The central organising principle of Lifesaving Poems is that each poet is represented by a single poem. There are poets you … More
Tag: Life Lessons
Guest blog post: Hands like these, by Beverly Rycroft
This is the first in a series of guest blog posts by writers I admire. Having enjoyed speaking and reading … More
Lifesaving Poems has arrived
Lifesaving Poems has arrived Well, it has finally arrived. The anthology which began life as a blog, which began life as … More
Lifesaving Poems: Czeslaw Milosz’s ‘And Yet the Books’
And Yet the Books And yet the books will be there on the shelves, separate beings,That appeared once, still wetAs … More
Ted Hughes coming out of the radio
I have been wondering recently if the world of the poem (the one that is currently not-here, just out of … More
The Invisible College
I have just come back from a thing. I am tired. A good afternoon of good conversation about large, important … More
Lifesaving Poems: Gwen Harwood’s ‘Cups’
Cups They know us by our lips. They know the proverb about the space between us. Many slip. They … More
A new poem in support of Mental Health Awareness Week 2015
I am delighted to have a new poem, To Spring, published today at Sarah James’s blog, in With You In … More
Why must we write?
The poem that came into my mind on waking up this morning and hearing the General Election result is Mark … More
The Parable of the Book (free eBook)
For those of you who have been enjoying my series of adventures with ‘the book’, here is a free eBook … More
Nothing to say
‘You’re late,’ the new book says. It is seated at my desk, sleeves rolled up, a mug of steaming coffee … More
The new book
It is drizzling. The house is empty, the road outside quiet. It’s just as the book said it would be, … More
Excuses
‘Was it good?’ the book says. ‘Was what good?’ ‘What you’ve been up to,’ the book says. ‘When?’ ‘You know … More
Poets in the audience
Though I am reading from it, the book is nowhere to be seen. As well as normal people, some poets … More
We’re done
Ordinary morning sounds from outside drift into the room where I am working. Birdsong. A car being parked. The noise … More
What the internet thinks
‘You looked, didn’t you?’ the book says. ‘What?’ I say. ‘Before you started this.’ ‘What?’ ‘At your stats. You couldn’t … More
You will never be ready
‘What are you waiting for?’ the book says. ‘I’m not ready,’ I say. ‘What do you mean?’ ‘I’m not ready. … More
Letting go
The book does not know I have left the house without it. Though it is sunny and warm I have … More