Praise the Rain Praise the rain; the seagull diveThe curl of plant, the raven talk—Praise the hurt, the house slackThe … More
Tag: Michael Laskey
Struggling
Struggling I haven’t had time to stand and fart recently, and you’re wanting me to work on a relationship? That … More
‘Clear of the wheel of myself’: Workshopping Michael Laskey’s ‘Bike’
Bike You, who have borne three sons of mine, still bear my weight routinely, transporting me. An odd … More
Lifesaving poems of summer
As the summer holiday season takes hold, I am posting an old blog post or two from the archive. See … More
Not a ‘thin’ year for poetry
It was one of those throwaway remarks made by one writer, male, to another, ditto, in one of those books … More
#NaBloPoMo 22 – When Josephine Corcoran interviewed me
As we draw to the end of NaBloPoMo, I have invited Josephine Corcoran to collaborate with me on a joint-interview. … More
#NaBloPoMo 8 -Try to Praise the Mutilated World
Try to Praise the Mutilated World Try to praise the mutilated world. Remember June’s long days, and wild strawberries, … More
Lifesaving Poems: Michael Laskey’s ‘Bike’
It was a huge privilege to share poems in workshops I gave at the Greenbelt festival last weekend. Here is … More
Influence
‘Did you hear?’ says the book. ‘Ted Hughes’s brother has died.’ ‘I did see that, yes,’ I say. ’95, though. … 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
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: On moving on, by Dean Parkin
I have been sorting. I have been chucking. It’s been the recurring theme over the last eighteen months. I cleared … More
Always the people
‘To tell you the truth, it’s been shattering. But kind of amazing, as well.’ ‘You never said. You never said. … More
Guest blog post: Endings and Legacies, by Naomi Jaffa
In terms of my poetry world, 2015 has turned out to be a year of endings and legacies. The Poetry … More
Naomi Jaffa on the legacy of The Aldeburgh Poetry Festival
Don’t miss tomorrow’s guest blog post by Naomi Jaffa, in which she reminisces about two of her favourite poets from … More
Oh, but you love writing!
When I write, I feel like an armless, legless many with a crayon in his mouth -Kurt Vonnegut A friend … More
To Michael Laskey
Dear Michael I picked up your book the other day and wanted to tell you how much I am enjoying … More
Lifesaving poems of summer
Now that we might finally be getting one, I found myself wondering recently how many of my Lifesaving Poems choices were about … More