All this sitting about in cafés

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

Lifesaving Poets: Gerard Benson

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

I followed a lead, nudged by a hunch, and it brought me here. The book is In Their Own Words (edited by … More

When Ezra Pound claimed that ‘Poetry is news that stays news’ it is likely he was thinking of Katy Evans-Bush’s Baroque … More

I was asked the other day which poetry blogs I read. Over the next few posts I will be sharing … More

I was at a thing recently. Not my thing, a good thing. Luminosity filled the evening. In the pouring of … More

The Book of Things, Ilhan Berk (Salt, 2009), trs. George Messo Open me anywhere § Slugs Pilot Hi V5, … More

You stick to the routines you have set up, notebook observations, voracious reading, sending the work out to mags, even … More

The impetus behind this blog is praise. I hope it comes across. I made a vow that I would use … More

Having not succeeded at school, I’ve always thought of poetry as the holidays, rather than term-time. Hugo Williams I went … More

You’re at a reading, to support a friend. It is not going well. Not your friend, who is quietly stealing … More

The Little Snoring Poetry Group have written to you asking if you would come and read to them some of … More

Twilight Three minutes ago it was almost dark. Now all the darkness is in the leaves (there are no … More

I once heard Andrew Motion give a poetry reading at a day-conference for teachers, writers and writers in education. There … More

One of the most powerful performances on my old Faber cassette tape of Ted Hughes reading his poems is ‘Bride … More

Damp white imprints dog the feet; snowbound trolley, snowbound street. Her tip of glove to lip and cheek, “Goodbye.” Go. … More

I have been thinking a lot recently about final lines of poems. I’ve always been fond of Seamus Heaney’s comment about … More

The Day After I made a leek and potato soup the day after, prompted by the look of the peeled … More