Influence

‘Do you mind if I ask you a question?’ the book says. ‘Why are you wearing my slippers?’ I say. … More

Intimacy

‘You don’t sound very ambitious,’ the book says. ‘And good morning to you, too!’ I say. ‘I mean,’ the book … More

‘What do you want?’ says the book. ‘Who’s asking?’ I say. ‘Me,’ says the book. ‘I am asking.’ ‘What do … More

I am lying on the bed staring at the ceiling, detoxing from the day, as I do. ‘You all right?’ … More

The book is looking at me from across the room. It is dressed smartly, but not to impress. It looks … More

As promised last week, here is my presentation of the paper I co-wrote with Sue Dymoke in which we argue on … More

Listening to the wonderful array of speakers at the Foyle Young Poets symposium on Monday, I tried to think back … More

‘Even the poetic world is social’ (Bakhtin, 1981, 300). This time next week, Saturday 23 June, I will be presenting … More

It is odd to speak of missing someone you never met, but this is how I feel about the American … More

My first reader was a man called Fergus. A friend of a flatmate at university, I never got to … More

Here is a story about a recent failure of mine. It all started with an idea, which I knew, just … More

‘What else are you guilty about?’ ‘Most things,’ I say. ‘It doesn’t stop with poetry, you know. Or those unread … More

’Anything else?’ the book says. ’What do you mean?’ ’That you want to tell me?’ There is a long silence, … More

‘What else are you not telling me?’ says the book. ‘Nothing,’ I say. The book rolls its eyes, gives a … More

‘What you reading?’ says the book. ‘Nothing.’ ‘No need to be shy,’ says the book. ‘Go on, what is it?’ … More

‘What’s wrong?’ says the book. ‘Nothing,’ I say. ‘Liar.’ ‘Am not.’ ‘Are.’ ‘Aren’t.’ ‘Pants on fire. You’re hopeless. You should … More

Towards the end of my treatment for cancer in 2006 I had one of the most profound conversations of … More

I went home the other day. I mean home-home, where I was born, and where my parents still live. … More