I began writing the Lifesaving Poems posts in June 2011, back when I was using Posterous for this blog. … More
Category: Poetry
Lifesaving Poems: Derek Mahon’s ‘Everything is Going to be All Right’
Everything is Going to be All Right How should I not be glad to contemplatethe clouds clearing beyond the dormer … More
Lifesaving Poems: Naomi Jaffa’s ‘Some of the Usual’
Some of the UsualStanding in the kitchen before breakfast, not including some of the usual —what to buy in Budgens … More
Lifesaving Poems: Peter Carpenter’s ‘Nightwatchman’
I met Peter Carpenter in the summer of 2001 at the Arvon Foundation’s Totleigh Barton writing centre. I was at … More
On Riddance
Riddance is published today. It is my fourth full-length collection of poems and my third with Worple Press. You can … More
Lifesaving Poems: James Tate’s ‘I am a Finn’
I Am a Finn I am standing in the post office, about to mail a package back to Minnesota, to … More
Lifesaving Poems: Seamus Heaney’s ‘Night Drive’
Night Drive The smells of ordinarinessWere new on the night drive through France;Rain and hay and woods on the airMade … More
12 Ways to Practise Writing Poems
I have just come back from the Greenbelt Festival where I was delighted to give a talk about writing poetry … More
Lifesaving Poems: Mandy Sutter’s ‘Caring for the Environment’
Caring for the EnvironmentIn Wonderland, they say ‘Drink Me’but in Leeds they shoulder the bin asidesaying ‘Take me to the … More
Lifesaving Poems: Ian McMillan’s ‘On The Impossibility of Staying Alive’
On the Impossibility of Staying Alive They have found a new moon; it stands on my shoulder. They call it … More
Lifesaving Poems: Thom Gunn’s ‘Autobiography’
AutobiographyThe sniff of the real, that’swhat I’d want to get how it feltto sit on ParliamentHill on a May eveningstudying … More
Lifesaving Poems: Michael Laskey’s ‘Bike’
BikeYou, who have borne three sonsof mine, still bear my weightroutinely, transporting me.An odd pair: your classic sparelines – elbows, … More
Lifesaving Poems: Rutger Kopland’s ‘I Cavalli di Leonardo’
I Cavalli di LeonardoAll those sketches he left behind –endless series of repetitions: bunches of muscles, sinews,knuckles, joints, the entire … More
Lifesaving Poems: Robert Pinsky’s ‘Song of Reasons’
Song of ReasonsBecause of the change of key midway in “Come Back to Sorrento”The little tune comes back higher, and … More
Lifesaving Poems: Jean Sprackland’s ‘The Birkdale Nightingale’
The Birkdale Nightingale(Bufo calamito – the Natterjack toad)On Spring nights you can hear themtwo miles away, calling their matesto the … More
Lifesaving Poems: Stephen Berg’s ‘Eating Outside’
Eating OutsideFat pine boughsdroop over the vegetable garden’ssticks and leaves,the moon’s hazy face comes and goesin the heat.Beautiful women,your skin … More
Lifesaving Poems: Ian Duhig’s ‘From the Irish’ and Maura Dooley’s ‘Mansize’
Last night saw the launch of Magma 53 at the Troubadour Coffee House in London with guest readers and Lifesaving … More
Lifesaving Poems is one year old
A year ago I began the Lifesaving Poems series of blog posts. I got the idea for it after reading … More
Lifesaving Poems 