This was just a crow

During the Christmas period I am reposting some old posts from my archive. Wishing all my readers a very happy … More

Why we need Aldeburgh

Dan O’Brien began by saying he wasn’t really a poet, but a ‘moonlighting playwright’. Selima Hill took out her glasses, … More

I am at a thing. Not a famous thing, but an important one nevertheless. People are there, people you and … More

Everyone who enters the stage begins by saying thank you * That silence * Mostly nearly all the time * … More

By the time you read this I will be far away from here. It has not happened yet, but I … More

Sitting over toast and marmalade with Peter Sansom yesterday morning he said to me: ‘I don’t bother with novels any … More

The Burning Of The Houses Tottenham is on fire and I work in an arts centre where the sky is … More

Photo credit: Felix Clay, The Guardian Heard I can’t remember a time in my teaching career when there wasn’t … More

Ellen Doré Watson was a new name to me until recently. ‘Be Here First ‘ is a good example of … More

I am at a thing. A historic thing. (An historic thing? I will never know). Poets are there. Household names. … More

Medicine The black hair of my Chinese doctor gleams like combed ink as he leans over his desk, with quick … More

Photograph © Bloodaxe Books Ltd I am delighted to announce that my Lifesaving Poems series of blog posts has now become … More