‘You knew how to live in those days’ Peter Sansom Sometime in the early Nineties my friend … More
Category: Raymond Carver
Meditation on a line by Sherwood Anderson (LentBlog20)
‘I’m trying again. A man has to begin over and over – to try to think and feel only in … More
#NaBloPoMo 11 – Fear
Fear after Raymond Carver Fear of cancer returning That phone call in the night Fear of Donald Trump Fear … More
Cooking in a Bedsitter
There is still no sign of the book. I go for a walk; it is not there. I visit our … More
Hugo Williams
In the summer of 1986, when he was poetry editor of New Statesman and not long after Writing Home had … More
I have read nothing for months
During the Christmas period I am reposting some old posts from my archive. Wishing all my readers a very happy … More
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
On poetry and blogging
In preparation for this year’s Aldeburgh Poetry Festival I was asked some questions about my blogging by Festival programmer Dean … More
The class of my dreams
The Class to the Class of 2014 after Raymond Carver The class with beautiful scarves The class who learned … 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
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
Now the silences are right
I am completely torn apart -Rupert Loydell When I first read Raymond Carver’s Fires I loved and understood all of it, … More
A review of the book (in the voice of the book)*
The Book of Things, Ilhan Berk (Salt, 2009), trs. George Messo Open me anywhere § Slugs Pilot Hi V5, … More
Sorry
The impetus behind this blog is praise. I hope it comes across. I made a vow that I would use … More
The real test of a poem
I was very saddened to learn recently of the death of Michael Baldwin, the novelist, poet, writing tutor and former … More
This was just a crow
My Crow A crow flew into the tree outside my window. It was not Ted Hughes’s crow, or Galway’s crow. … More
Poetry highlights of 2013
Two readings stood out for me in 2013. The first was at an arts centre in the middle of nowhere … More
Gratitude
I’m grateful to you, you see. I wanted to tell you. –Raymond Carver (‘For Tess’) A kind, wise man once … More