The power of poetry

  A speech given at the NATE annual conference, June 2014   My early poetic experiences were not ‘poetic’ at … 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

Slow Weather -a new poem

I am delighted to have Slow Weather, a new poem published at London Grip New Poetry

Bookmark

  Made of orange card, it’s an outline of my son’s hand. Comprising two sections, one his tiny, spread fingers, … 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

Living and breathing Arvon

  ‘I’ve been at the field.’ This, spoken by one of the teachers on last week’s writing residential at Totleigh … More

Giving up writing

Last week I gave up writing. For about a day. I had been given a book by one of my … 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

Guest blog post: A Mentor: Anthony Glavin, by Mark Granier

Recently, I took our 11-year old boy to see the Turners in the National Gallery of Ireland. These 31 watercolours … More

Out of the Crocodile’s Mouth: a discussion of poetry, education and children, with Michael Rosen and Marina Boroditskaya -from MPT Magazine

Last year MPT Magazine published a brilliant edition wholly dedicated to children’s poetry (Number 2, 2015), titled I Wish… It was one of … More