Lifesaving Lines: An October Salmon, by Ted Hughes

I walked into the middle of a Ted Hughes poem the other week. An early morning dog walk, like any … More

Lifesaving Poems: Sean O’Brien’s ‘Before’

To safe and almost universal silence I published How Far From Here is Home? (Stride) a few days before Christmas in … More

Dear Ted Hughes You probably won’t remember me. I wrote to you before, in the summer of 1998. I did … More

‘I’m tired.’ ‘You said,’ says the book. ‘No, I mean, I’m tired. Of my handwriting.’ ‘What’s wrong with it? It’s … More

‘Did you hear?’ says the book. ‘Ted Hughes’s brother has died.’ ‘I did see that, yes,’ I say. ’95, though. … More

‘I’ve been out,’ says the book. ‘So I see,’ I say. The book is dressed in a pith helmet and … More

When the Arvon student is put in posession of that creative self, which was hitherto inaccessible, two things, in particular, … More

Here is a list of the most-read Lifesaving Poems during 2015: Mary Oliver, The Journey UA Fanthorpe, Atlas Ted Hughes, … More

‘It’s even true of Ted Hughes.’ I look across at the book, whose head is now slumped on my desk, … More

‘Are you going to do one?’ ‘Who let you in?’ ‘Are you?’ The book has its feet up on my … More

There is a certain jubilation and truancy at the heart of an inspiration […a] liberation and abundance which is the … More

Teachers’ words should not be ‘How to write’ but ‘How to try to say what you really mean’ – which … More

‘There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as … More

The value of poetry is that it should matter … first to the writer and then to the reader. Michael … More

Writing my way through bereavement I don’t approve of death. I’m with Edna St Vincent Millay: I am not … More

As I have said before, there wasn’t a plan. Which does not mean I don’t feel the luckiest man alive … More

This is the first in a series of guest blog posts by writers I admire. Having enjoyed speaking and reading … More

I have been wondering recently if the world of the poem (the one that is currently not-here, just out of … More