Now the silences are right

I am completely torn apart -Rupert Loydell When I first read Raymond Carver’s Fires I loved and understood all of it, … 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 at a thing recently. Not my thing, a good thing. Luminosity filled the evening. In the pouring of … More

The poem is not happy. It glares up at me, its eyes spitting fury. ‘How dare you take me in … More

Lately I have been pondering the practice of paying attention, vis-à-vis my habit of keeping a notebook to capture impressions, … More

Readers of this blog will know I have been thinking a lot about stationery recently. (Actually, that is something of … More

At the start of each academic year, usually when I have known them for a week or so, I make … More

I was very saddened to learn recently of the death of Michael Baldwin, the novelist, poet, writing tutor and former … 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

The third Writing Research Across Borders conference takes place this week in Paris. I will be presenting a poster of … More

When I visit schools to read and talk about poetry there is often some sort of Q and A following … More

Teachers’ views of creativity is my new research article exploring poetry writing pedagogy. Here is the Abstract: Discourses of creativity in … More

Phil Bowen gave me this poem, written by a ten-year-old girl, in 1998 to illustrate a writing game he submitted … More

A comment Mark Robinson made in the days following Seamus Heaney’s death in August resonated with me. He said he … More