‘We are at a party that doesn’t love us‘ – Tomas Tranströmer We are at a thing. Not a poetry … More
Tag: Life Lessons
Living the dream
Or this one. You arrive at the venue early but there is no one there to greet you. You pace … 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
Then this
Then this. We are sitting with hospital mugs of tea, in the Quiet Room. We are all leaning forward, listening … More
The bow and the lyre
I followed a lead, nudged by a hunch, and it brought me here. The book is In Their Own Words (edited by … More
Publish more!
I was at a thing recently. Not my thing, a good thing. Luminosity filled the evening. In the pouring of … More
What’s next?
My main memory of watching The West Wing is the way Martin Sheen would wrap up discussions with his staff by … More
Are you writing?
I am at a thing. It is not my thing, it is someone else’s thing. Poets are there. People I … More
Doubt
[S]everal things dovetailed in my mind, & at once it struck me, what quality went to form a Man … More
Not on speaking terms
I am at a thing. I have been asked to read a couple of poems. It is not my thing, … More
The poem is cross with me
The poem is not happy. It glares up at me, its eyes spitting fury. ‘How dare you take me in … More
Pursued by the poem
I am being pursued by the poem. It has been there for several years now, asking to be written. I … More
The best feeling there is
You stick to the routines you have set up, notebook observations, voracious reading, sending the work out to mags, even … More
Sorry
The impetus behind this blog is praise. I hope it comes across. I made a vow that I would use … More
Their age now
Having not succeeded at school, I’ve always thought of poetry as the holidays, rather than term-time. Hugo Williams I went … More
How to give a poetry reading
The Little Snoring Poetry Group have written to you asking if you would come and read to them some of … More