Lifesaving Poems: Tania Hershman’s ‘By Any Other Name’

By Any Other Name First, he called her My Little Aubergine as if she was … More

Lifesaving Poems: Josephine Corcoran’s You say “drone”

You say “drone” and I think of bagpipes refrigerators aeroplanes I think of bees a male bee in a colony … More

Time does not bring relief; you all have lied Who told me time would ease me of my pain! I … More

my way is in the sand flowing between the shingle and the dune the summer rain rains on my … More

Some writers influence you through the pull of their imagination on your work, opening up new worlds as you read … More

Continuing the series of guest blog posts on overlooked poets, I am delighted to welcome John Field of Poor Rude … More

I am delighted to welcome Chrissy Williams to enthuse about a poet who may be unfamiliar to UK readers. – … More

The Negro Speaks of Rivers I’ve known rivers: I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older than the … More

The Dead Woman If suddenly you do not exist,if suddenly you no longer live,I shall live on. I do not … More

The Advantages of Learning I am a man with no ambitions And few friends, wholly incapable Of making a … More

This is the opening question and answer to an interview with Paul Clyne of Poetry Spotlight, published today. With thanks … More

Readers of this blog will know that I make a list at the end of each year showing the most … More

Here is a list of the most-read Lifesaving Poems during 2015: Mary Oliver, The Journey UA Fanthorpe, Atlas Ted Hughes, … More

This blog would be nothing without its readers. Thank you to everyone who stopped by, made a comment or a … More

One of the great joys of writing this blog in the last year has been to invite some of my … More

I am grateful to Victoria Field of NAWE for reviewing Lifesaving Poems in the current edition of Writing in Education. You can download … More

‘There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as … More

‘80% of success is showing up.’ -Woody Allen I was chatting with a student the other day when I said … More