A scan, with different initials. The train journey to it, biting nails; the one back pretending not to be radioactive. … More
Category: Life Lessons
The burnt horizon
I am at a thing. It is my thing, contributing to the thing of others, who I do not know. … More
The cancer World Cup
The ward is a void without him. Football blares in the corner, the monotonous roar of the crowd unleavened by … More
Influences: Duncan Kramer
I met the furniture designer Duncan Kramer at summer camp. Not as kids but as what we laughingly called leaders. … More
Hated by the book
The book is not in love with me. I shower it with love and promises of more stationery, but all … More
Influences: Hugo Williams
I’m talking about real influence now –Raymond Carver This is the first in a new series of blog posts about people … More
Why aren’t you dead yet?
Jörn Cann wasn’t my friend. He was my doctor. He was famous before we even met him as the doctor … More
A Case of You
The way it starts. With an ending. Just before our love got lost. We have all been here: the wit … More
Curtains
The room is small, the size of a student bedsit. An enormous grey sofa takes up most of the space. … 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
Such fun
We are driving to a thing. We are lost. It is a lunch thing, so the children are in tow. … More
Should I have heard of you?
‘We are at a party that doesn’t love us‘ – Tomas Tranströmer We are at a thing. Not a poetry … More
Living the dream
Or this one. You arrive at the venue early but there is no one there to greet you. You pace … 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
How poets work
We had been in the new city for two months. The house we had bought was even more of a … More
This isn’t happening
Don’t forget, this is inside us every day -Stephen Berg This is not happening. It happened. Past tense. One … More
Then this
Then this. We are sitting with hospital mugs of tea, in the Quiet Room. We are all leaning forward, listening … More
The bow and the lyre
I followed a lead, nudged by a hunch, and it brought me here. The book is In Their Own Words (edited by … More