Lifesaving Lines

Thank you to everyone who has commented to me either publicly or in private about my new series of blog … More

Lifesaving Lines: Autumn, by Roo Borson

We have a lot of windows. I sit next to them at this time of the year thinking, Just five … More

Lifsaving Lines: Alone, by Tomas Tranströmer

I have been thinking a lot this week about a line from Tomas Tranströmer’s masterpiece, ‘Alone’. (I have also blogged … More

New crushes

As I try to hold on to beginner’s mind, I recall the practice of falling in love at a moment’s … More

Who are we serving?

One of the great joys for me this summer was being able to get back to Greenbelt, a festival of … More

Writing prompts (blog post ending with a line by Shawna Lemay)

after Shawna Lemay Write a poem about the rain. Or the wind.Write about what you learned at university.Or did not … More

Mind over natter

The YouTube clip below is a recording of a reading I made last week for the University of Exeter Guild … More

Head. Space.

As the book might say, it’s been a while, hasn’t it? As the book also might say, I have been … More

The blank space

Dear Friends Like the closed down (but still creative) shop window of Top Shop I saw on an early morning … More

The bombed cathedral

One of the touchstones that I would add to those I blogged about last week is a marvellous section from … More

Leap before you look

The problem with having had the gleam is that for it to mean anything, work has to ensue. I hate … More

The gleam

When someone asks me am I working on something, I never really know what to say. I want to answer … More

On ‘Goodbye to being a poet’

Just over a year ago I wrote a blog post talking about my ‘tired frame of mind’ and intention to … More

The fear of poetry -by Muriel Rukeyser

The Fear of Poetry In this moment when we facehorizons and conflicts widerthan ever before, we want our resources,the ways … More

Go well

  I have walked into the grief. I have walked into brave space, mine and others’. I have sat in … More

Courage

  Courage It is in the small things we see it. The child’s first step, as awesome as an earthquake. … More

Reading and writing resources for young poets

Young Poets’ Stories project update: Today we add a reading resources for young poets page to the Young Poets’ Stories website. … More

Struggling

Struggling I haven’t had time to stand and fart recently,and you’re wanting me to work on a relationship? That silence … More