Mark Strand on reading poetry -a found poem

Sometimes poems aren’t literal representations of anything. Sometimes a poem just exists as something else in the universe that you … More

Hugo Williams 

In the summer of 1986, when he was poetry editor of New Statesman and not long after Writing Home had … More

Lifesaving Poems: Ted Kooser’s ‘A Rainy Morning’

A Rainy Morning   A young woman in a wheelchair, wearing a black nylon poncho spattered with rain, is pushing … More

Lifesaving Poems: Isaac Rosenberg’s ‘August 1914’

August 1914 What in our lives is burnt In the fire of this? The heart’s dear granary? The much we … More

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

Lifesaving Poems: Edna St. Vincent Millay’s ‘Time does not bring relief’

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

Guest blog post: Alice Major by Katherine Venn

I am delighted to welcome Katherine Venn to continue our series on overlooked poets. Alice Major Alice Major, decorated author … More

Lifesaving Poems: Samuel Beckett’s ‘my way is in the sand flowing’

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

Guest blog post: Andrew Waterhouse and the seventh syllable, by Helena Nelson

I am delighted to welcome Helena Nelson to continue our series on overlooked poets.   Andrew Waterhouse and the Seventh … More

Laskey

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

Guest blog post: Christ the Diet Coke Man – why I read Aemilia Lanyer, by John Field

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

Guest blog post: Away with the Dinosaurs, by Chrissy Williams

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

Lifesaving Poems: Langston Hughes’s ‘The Negro Speaks of Rivers’

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

Lifesaving Poems: Pablo Neruda’s ‘The Dead Woman’ (La Muerta)

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

Lifesaving Poems: Kenneth Rexroth’s ‘The Advantages of Learning’

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

An interview with Poetry Spotlight

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

The fear of poetry -by Muriel Rukeyser

The Fear of Poetry In this moment when we face horizons and conflicts wider than ever before, we want our … More