‘You know what your main problem is,’ the book says. ‘Needing to be liked.’ ‘That’s a good thing, isn’t it?’ … More
Tag: Writing Poetry
Interview with the book
‘Aren’t you going get the phone?’ I say. ‘It won’t be for me.’ With a little groan the book … More
The vision thing
Here is how it happens. The vision is, sub specie aeternitatis, a set of mental relationships, a coherent series of … More
The risk of failure
‘What do you think?’ I say to the book. It has held on to my poem for a week, and … More
The book is fifty blog posts old
The adventures of the book have now clocked up fifty blog posts. Here is a list of all of them, … More
What a waste
‘I don’t know if I can do this any more.’ ‘Do what?’ the book says. ‘This.’ ‘Sit around waiting for … More
Addicted to the news
‘Listening to the cricket again?’ says the book. ‘I think I’ll join you.’ ‘What do you mean, ‘again’?’ I say. … More
The next book
‘That thing you mentioned the other day,’ the book says. ‘Is it true?’ ‘What thing?’ I say. ‘About there being … More
The ambition thing
‘How have you been?’ says the book. ‘Fine,’ I say. ‘You?’ ‘Tired,’ says the book. ‘I’m tired.’ ‘Me too,’ I … More
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Advertisement (after Tim Dooley) State-approved cookery books in every emporium of food. Information concerning lipids in dayglow font between … More
On silence, by Jorie Graham
I think I am probably in love with silence, that other world. And that I write, in some way, to … More
Slow Weather -a new poem
I am delighted to have Slow Weather, a new poem published at London Grip New Poetry
Lost poem
I had begun the poem after work one day, on a pad of work-related notes. Get in, get out, I … More
The Arvon effect
When the Arvon student is put in posession of that creative self, which was hitherto inaccessible, two things, in particular, … More
Pencil
I am returning to the pencil. The premise of which remark signifies consciousness that at some point I left the … More
Kenneth Koch on the New York poets
Being together so much and talking so much and writing poems and showing them to each other so much … More
Guest blog post: Andrew Waterhouse and the seventh syllable, by Helena Nelson
I am delighted to welcome Helena Nelson to continue our series on overlooked poets. Andrew Waterhouse and the Seventh … More
Peter Bourke
In 1991 we moved to a house in Brixton, south London. Of all our welcomes, that of our neighbour, … More