But I’m a poet

The book is in its gardening clothes. ‘I’m going out,’ it says. ‘You’ve let the lawn go again.’ ‘You can’t … More

Giving up writing

Last week I gave up writing. For about a day. I had been given a book by one of my … More

I know I am hardly the first to draw parallels between running and writing. But, for what it is worth, … More

I am still not sure why, but in the middle of December I decided to take up running again. When … More

Poetry is knowledge, salvation, power abandonment. An operation capable … More

‘So is that your main idea?’ ‘That’s it, yes.’ ‘That people get stuff done out of a social need to … More

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

How I put The Art of Falling together In May 2012 my first pamphlet If We Could Speak Like Wolves … More

I have just come back from a thing. I am tired. A good afternoon of good conversation about large, important … More

I am delighted to have a new poem, To Spring, published today at Sarah James’s blog, in With You In … More

The poem that came into my mind on waking up this morning and hearing the General Election result is Mark … More

For those of you who have been enjoying my series of adventures with ‘the book’, here is a free eBook … More

‘You’re late,’ the new book says. It is seated at my desk, sleeves rolled up, a mug of steaming coffee … More

It is drizzling. The house is empty, the road outside quiet. It’s just as the book said it would be, … More

‘Was it good?’ the book says. ‘Was what good?’ ‘What you’ve been up to,’ the book says. ‘When?’ ‘You know … More

The terrible poem starts with an idea. The terrible poem knows it is the best thing that has been written. … More

Tomorrow I will be taking part at the Wenlock Poetry Festival in an event with Roz Goddard. We will be … More

Ordinary morning sounds from outside drift into the room where I am working. Birdsong. A car being parked. The noise … More

‘You looked, didn’t you?’ the book says. ‘What?’ I say. ‘Before you started this.’ ‘What?’ ‘At your stats. You couldn’t … More

‘What are you waiting for?’ the book says. ‘I’m not ready,’ I say. ‘What do you mean?’ ‘I’m not ready. … More