Why we need Aldeburgh

Dan O’Brien began by saying he wasn’t really a poet, but a ‘moonlighting playwright’. Selima Hill took out her glasses, … More

‘When I read poetry’: in memory of Mark Strand

I am sad because the great American poet Mark Strand has died. Among the tributes to him in the last … More

I am at a thing. Not a famous thing, but an important one nevertheless. People are there, people you and … More

The poem and I are best friends. For ever. We hold hands in public and spend every spare minute with … More

Everyone who enters the stage begins by saying thank you * That silence * Mostly nearly all the time * … More

In preparation for this year’s Aldeburgh Poetry Festival I was asked some questions about my blogging by Festival programmer Dean … More

Mark Doty had it. And John Hartley Williams. And Esther Morgan. And Roy Blackman, introducing Mark Doty talking about Whitman. … More

Ellen Doré Watson was a new name to me until recently. ‘Be Here First ‘ is a good example of … More

I am at a thing. A historic thing. (An historic thing? I will never know). Poets are there. Household names. … More

I am delighted to have a new poem Writing Research Across Borders (2014): Poster Sessions in Hinterland With thanks to Judi Sutherland … More

Medicine The black hair of my Chinese doctor gleams like combed ink as he leans over his desk, with quick … More

Well, it’s happening. Happened, I mean. Stuff I thought would last forever -film titles, the actors in them, scenes of … More

I have been asked to judge a thing. A good thing. A serious thing. (But this isn’t about that. We … More

She started as a name. There I was, following my nose, minding my own business, trying to ignore all instincts … More

I am delighted to be included in Issue Twelve of Antiphon poetry magazine. You can read my new poem, ‘S’, … More

Alan Booth wasn’t the first teacher to teach me something, but he was the first who drew me into the … More

Below is a collection of my blog posts for the 2014 Aldeburgh Poetry Festival. I will update it as I … More

I am taking a break from writing brand new blog posts over the summer. Instead of posting new work … More