Lifesaving Poems: Mark Robinson’s ‘Domestic Bliss’

Yesterday I had the great pleasure of getting back in touch with Mark Robinson, poet, author and former editor … More

Women Who Dye Their Hair

I first had the pleasure of reading this remarkable and delightful poem by Janet Fisher in 2001 in the company of a … More

Photo: Rob Starling ‘Fishermen’, by Alasdair Paterson, is one of my Lifesaving Poems. I first read it as a new teacher, … More

Thanks to the recommendation of Naomi Jaffa (again) I had the smug pleasure of already knowing the work of Tony … More

Colin Mallett, Sculptor The poets I go back to This article first appeared in the North magazine, in November 2007. … More

I was lucky. I was taught English in one of those classrooms with complete sets of A Taste of Honey, … More

It was summer. I found myself on the top floor of the library, on the recommendation of a friend: … More

One year I decided that I would decorate one of my teaching rooms with my collection of Poems on the … More

And sometimes you don’t know where it comes from. It appears as a heat, prickly, under your skin, your scalp. … More

I first met Lawrence Sail at a private view at a gallery just outside Exeter. My family and I … More

I came across Hubert Moore’s fantastic book of poems The Hearing Room (Shoetstring, 2006) via my friend and neighbour Lawrence Sail. In … More

I found John Burnside‘s ‘A Private Life’ in a poetry magazine some years ago. I wasn’t much interested in … More

Readers who have followed my Lifesaving Poems series will know by now that there isn’t and wasn’t a plan about … More

June 30, 1974for Jane and Joe HazanLet me tell youthat this weekend Sundaymorning in the countryfills my soulwith tranquil joy:the … More

It is odd to speak of missing someone you never met, but this is how I feel about the American … More

I wrote here recently about losing my ambition as a writer. In case readers are in any doubt, the stuff … More

The Bath Festivals‘ Write Team was a creative writing project designed to develop pupil confidence and engagement in their learning. The … More

Towards the end of my treatment for cancer in 2006 I had one of the most profound conversations of my … More