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

Influences: Alan Booth

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

Influences: Jörn Cann’s art

  This is Jörn Cann. He was my ward doctor at the haematology unit where I was treated for non-Hodgkin’s … More

Poetry vs 9/11

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

Influences: Peter Bourke

In 1991 we moved to a house in Brixton, south London. Of all our welcomes, that of our neighbour, the … More

Influences: Martin Wilson

One of the biggest influences on my life, let alone my writing, is Martin Wilson. I should know; he’s my … More

Lifesaving Poems: the book

Photograph © Bloodaxe Books Ltd I am delighted to announce that my Lifesaving Poems series of blog posts has now become … More

Influence

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

Ann Gray’s genius

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

Saying goodbye to Smiths Knoll

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

T.S. Eliot’s ‘Hysteria’

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

Teaching people who hate poetry

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

My hero: Michael Laskey

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

The People of the Other Village, by Thomas Lux

One of the poets I am most looking forward to listening to at the Aldeburgh Poetry Festival in November is … More