The Picnic It is the picnic with Ruth in the spring. Ruth was third on my list of seven girls … More
Category: Poetry
In search of the ‘Tyger’: power relationships and poetry in the classroom
When I began teaching the Year 5 class of children whose work would form the basis of my doctoral study … More
Lifesaving Poems: Ann Gray’s ‘mercifully ordain that we may become aged together’
mercifully ordain that we may become aged togetherTobit 8.7 I was in the Canadian Muffin Company in Armada Way,waiting for … More
Lifesaving Poems: WN Herbert’s ‘The Black Wet’
The Black WetIt’s raining stair-rods and chairlegs,it’s raining candelabra and microwaves,it’s raining eyesockets.When the sun shines through the showerit’s raining … More
My Hero: Michael Laskey
Some writers influence you through the pull of their imagination on your work, opening up new worlds as you read … More
The Day Ted Hughes Died
Ted Hughes died on 28 October, 1998, aged 68. He had been suffering with colon cancer. Just about everyone I … More
In Memory of Emily Riall
Last week I posted a blog about entering remission after treatment for cancer. For me this moment will forever be … More
Lifesaving Poems: Cliff Yates’s ‘Boggle Hole’
Boggle Hole Two new mountain bikes chained to the fence,three horses lean over, bite at the tyres,get the chain between … More
Lifesaving Poems: Robert Rehder’s ‘Corminboeuf 157’
Corminboeuf 157 I am writing these poemsAs fast as I canSo that I don’t miss out on my late styleWhich … More
Lifesaving Poems: Mandy Coe’s ‘Let’s Celebrate’
Let’s Celebrate the momentswhere nothing happens.The momentsthat fill our lives.Not the field bright with poppies, butthe times you walked, seeingno … More
Lifesaving Poems: Moniza Alvi’s ‘I Would Like to be a Dot in a Painting by Miro’
I Would Like to be a Dot in a Painting by Miro I would like to be a dot in … More
Lifesaving Poems: Mark Halliday’s ‘The Missing Poem’
The Missing PoemIt would have been dark but not lugubrious. It would have beenfairly short but not slight. It … More
Lifesaving Poems: Peter Sansom’s K563
K563As on most fine summer Sundayswe are breakfasting outside with our books.This morning it is one of the Divertimentikeeps the … More
Lifesaving Poems: Jaan Kaplinski’s ‘This morning was cold’
This morning was cold, but it warmed about mid-day.Blue clouds piled up in the north.I came from a meeting – … More
Lifesaving Poems: ‘Prayer’ by Marie Howe
PrayerEvery day I want to speak with you. And every day something more importantcalls for my attention – the drugstore, … More
Lifesaving Poems: Tomas Tranströmer’s ‘Alone’
Alone I One evening in February I came near to dying here. The car skidded sideways on the ice, out … More
Poetry Exhaustion
If you write poetry (and I assume that if you do, you are also actively engaged in reading it), sooner … More
Lifesaving Poems: William Blake’s ‘The Divine Image’ (via Lies Damned Lies)
The Divine ImageTo Mercy, Pity, Peace, and LoveAll pray in their distress;And to these virtues of delightReturn their thankfulness.For Mercy, … More
Lifesaving Poems 