Nine years ago today

Nine years ago today I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer of the white blood cells. Even though I have … More

Lifesaving Poems: Denise Levertov’s ‘The Secret’

The Secret Two girls discover the secret of life in a sudden line of poetry. I who don’t know the … More

On writing and illness

Reading Arthur W. Frank’s astonishing At the Will of the Body  recently has given me pause to reflect on the relationship … More

Open letter to Arthur Frank (on reading At the Will of the Body)

Dear Arthur Frank I’m writing to say thank you for your extraordinary book At the Will of the Body. It is … More

The woman at the workshop

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

Poetry and illness

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

On not relapsing

A year ago I had a relapse of my cancer. Except I didn’t. For a week or so I knew … More

Beverly Rycroft’s missing

The other day I was asked what I look for in poetry. Needing to give a quick answer I said: I … More

Then this

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

This is the day

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

Losing my ambition

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

Poetry exhaustion

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

The Year of Drinking Water, seven years on (free download)

Seven years ago I published The Year of Drinking Water, a pamphlet of poems, about my experience of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (Exeter … More

The cancer World Cup

The ward is a void without him. Football blares in the corner, the monotonous roar of the crowd unleavened by … More

Why aren’t you dead yet?

Jörn Cann wasn’t my friend. He was my doctor. He was famous before we even met him as the doctor … 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 new poem, for Children’s Heart Week

  Yesterday I published a new poem on Rebecca Goss’ website, in aid of Children’s Heart Week. You can find … More

This isn’t happening

  Don’t forget, this is inside us every day -Stephen Berg This is not happening. It happened. Past tense. One … More