myself on the top floor of the library, on the recommendation of a friend: … More
When one poet rescues another poet
I came across Hubert Moore’s fantastic book of poems The Hearing Room (Shoetstring, 2006) via my friend and neighbour Lawrence Sail. In … More