What you read in 2015

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

‘Which is why Aldeburgh going is such a disaster. It took years to achieve what they did, years. Of slog, … More

‘Are you going to do one?’ ‘Who let you in?’ ‘Are you?’ The book has its feet up on my … More

In terms of my poetry world, 2015 has turned out to be a year of endings and legacies. The Poetry … More

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

Anthony often writes that he is ‘at a Thing.’ I go to Things all the time. Poetry World is full … More

Dear Michael I picked up your book the other day and wanted to tell you how much I am enjoying … More

It’s complicated. There I am in the bookshop, the one we all love, looking for a book. No one is … 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

Teachers’ words should not be ‘How to write’ but ‘How to try to say what you really mean’ – which … More

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

The value of poetry is that it should matter … first to the writer and then to the reader. Michael … More

I first met Maurice in the sitting room of a mutual friend, a lifelong Labour supporter, the night after the … More

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

Poetry and Work I recently took out a book via Interlibrary loan called, The Mind at Work: Valuing the … More

The Soho Hospital for Woman (IV) I am out in the supermarket choosing – this very afternoon, this day … More

During the mad phase, when everything was a tweet or a share or a retweet, one of my favourite discoveries … More