A curry with Matthew Sweeney

I am in the pub with Rupert. We are talking about planning a thing. It’s definitely going to happen. A … More

A new poem: Hymn of Rain

Ink Sweat & Tears have published a new poem, ‘Hymn of Rain’. Here’s to another barbecue summer!

The book is not in love with me. I shower it with love and promises of more stationery, but all … More

When the Holy Spirit Danced With Me in My Kitchen the first thing I noticed was his arms, … More

I’m talking about real influence now –Raymond Carver This is the first in a new series of blog posts about people … More

Sugar in Banana Sandwiches ‘Still something of the child in you’ she says. I find that hard to swallow … More

Middle Ages (Translated by Paul Vincent) Folk from the past jostled for a place in the wall with distant … More

We are driving to a thing. We are lost. It is a lunch thing, so the children are in tow. … More

‘We are at a party that doesn’t love us‘ – Tomas Tranströmer We are at a thing. Not a poetry … More

Or this one. You arrive at the venue early but there is no one there to greet you. You pace … More

Locus Scolus: The New York School of Poets is a thing of wonder and beauty. Named after a 1914 French novel by Raymond … More

I am completely torn apart -Rupert Loydell When I first read Raymond Carver’s Fires I loved and understood all of it, … More

Yesterday I published a new poem on Rebecca Goss’ website, in aid of Children’s Heart Week. You can find … More

We had been in the new city for two months. The house we had bought was even more of a … More

Here are some more of my favourite blogs to read. I have put these together (I love them all) because … More

Don’t forget, this is inside us every day -Stephen Berg This is not happening. It happened. Past tense. One … More

The Sofas, Fogs and Cinemas I have lived it, and lived it, My nervous, luxury civilisation, My sugar-loving nerves … More

I was saddened to hear of the death of Gerard Benson last week. A poet and anthologist, he was probably … More