Inside Lifesaving Poems

The central organising principle of Lifesaving Poems is that each poet is represented by a single poem. There are poets you … More

Guest blog post: Hands like these, by Beverly Rycroft

This is the first in a series of guest blog posts by writers I admire. Having enjoyed speaking and reading … More

And Yet the Books And yet the books will be there on the shelves, separate beings,That appeared once, still wetAs … More

Though I am reading from it, the book is nowhere to be seen. As well as normal people, some poets … More

I am at a thing. Canals are there. Sunlight on them, the last tourists, a shifting of the seasons. ‘Soon … More

Heaven on Earth Now that it is night, you fetch the wash from outer space, from the frozen … More

Days Each one is a gift, no doubt, mysteriously placed in your waking hand or set upon your forehead moments … More

Hamlet The buzz subsides. I have come on stage. Leaning in an open door I try to detect from … More

The Secret Two girls discover the secret of life in a sudden line of poetry. I who don’t know the … More

Dear Arthur Frank I’m writing to say thank you for your extraordinary book At the Will of the Body. It is … More

The Collection The Matter of This World: New and Selected Poems (Slow Dancer, 1987) I found The Matter of … More

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

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

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